United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Council of Europe

 

  •  On 1 January 2016, the World started implementing the “UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, an ambitious and universal vision, based on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets, which are all integrated, indivisible and interlinked.
  • They apply universally to all and are highly relevant for the Council of Europe; countries are expected to take ownership and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the 17 goals. Most, if not all, of the Council of Europe’s activities are relevant and contribute to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the SDGs.
  • Recognising the intrinsic links between sustainable development and the protection of human rights, the Council of Europe is committed to working with and supporting its 47 member States in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda through a wide range of actions.

 

 

The Council of Europe Education Department role

 

  • The Standing Conference of Council of Europe Ministers of Education
    The Standing Conference of Council of Europe Ministers of Education (Brussels, 11-12 April 2016) supported a role for the Council of Europe in supporting national efforts to achieve SDG4 by developing a long-term strategy for more coherent and comprehensive Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE) including, where possible providing evidence and data on EDC/HRE on which to base further policy recommendations.
  • The Steering Committee for Educational Policy and Practice (CDPPE)
    In October 2016, the CDPPE decided to include SDG4 as a standing agenda item to its bi-annual plenary meetings to exchange best practice and lessons learned in implementing the measures required to achieve SDG4.
  • SDG4-Education 2030 Steering Committee
    The Council of Europe was selected as one of two regional organisations for the European and North America region on the UNESCO Global SDG4-Education 2030 Steering Committee.

 

The Council of Europe contributes to the work of this Committee by presenting regional initiatives, representing and reporting back to its member states, and identifying and promoting good practice in efforts to achieve SDG4 among its member States.