UN Secretary-General Appoints Four New SDG Advocates
Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, STEM activist Valentina Muñoz Rabanal, Microsoft President Brad Smith and K-pop superstars BLACKPINK appointed as new SDG Advocates of UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Climate action, bridging the digital divide, gender equality and the promotion of the rights of children are key issues to be championed by United Nations Secretary-General’s new Sustainable Development Goals Advocates
NEW YORK, 17 September 2021 – Calling for immediate action to protect our most precious global assets and to deliver on our common aspirations, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed four new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates ahead of the start of the 76th UN General Assembly.
“We are at a pivotal moment. The choices we make now could put us on a path towards breakdown and a future of perpetual crisis; or breakthrough to a greener and safer world,” the Secretary-General said. “The SDG Advocates use their considerable spheres of influence to reach new constituencies to act now and keep the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals for people and for the planet.”
Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, the 2014 Peace Prize winner, will focus on protecting and promoting the rights of children around the world. “Peace, justice and sustainability will only be achieved when every child is free, safe, healthy and educated. Every child matters,” he said.
STEM activist Valentina Muñoz Rabanal,at 18 years old, has already helped write the first Artificial Intelligence policy in her home country, Chile. “As the youngest SDG Advocate, I want to be a voice for youth, especially for girls, to improve intergenerational dialogue in decision-making places, and to lay the groundwork to establish digital rights around the world,” she said.
Brad Smith, as Microsoft’s president, plays a key role in spearheading the company’s work on critical issues involving the intersection of technology and society, including cybersecurity, environmental sustainability, human rights, and philanthropy. In his role as SDG Advocate, Mr Smith will focus on bridging the digital skills gap and highlighting the importance of setting bold goals focused on environmental sustainability. “The scale and size of the challenges the world faces today, like poverty, inequality, and climate change, require all of us to join forces and develop new solutions, many of which can be enabled or accelerated through digital technology. As we aspire to live our mission to create opportunity for everyone, everywhere, we look forward to partnering with governments, industries, and civil society on the UN’s 17 SDGs by contributing our creativity, expertise, and know-how to unleash the power of digital technology,” he said.
As the most subscribed pop artist on YouTube with more than 65 million subscribers globally, BLACKPINK has engaged with COP26 to encourage young people to take climate action to protect the planet. Jisoo Kim (JISOO), Jennie Kim (JENNIE), Roseanne Park (ROSÉ) and Lalisa Manobal (LISA) will continue to exert their influence to bring positive changes to the world. “We truly believe in the importance of collective action. We will only be able to make a difference when we come together, for the good of everyone. Now is the time to act for a safer tomorrow and a better future,” they said.
Co-chaired by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, the United Nations Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates are prominent leaders in the world and are working to mobilize action to deliver the SDGs by 2030.
SDG Advocates
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana (Co-chair)
Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway (Co-chair)
Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians
His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar
BLACKPINK, K-pop Girl Group
Richard Curtis, Screenwriter, Producer and Film Director
Hindou Ibrahim, Activist for the Climate Action and Indigenous Rights
Graça Machel, Founder and Chair of the Board, Graça Machel Trust
Dia Mirza, Actor, UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador
Valentina Muñoz Rabanal, STEM Activist
Edward Ndopu, Public Intellectual, Humanitarian and Founder of A BILLION REASONS
Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute at Colombia University
Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate, Founder of Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation
Brad Smith, President, Microsoft Corporation
Forest Whitaker, Founder and CEO, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation
Website and social Media
https://www.unsdgadvocates.org/
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Media Contacts
UN Office for Partnerships/SDG Advocates: Espen Gullikstad email: espen.gullikstad@un.org