Nassau, 20 February 2017.- The Bahamian capital will host the International Symposium "Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SAMOA Pathway in Small Island Developing States - SIDS: Equipping Public Institutions and Mobilizing Partnership", from February 21-23. The event, which has been jointly organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Commonwealth Government of The Bahamas, aims to reflect on how SIDS could integrate the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in their planning processes, as well as in their national development policies and strategies.
More than 300 participants are expected to attend the meeting on behalf of the SIDS governments, the United Nations and the civil society in these countries. The participants will discuss on the challenges posed by climate change and the international financial and economic crisis for SIDS, in the implementation of their national development plans, including the SDG. The meeting will also discuss strategies to mobilize in a predictable way the international financial resources necessary for SIDS to effectively implement the 2030 Agenda, without leaving one behind.
The Cuban delegation to the event is composed of the Ambassador of Cuba in the Bahamas, Ismara M. Vargas Walter as well as an official of the General Division of Multilateral Affairs and International Law in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Emilio González Soca.
Since the 1992 Earth Summit, SIDS were recognized by the United Nations as countries in special situations because of their high vulnerability and challenges in terms of sustainable development, including the maintenance of small but growing populations, limited resources, isolation, susceptibility to natural disasters, particularly those associated to climate change, vulnerability to external shocks, overdependence on international trade and fragile natural environments.
(Embacuba Bahamas)