What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

This week (25-27 September), the SDGs will be adopted at the United Nations Summit in New York.

These goals will shape the future of all people in all places for the next 15 years. All 193 United Nations Member States, including New Zealand, have committed to achieving 17 SDGs by 2030. The SDGs include social, economic and environmental goals.

Top 5 SDG facts

The SDGs:

• Are made up of 17 goals and 169 targets
• Come into effect on 1 January 2016
• Are universal – for the entire world
• Highlight the urgent need to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls
• Pledge to leave no one behind

What do the SDGs mean for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)?

Improving SRHR will be central to achieving the SDGs. Investing in SRHR is one of the most cost-effective investments that can be made towards sustainable development.

In addition, two of the SDG targets focus specifically on achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health.

• Target 3.7: “By 2030 ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.”
• Target 5.6: “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.”

More information:

Learn more about the SDGs

Download the full 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development document 

Raise awareness of the SDGs in your community, organisation or school