Voices of SDG16+ Campaign 2024
Theme: “Bolstering Action on SDG16+ in Times of Converging Crises”
Voices of SDG16+: Stories for Global Action is a campaign aimed at creating space for the voices of local peace-builders to be heard and for their approaches to be highlighted. We are seeking entries that exemplify work done at local level on advancing SDG16+ – such as advancing youth inclusion, women’s political participation, local population involvement and much more – and we are bringing it to the global level of discussions at the United Nations.
As we navigate past the midway point of the 2030 Agenda, it is increasingly evident that we are veering significantly off course in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The emergence of new challenges and conflicts, coupled with already existing unresolved issues, underscores the imperative to reassess our approaches more urgently than ever.
2024 holds a pivotal importance as SDG16 was being reviewed at the 2024 HLPF in July. Another major relevant milestone this year is the Summit for the Future, which will be a unique opportunity to discuss how to refine international cooperation. While we have numerous agreements and documents that express what needs to be done, the “how” remains to be addressed and translated into concrete actions. How are we going to work together and organise ourselves to effectively address current and future challenges?
It is within these interlinked contexts that we introduce the 2024 Voices campaign to showcase innovative actions and solutions elaborated by local actors that can help to bolster progress on SDG16+
View all of the chosen videos from the 2024 Voices of SDG16+ Campaign here.
Voices of SDG16+ Campaign 2023
Theme: “Accelerating Action on SDG16+ to support implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”
Voices of SDG16+: Stories for Global Action is a campaign aimed at creating space for the voices of local peace-builders to be heard and for their approaches to be highlighted. We are seeking entries that exemplify work done at local level to advance SDG16+, for example such as such as advancing youth inclusion, women’s political participation, the role of Civil Society in the resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and much more.
In the past year, the urgency of achieving SDG16+ in order to build back better from COVID-19 was coupled with the necessity to counter worrying global threats – the invasion of Ukraine, military coups in West-Africa, the rise in authoritarianism, the shrinking of civic space. A number of these challenges act repressively from making every effort necessary to implement the 2030 Agenda. The progress towards SDG16 is not only slow and uneven anymore, it is backsliding.
In this context of compounding challenges, the international community needs to harness the transformative power of SDG16 while redirecting efforts toward building back better from the COVID-19. As 2023 marks the point of the mid-term review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, the opportunity for UN member states to re-shift their priorities to implement SDG16 is more compelling than ever. It is within this context that we introduce the 2023 Voices campaign to showcase innovative actions and solutions elaborated by local actors that can help to bolster progress.
View all of the chosen videos from the 2023 Voices of SDG16+ Campaign here.
Voices of SDG16+ Campaign 2022
Theme: Civil Society leading the charge for SDG16+”
Voices of SDG16+: Stories for Global Action is a campaign aimed at creating space for the voices of local peace-builders to be heard and for their approaches to be highlighted.Individuals and partners from around the world were invited to submit short videos telling their “stories” of best practices and extraordinary efforts being undertaken towards SDG16+ at the national and local levels, particularly as communities are attempting to build back better from the COVID-19 crisis and amid new and worrying trends in shrinking civic spaces, and rising expenditures in military infrastructures and weapons of war. The 2022 campaign will build on the work done in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and solicit further video submissions that are to be featured via a dedicated website and in context of side-events organized.
The campaign provides a unique and dynamic opportunity for a call for accelerated action and increased awareness on the work of local civil society partners in this domain. The stories feature both challenges and successes in pursuing advancement of the 2030 Agenda at national and local levels. Stories showcase examples of how SDG16+ is being implemented and is helping to positively impact people’s lives – despite the impact and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the current geopolitical context which diverts member states’ attention from allocating vital resources to improving the quality of people’s lives. Participants also included concrete commitments for advancing SDG16+, particularly taking into account the interlinkages with other SDGs under review this year at the HLPF, under the themes of gender equality, environmental justice and multi-actor efforts.
The Voices of SDG16+ Campaign also featured updates on the work of finalists showcased during the 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions of the campaign. Their stories will also highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical context have affected the work of these organizations and activists, and how they have worked to respond to the challenges and obstacles presented by the ongoing crises.
View all of the chosen videos from the 2022 Voices of SDG16+ Campaign here.
Voices of SDG16+ Campaign 2021
Theme: “Resilient Recovery through Local Action on SDG16+”
Voices of SDG16+: Stories for Global Action is a campaign aimed at creating space for the voices of local peace-builders to be heard and for their approaches to be highlighted. We are seeking entries that exemplify work done at local level to advance SDG16+, for example such as such as advancing youth inclusion, women’s political participation, the role of Civil Society in the resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and much more.
Building on the resounding success of the 2019 and 2020 Voices of SDG16+ campaigns, the Voices of SDG16+ Campaign is again seeking videos from local SDG16+ practitioners around the world to share short videos showcasing how they are contributing to advancing SDG16+, particularly as it relates to promoting a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthening resilience from future crises. The most compelling videos will be shared widely in the lead up to and during the 2021 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) from 6-15 July 2021, and the top 5 storytellers will be invited to share their stories during a virtual 2021 HLPF Side-Event, alongside the alumni of past Voices of SDG16+ Campaigns from 2019 and 2020.
No matter how small our actions may seem to us, when we put them together, these stories can have great power. We want to hear how you are taking part in the global movement working to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies.
Individuals and organizations from around the world are invited to submit short videos (maximum 3 minutes) telling their “stories” of best practices and extraordinary efforts being undertaken towards SDG16+ at the national and local levels, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Successful stories should showcase concrete examples of how SDG16+ is being implemented and is helping to positively impact people’s lives. In particular, videos should also highlight why participants feel that SDG16+ is important, and why SDG16+ is necessary for societies to effectively recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and how SDG16+ can help to strengthen resiliency to future crises going forward. Participants are also invited to include concrete commitment for advancing SDG16+, highlighting plans for a long-term impact in their communities.
Voices of SDG16+ Campaign 2020
Theme: “SDG16+ and COVID-19: Local Actions for Global Solutions”
Are you working to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies? Have you been working to promote women’s political participation? Have you been supporting local-level work to improve access to justice?
Building on the resounding success of the 2019 Voices of SDG16+ campaign, this year’s video campaign will ask individuals and partners around the world to share short videos showcasing how they are contributing to advancing SDG16+, particularly in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The most compelling videos will be shared widely in the lead up to and during the 2020 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) from 7-16 July 2020, and the top 5 storytellers will be invited to share their stories during a dedicated 2020 HLPF Side-Event.
No matter how small our actions may seem to us, when we put them together, these stories can have great power. We want to hear how you are taking part in the global movement working to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies.
Individuals and organizations from around the world are invited to submit short videos (maximum 3 minutes) telling their “stories” of best practices and extraordinary efforts being undertaken towards SDG16+ at the national and local levels, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Successful stories should showcase concrete examples of how SDG16+ is being implemented and is helping to positively impact people’s lives. In particular, videos should also highlight why participants feel that SDG16+ is important, despite the challenges represented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are also invited to include concrete commitment for advancing SDG16+, highlighting plans for a long-term impact in their communities.
View all of the chosen videos from the 2020 Voices of SDG16+ Campaign here.
Voices of SDG16+ Campaign 2019
Share Your Stories
Are you working to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies? Have you been working to promote women’s political participation? Have you been supporting local-level work to improve access to justice?
The United Nations committed to achieving peaceful, just, and inclusive societies through Sustainable Development Goal 16+ (SDG16+), which is part of the 2030 Agenda’s call to achieve peace and sustainable development in every country around the world. To achieve this, we all have an important part to play.
No matter how small our actions may seem to us, when we put them together, these stories can have great power. We want to hear how you are taking part in the global movement working to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies.
In 2019, we asked for submissions of short videos to tell your story. From small initiatives making a difference in your community, to a national awareness-raising campaign, to work at a global or regional level.
View all of the chosen videos from the 2019 Voices of SDG16+ Campaign here.
The more creative the better!
Entries should demonstrate any innovative and/or inspiring approaches to using SDG16+ in a practical way.