Open AccessLinking the SDGS with human rights: opportunities and challenges of promoting goal 17
Author(s) -
Wekgari Dulume
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal for sustainable development law and policy/journal of sustainable law and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2467-8392
pISSN - 2467-8406
DOI - 10.4314/jsdlp.v10i1.3
Subject(s) - human rights , sustainable development , general partnership , civil society , political science , public administration , summit , millennium development goals , politics , economic growth , public relations , poverty , economics , law , physical geography , geography
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is grounded in different international human rights instruments. Human rights (HR) principles and standards are strongly reflected in several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets. Furthermore, SDG 17 emphasizes partnership as a key to achieving all of the SDGs. This article examines the SDGs-HR linkage in general, as well as specific HR principles that can be advanced by the achievement of SDG 17. Opportunities and challenges to promote Goal 17 of the SDGs that directly affect certain HRs are also examined. A review of relevant literature, 2030 summit documents, and outcomes of recent international conferences on the SDGs is undertaken in order to determine the progress made towards forging regional and global partnerships for the SDGs, as envisaged in Goal 17. This article finds that the absence of a political will and commitment, increased isolationist policy, narrow nationalism and poor rule linkage at national and international levels are some of the obstacles to the attainment of Goal 17. Yet, opportunities abound to promote the Goal. The article recommends a genuine commitment to implementing the SDGs by encouraging the South-South and North-South to prevent the SDGs from becoming a mere wishlist. Synergy between the government, individuals, civil society organizations (CSOs) and transnational corporations (TNCs) is equally very important. Keywords: Human rights, sustainable development goals, partnership for the goals.