The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has reaffirmed its support for Brazil’s initiative to promote international adoption of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 18 on Ethnic and Racial Equality, as discussions get underway on the sustainable development framework beyond 2030 and the future of the SDGs. This concept builds upon the UN’s 17 SDGs, which have been set for accomplishment by 2030.
Brazil’s SDG 18 is a voluntary national initiative focused on advancing ethnic-racial equality. It is not currently an officially adopted 18th UN Sustainable Development Goal. Brazil has been advocating for the initiative to gain wider international recognition.
The renewed commitment was made during a technical meeting on “SDG 18 and the Promotion of Ethnic and Racial Equality”, organised by Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality.
BVI Special Envoy Benito Wheatley, who participated virtually, was among representatives from governments, religious institutions, non-governmental organisations and grassroots organisations involved in the SDG 18 network.
During the meeting, Wheatley commended Brazil for voluntarily adopting SDG 18 and for its subsequent efforts to promote its international adoption.
“Ethnic and racial equality should be a foundational principle of sustainable development,” Wheatley said.
He noted that the BVI’s support for the initiative has been reflected in its participation in United Nations multilateral forums within the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) system, including the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development and the Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Wheatley said the BVI and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) continue to advocate for equity in global development, arguing that there is an international responsibility to ensure people can fairly participate in and benefit from the sustainable development of their societies and countries.
The BVI’s support follows a high-level meeting in Brasilia involving Wheatley and senior Brazilian officials. Those officials included Igor Trabuco, Head of the International Advisory Department at Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality; Tatiana Dias Silva, Director of Evaluation, Monitoring and Information Management; Thiago Gehre, Executive Director of Brazil’s National Commission on Sustainable Development Goals; Patrícia Carvalho, an officer with the commission; and Gustavo Westman, Special Adviser for International Affairs in the Office of the President.
The BVI said the meeting was held in connection with ECLAC’s Second Parliamentary Summit on Climate Change and Just Transition in Latin America and the Caribbean, at which Brazil serves as Co-Chair and the BVI as a Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Observatory of Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC)
