16 Nov 2015

The United Nations (UN) has committed itself to strengthen and support Botswana and all their partners of the UN's joint development aspirations.

Speaking at the UN 70 years anniversary in Gaborone, UN resident coordinator, Mr Anders Pederson stated that it was therefore, a time to reflect and build upon collective actions achievements to set priorities for the next development agenda.

Mr Pederson said 2015 was a memorable year for the UN family after leading the world largest consultative processes, countries finally adopted the widely acclaimed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the SDGs were designed to build on the eight anti-poverty targets that the world committed to achieving by 2015.

He stated that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were aimed at an array of issues that included slashing poverty, hunger, disease, gender inequality and access to water and sanitation.

“Despite this success, the indignity of poverty has not been ended for all, which the SDGs and the broader sustainability agenda go much further than the MDGs addressing the root causes of poverty and the universal need for development that works for all people.”

The resident coordinator further highlighted that the SDGs embraced the need for a global transformation that leaves no one behind and gives every human being a fair chance of leading a decent life.

He encouraged Batswana to engage and interact with the UN system and use if for their benefit.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Gaeimelwe Goitsemang said the UN Open House day was meant celebrate the history of UN and its achievements. Ends