With nearly a third of the time to achieve the SDGs has elapsed, we are faced with daunting challengesLondon (ANTARA) - Indonesia is seeking re-election as member of the International Coordinating Council of Man and the Biosphere for the period of 2019-2024, according to Arrmanatha Nasir, Indonesia’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, concurrently Ambassador to France.
“Finally, allow me to take this opportunity to seek you invaluable support for Indonesia re-election as member of ICC-MAB for the period of 2019-2024, at the election to be held on 21 November 2019,” Ambassador Nasir said while delivering a statement of the Indonesian Government at the 40th General Conference held in Paris, on Saturday (Nov 16).
He reaffirmed the commitment of Indonesia, which is a current member of the UNESCO Executive Board, to the work of UNESCO, and lauded the UN body’s contribution toward achieving tangible and sustainable progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“With nearly a third of the time to achieve the SDGs has elapsed, we are faced with daunting challenges. Continued high population growth, growing inequality, climate change, growing cases of radicalism, intolerance and violent extremism, and the rise various socio-economy injustices around the world, requires us to do more,” he remarked.
As no one country can address these global challenges alone, he called for greater global cooperation and collaboration.
“Key to this Mr. President, is multilateral cooperation. As a member of the international community, we all have the responsibility to harness, nurture and strengthen multilateral cooperation.In the context of UNESCO, our multilateral shared responsibility is to shape the future of humankind, by ensuring that the 9,8 billion people in 2050, are equipped with quality skills that match the day challenges,” he noted.
Future humankind must uphold values of mutual respect, tolerance, and cultural diversity, as key for sustainable development, he added.
Nasir also informed that Indonesia has launched a cultural development index, the first index in the world that measures progress in cultural development at national and provincial levels.
In 2021, Indonesia will host a World Cultural Forum, he added.
The 40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference is being organized in Paris from Nov 12 to 27, 2019, and being attended by delegates from 193 UNESCO member countries and 11 associate members.
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Translator: Fardah Assegaf
Editor: Sri Haryati
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