Ministerial Youth Roundtables: “Youth in Jordan: Halfway through achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Excellencies, UN colleagues, and the inspiring youth of Jordan,

Today, with a sense of hope and determination, we come together to bridge the gap between generations and embark on a transformative journey towards a sustainable future.

It is an honor to stand before you as the representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Jordan, with a mandate to coordinate the UN’s work on sustainable development.

As we mark the halfway point in our pursuit of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals this year, we reflect on the progress made and the challenges that still lie ahead.

These goals serve as a blueprint for a better world, where poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation become relics of the past.

The SDGs transcend borders and resonate with our innate desire for a dignified and flourishing existence for all.

Though much has been achieved on the SDGs, there is still much work to be done to safeguard people and the planet.

We face significant risks in achieving the SDGs due to the impact of global crises.

A recent UN report highlighted alarming projections of extreme poverty, out-of-school children, hunger, and gender inequality worldwide if we do not act urgently.

Some of these challenges are present here in Jordan and require the collective effort of Government, civil society, private sector and ordinary citizens to overcome, with the UN and international community working to support.

However, I have seen first hand the extraordinary ability of the Kingdom and her people to overcome hardships and keep advancing forward, even in the face of repeated shocks. Indeed, over the past 7 years, despite COVID-19 and regional and global crises, Jordan has made noteworthy advancements towards the SDGs, in the areas of industry and infrastructure, education, water and sanitation and in reducing hunger.

The vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II regarding political, economic, and public sector reforms gives us an inspiring and clear pathway forward.

Many allies, including the UN agencies present here today, robustly support the Kingdom in this vision.

And the nation is blessed with capable, energetic, and committed young people who are ready to play an active role in achieving our common goal of sustainable development.

The United Nations is firmly committed to supporting and empowering young people to be part of finding solutions to the world’s most difficult problems.

To this end, five years ago, the UN Secretary-General launched a Youth 2030 Strategy to accelerate achievement of this commitment. The Government of Jordan was one of 10 countries at the forefront of the Global Youth Strategy’s roll out.

In complement, the Kingdom has developed a National Youth Strategy for 2019-2025 and the UN in Jordan formed a UN Youth Advisory Council last year to partner with us on our work in the country. They are present with us today and represent the amazing capacity of youth in the Kingdom. I wish to acknowledge their contributions to designing today’s event.

Today, we are assembled to celebrate International Youth Day and put our commitments into action.

In a remarkable show of partnership, 7 ministers of the Government of Jordan and more than 70 young people, joined by representatives from 14 UN agencies, have come together to openly discuss ideas on how we can, together, address complex national and global challenges.

I commend the leadership shown by all participating Ministers. And I applaud the commitment of young people to raise their voices, provide new ideas, and being a part of finding solutions.

The UN is proud to partner with the Ministry of Youth, the Government of Jordan broadly, and with young people in this effort.

In our ministerial roundtables, we will delve into vital topics aligned with the SDGs: Education, Decent Work and Volunteerism, Climate Action, Food and Water Security, Political Participation and Peace, Reduced Inequalities, and Health.

These topics align with Jordan's three modernization pillars.

I look forward to listening to the discussions and to hearing the recommendations that will emerge from this conversation between youth and decision makers.

One final word before I conclude, I am pleased to announce the launch of the "17Goals" online campaign, which seeks to encourage action on the SDGs. I encourage everyone to actively participate in this online campaign, sharing your actions and pledging your commitment to accelerate progress towards these goals.

Thank you.