Pacos earns UN recognition
Published on: Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Pacos Trust, a Sabah-based Indigenous Peoples rights advocacy organisation, received the Malaysia United Nations Award 2017, Tuesday, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD).The community-based organisation, which is dedicated towards engaging and empowering indigenous people in areas such as protecting their identity, land, culture and tradition, received the award for promoting the Leaving No One Behind principle and reaching those furthest behind, especially in Sabah and Sarawak."Leaving No One Behind" is a principle which is at the core of the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, making it truthfully universal and transformative.
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It was an appeal made by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, urging governments to show strong ownership in the framework by aligning policies, legislation and resources so that people and the planet can benefit.Through its more than two decade of untiring work with the remotest communities, Pacos Trust has magnified the Indigenous Peoples' perspective on the SGD.The award presentation ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday was officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.October 24 has been celebrated annually, since 1948, to mark the founding of the UN in 1945 on the principles of justice, peace, equality and human rights as enshrined in its Charter.
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The other two award recipients were Zero Waste Malaysia, an organisation dedicated to advocating a zero-waste lifestyle in Malaysia, and Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, Co-Chair of the Malaysia CSO-SDG Alliance, the former Secretary General of the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights Malaysia or PROHAM and Chair of the Asian Social Economy Council (ASEC) /RIPESS Asia.The award honours the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations that put into practice three underlying principles of Agenda 2030, namely 'leaving no one behind', sustainability and participation.
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In a statement, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malaysia Stefan Priesner acknowledged Malaysia's commitment toward sustainable development which can be better achieved by engaging with key stakeholders."Malaysia as a nation has made encouraging progress in fulfilling the Sustainable Development. While Government is primarily responsible for achieving the SDGs, they will only be achieved if also private sector and NGOs make key contributions," he said."Behind every progress, we need to remember there are people – men and women - who dedicate energy and efforts every day to make Malaysia a better place by 2030 for all. They are the goals keepers, makers and builders who exemplify and embody key principles – sustainability, participation and leaving no one behind. This award is an acknowledgement of their achievement and hopes to rally the nation to follow their lead," he added.The 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, a transformative and integrated global plan was adopted by 193 countries two years ago. The Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in the Prime Minister's Department is leading the initiatives to meet the targets for Malaysia in alignment with the Eleventh Malaysia Plan. The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) is supporting EPU's efforts to develop a National SDG Roadmap to chart its course.The National SDG Roadmap is the country's strategic plan to ensure that the 17 goals, 169 targets and 244 indicators, are achieved to improve the quality of life for all, with no one left behind, and to ensure a country that is sustainable and protected for present and future generations. Together with EPU and the Global Compact Network Malaysia, the UN will unveil in January 2018 a National SDG Portal to enable private sector, civil society, youth, government agencies and others to commit and track their contributions to the SDGs.In a video message in conjunction with the anniversary, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted global challenges to overcome; widening conflicts and inequality, extreme weather and deadly intolerance as well as security threats that include nuclear weapons."We have the tools and wealth to overcome these challenges. All we need is the will. The world's problems transcend borders. We have to transcend our differences to transform our future. When we achieve human rights and human dignity for all people – they will build a peaceful, sustainable and just world," he said.The UN Day, held to commemorate the founding of the UN, was attended by Ambassadors, High Commissioners and representatives of 60 diplomatic missions in Malaysia as well as Senior Malaysian Government Officials and civil society representatives. They joined the United Nations in reaffirming a societal commitment to security, development, and human rights which are the three main pillars of the UN. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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