In 2015, Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with specific targets to be met until the year 2030. The SDGs aim to reduce poverty and hunger while at the same time taking into account health, education and accelerated economic growth as well as fighting climate change and preserving nature.

In 2023, the UN reports that only 15% of the SDGs are on track. The Political Declaration adopted at the SDG Summit in September 2023 states that “[t]he achievement of the SDGs is in peril. At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, we are alarmed that the progress on most of the SDGs is either moving much too slowly or has regressed below the 2015 baseline.”

Quelle: un.org

In this class, we will look at each of the SDGs and try to answer the following questions:
1. Content: What is the SDG about?
2. Facts and Figures
3. International Conventions and Monitoring Regimes
4. SDG Actions and Good Practices
5. Proposals for Local Action – Develop a Campaign for #ACT4SDGS

The class will start with introductory classes on the United Nations, Human Rights and Development Issues. Participants are expected to choose from one of the Sustainable Development Goals, prepare an 8-10 page summary (plus bibliography) on the subject and present it to the class with a one-minute speech as well as via Powerpoint (or other) Presentation. In addition, participants are asked to form teams of three-four SDGs and develop a campaign for local action to possibly be registered with #ACT4SDGS by the UN SDG Action Campaign established by the UN Secretary-General.

The class will be held in English on Tuesdays, 16.00 – 18.00 h (c.t.) and is open to all Faculties. Successful participants will receive 5 ECTS-credits and a “Proof of Legal Language Skills in English” pursuant to § 8 para. 2 of the study regulations for the study of law with the first legal examination of 25 March 2015 – Fremdsprachenfachkompetenz. The final grade will be determined according to the summary paper, the presentation, and the SDG Campaign, as well as through an active participation in the discussions.

All faculties are invited to apply!

 Applications are to be sent until 12 April 2024 to Peggy Wittke (via email only).

 Your application should include:

•         Personal Details (Name, Phone, Email, Studies, Student ID Number)

•         Short letter of motivation

•         3 preferences chosen from the 17 Sustainable Development Goals

 

For further information please contact:

 Dr. Peggy Wittke
Model United Nations / Model European Union
Freie Universität Berlin
Phone:  (030) 838 547 05
Email: peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de