Ban Ki-moon opens the European Development Days in Brussels

15.06.2016, BRUSSELS – Hundreds of attendees gathered to watch UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s opening speech at this year’s European Development Days.

After visiting the UN information stand, the UN Secretary-General opened the European Development Days (EDD 2016) with a speech which focused on the value of the 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its 17 global goals, is an action plan for people, planet, peace and prosperity”, he stated, which addresses “the core human development challenges of our time, such as poverty, hunger, education, inequality, health, water and sanitation and climate change”.

For its tenth anniversary, EDD 2016 is focusing on the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, making it one of the very first major conferences dedicated to the issue. The event brings the development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

“National borders do not defend against climate change, emerging diseases or economic shocks. Our challenges are global, and it is only as a global family that we can overcome them”, said the Secretary-General.

“Everyone, including and especially those who live in the most developed nations, has a role to play in ensuring that our planet can support the people of coming generations.”

“The United Nations counts on your ideas and your partnership to build a better future for all of humanity – for people, planet, peace and prosperity”.

Prior to his speech, Ban Ki-moon took a moment to greet attendees at the UN stand, an information and interaction point set up to inform visitors about the 17 SDGs and the work of the UN.

The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, also made a speech on day one of the EDD's, as did the High Representative of the Union of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU Commission, Federica Mogherini. 

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UNRIC's Related Links

- EDD 2016
- Sustainable Development Goals
- 2030 agenda

Photos

One and three: UNRIC
Two: European Union