Chinese NGOs including China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE) held a side event discussing Chinese NGOs' role in acheving SDG goals at Palais des Nations, home of the United Nations Office of Geneva on March 2, 2020 during the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council. Resident diplomats in Geneva and representatives of international organizations and NGOs participated in the event.
Development is of vital importance for protecting and promoting human rights, said CNIE Deputy Secretary-General Liu Kaiyang. In recent years, Chinese NGOs’ actions in reducing poverty, promoting educational equity and tackling climate change have contributed greatly to the fulfillment of the SDG goals.
Noting that SDG 1 is about ending poverty, a representative from China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation introduced the international projects it has carried out in poverty eradication, quality education, and access to clean water.
A delegate from the Chinese Association for International Understanding briefed about the prevention and control of COVID-19, demonstrating that the country was making coordinated efforts to overcome the coronavirus fallout in order to accomplish the goal of poverty elimination.
A delegate from the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges talked about the progress of projects in environmental protection, sustainable development of cities and gender equality, and shared what Beijing’s NGOs have done to promote SDGs and safeguard human rights.
A representative from Beijing Legal Aid and Research Center for Adolescents talked about how to better guarantee children’s rights and interests in working for the SDGs, particularly eliminating violence against children and realizing judiciary justice for them.
A CNIE representative said the Silk Road Community Building Initiative, which had been commenced at a sub-forum of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, progressed smoothly, contributing to the realization of SDGs in Belt and Road countries.
A representative from UN Association of China presented their work in communicating knowledge about the UN, conducting UN-related research, and advocating multilateralism. They have also promoted regional and global partnerships by organizing Model UN conferences in China.
