Well-Being of Women, Children, Adolescents Must Be Ensured to Achieve Sustainable Development, Says Secretary-General in Video Message for 2030 Agenda Initiative

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for “Together for the 2030 Agenda:  Partnering for Women, Children and Adolescents to Thrive and Transform the World”, in New York today:

Distinguished Heads of State and Government,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I welcome today’s event, and I thank the five partnership initiatives that have organized it.  To achieve sustainable development, and ensure no one is left behind, we must secure the well-being of women, children and adolescents everywhere.  And to deliver better for all people, to enable them to thrive and reach their full potential, we must engage all stakeholders.

Collaboration breeds innovation.  Partnership brings results.  The partnerships that helped organize this event have been transformative.  They have fostered new approaches to existing and emerging challenges.  They have developed important means of implementation and shown how to measure progress.

Today, I call on you to build on the momentum you have already created so we can achieve the ambitious goals that have been set for the next 15 years.  Together, we can make this world more just, equitable and prosperous for all.  Thank you.