Government of Timor-Leste

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Díli, September 26th, 2015

Timor-Leste part of High-level group championing the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda

On Friday morning, in New York City, Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araújo, joined other world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters, in adopting the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Agenda, featuring 17 Sustainable Development Goals, will guide global development efforts for the next 15 years.

The Agenda was praised in today’s meeting as an agenda for everyone, everywhere, aiming to build a better future for the planet. Speakers noted it will create harmony between people and planet, generate prosperity, promote peace and build partnerships.

Timor-Leste has played an important role in shaping the new agenda, particularly in advocating for the inclusion of goal 16 to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build, effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” In the hours following the adoption the significance of goal 16 was noted around the world with commentators saying that that this goal “is the powerhouse from which all other action will flow” and “its effective implementation will underpin the success of all other SDGs.”

Now that the agenda has been adopted Timor-Leste has stepped up into an important role in championing its implementation. On the evening Prime Minister Araújo joined eight other leaders in issuing a call to action to rally support for the implementation of the agenda. Along with the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Brazil, Columbia, Germany, Liberia, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania and Tunisia, Prime Minister Araújo declared “We will make it our joint mission to ensure that no one is left behind!”

This High-Level Group on SDG Implementation “will work actively during the coming months to rally support for the implementation of the Agenda”. Prime Minister Araújo told his counterparts and a large audience at tonight’s launch event “What is needed now is concrete commitment and sustained engagement, at all levels, for the duration of this agenda.”

Timor-Leste is the only country from Asia Pacific in the group and will work alongside fellow CPLP member Brazil.

The Council of Ministers of Timor-Leste has already endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals and made them part of the policy framework of the Sixth Constitutional Government. Their resolution calls for the establishment of a working group under the Prime Minister’s Office to coordinate and monitor the SDGs. In the near future a proposal to endorse the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda will be put before National Parliament.

Spokesperson for the Sixth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “today Timor-Leste should be very proud of the part we have played in shaping the new development agenda. The impact we have had on the agenda will have real and life saving consequences when the agenda is implemented on the ground. Because of our efforts in shaping the SDGs and now in supporting the process of their implementation, Timor-Leste has made, and is making a huge contribution to ensure that no one is left behind.”