Takeaways – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

September 2, 2016   Reading Time: < 1 minute

Reading Time: < 1 min read

From left: Dr. Dinusha Panditaratne, Dr. Rohan Fernando, H. E. Ban Ki-moon, Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Mr. Mano Tittawella, and Ms. Una McCauley

Date: 2 September 2016

Speaker: His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations

Title: SDG16: Sustaining Peace – Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

• The Secretary-General’s speech highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 16, on promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions. Goal 16 demands action against corruption and crime, while holding governments accountable, and supporting inclusivity, equality and human rights.
• He emphasised the importance of the role of women, and encouraged their fuller involvement in parliament, the cabinet, and reconciliation and sustainable development initiatives.
• Secretary-General Ban congratulated Sri Lanka’s significant progress, with particular reference to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 2015, and the recently passed Right to Information Act.
• He further commended Sri Lanka’s transitional justice and constitutional reform efforts, before concluding with the reassurance of the United Nations’ support in Sri Lanka’s future development.

Click here to access the full text of the Secretary-General’s speech.