Study Group with H.E. Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado: The Sustainable Development Goals: A Global Agenda

We live in a constant changing, very connected, global scenario. Foreign Policy decisions must be based on: i. national interests and priorities; ii. other country ́s priorities and interest and how they affect our own, iii. the common interest. Through the proposed agenda we will attempt to address how national, regional and global scenarios shape our decisions as public authorities, while we seek to promote a better understanding of the choices that public servants are faced with. Our agenda will address personal experience, the global scenario and the Latin American scenario with an emphasis on Panama, my own country.

Week 3: Sustainable Development Goals: A Global Agenda

The most ambitious global agenda agreed upon by 193 member states of the United Nations. Every day local and global issues align further representing additional challenges as well as opportunities. Can development challenges be addressed from a local perspective? Does working together with other countries represent additional, unnecessary pressures or is it the only way forward?

The agreement to leave one behind, overcome poverty, inequality, climate challenges and others; is it philanthropic or is it a necessity? How do we deal with the exclusion of groups such as migrants and women? Do their rights matter or clash with the rights of others? This will be further explored in the next two sessions. 

Guest: Ambassador Laura E. Flores (Director, Americas Division, UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs & Peace Operations and Former Permanent Representative of Panama, United Nations)