The Global People’s Assembly Event – 10 Years of SDGs brought together 193 participants including civil society leaders, grassroots activists and global networks to mark a decade of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event served as a sobering reminder: 10 years into the 2030 Agenda, most SDGs are alarmingly off track, with widening inequalities, escalating conflicts and deepening climate crises.

Accountability gaps and conflicts highlight global failures

Opening the session, Paul Divakar of GFoD warned that “80% of the SDGs are still nowhere near their targets.” He underlined persistent accountability gaps at national and global levels, pointing to humanitarian crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and political violence in Nepal as evidence of systemic global failures.

SDGs at a “sweet-bitter” moment

In his keynote, Kumi Naidoo, human rights and climate justice activist, described the 10-year journey of the SDGs as a “sweet-bitter anniversary.” He argued that while the goals were ambitious, they have failed to address structural power imbalances, corporate capture, and worsening inequality. “Poverty is rising, inequalities are deepening and the climate crisis is intensifying,” he said, urging civil society to build bold alliances across climate, gender and economic justice movements.

Development as justice, not charity

Flora Sonkin from the Civil Society Financing for Development (FfD) Mechanism criticized governments for spending trillions on war while millions in the Global South—particularly women—bear the brunt of systemic failures. She emphasized, “Development is not charity, it’s justice,” and called for urgent pressure on the UN to ensure inclusive financial systems.

Shrinking democracies and widening inequalities

Mandeep Tiwana, Secretary-General of CIVICUS, highlighted that despite progress since the UN’s founding, democracy is increasingly eroded, activists persecuted and institutions shut down. “It is ironic that we can send rockets to the moon while millions still go hungry,” he remarked, underscoring the $2.7 trillion financing gap and the urgency of the upcoming COP in Belém.

Women’s rights and ground realities

Beena Pallical of Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD)/GCAP warned that despite claims of progress, most SDGs are off track and in some areas they are regressing. Women’s health and sexual rights are sliding backward, gender equality remains elusive and communities discriminated on work and descent face extreme struggles. She raised concerns over manipulated data and shrinking civic space, stressing the urgent need for accountability of both governments and billionaires.

Inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean Region

Maria Inés Re of the Women’s Major Group highlighted stark realities in her region: nearly 38% live in poverty, extreme inequality persists, and early marriages are on the rise. She warned that gender-based violence and femicides remain entrenched, reflecting systemic cultural and institutional barriers.

Youth voices demand participation

Speaking for youth constituencies, Naveen stressed that young people remain excluded from global decision-making, even though they are disproportionately affected by violence and conflict. He emphasized the role of platforms like the ECOSOC Youth Forum in ensuring youth participation is directly connected to communities.

Debt, climate and reparations

Mae Buenaventura of Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)drew attention to countries facing climate change impacts such as floods and cyclones struggle under debt while trying to implement the SDGs. She stressed the need to address financing for SDG implementation and called for urgent action with the slogans: “Stop the Harm, Cancel the Debt, and Reparations and Just Transition Now.”

Civil society must be central to COP30

Renata Juliotti emphasized the urgency of ensuring civil society participation in COP30. She stressed priority agendas such as gender justice, just transition, adaptation and recognition of people of African descent, noting that “communities most affected by the climate crisis also hold the solutions.” She warned that COP30 implementation must not be abstract but rooted in justice and decolonization.

People’s power as the essence of change

Ingo Ritz, Director, GCAP highlighted the strength of People’s Assemblies across local, national, and global levels, stressing that “the essence of the Global People’s Assembly is how people’s power can impact global change.” He called for solidarity and mobilisation ahead of the World Summit for Social Development 2 (WSSD2).

Economic Justice Mobilisation: A global movement

Nuru Maro of GCAP underlined that only 17% of SDGs are on track, largely due to systemic economic injustice. She framed the Economic Justice Mobilisation as a global grassroots movement demanding transformation of the international financial system. “Declarations don’t change lives. People do,” she said, stressing country-level mobilisation.

A collective call

The event concluded with a unified call for systemic transformation, accountability and solidarity. From climate justice and gender equality to debt cancellation and economic justice, the message was clear: without people’s power, the SDGs will remain unfulfilled promises.

Held online, the event was part of the Economic Justice Mobilisation 2025 and the Global Week of Action – Draw the Line, amplifying people’s voices from across the globe to demand accountability and systemic change.

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