The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are capable of ending poverty, reducing inequality, and addressing climate change by 2030. A dedication to ensuring that ‘ no one is left behind ‘ is at the core of the objectives and that no objective is deemed to be met unless it is met for all.
Since 2016, by presenting their Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the High- Level Political Forum (HLPF), organized by the United Nations every July, more than 100 countries have voluntarily reported on SDG progress. For the first time in 2019, Rwanda volunteered to report on its application of the SDGs.
NSINDAGIZA, a Rwandan organisation, is a member and partner of the HelpAge International network in its pilot program for SDG. The organization was chosen by the UN to participate in the HLPF 2019 in New York from 09-18 July 2019 through the assistance of this program and the UN Stakeholder Group on Ageing (SGA), to share the experiences of older people in Rwanda and advocate for their inclusion in SDG implementation.
In 2014, NSINDAGIZA was established to advocate for the inclusion of elderly people in attempts to achieve sustainable development. NSINDAGIZA gathered nine other civil society organizations in 2016 and established the “Rwanda Leave No One Behind Network” to represent the voices of marginalized groups such as disabled individuals, widows, individuals living with chronic diseases and the elderly.
The SGA, co-chaired by HelpAge International, hosted an official side event at the HLPF focusing on’ Confronting ageism and empowering older people to ensure everyone’s social, economic and political inclusion.’ Presenting NSINDAGIZA President and Rwanda Leave No One Behind Network co-founder Mr. Elie Mugabowishema at this case, , commended the Government of Rwanda’s political will to implement the SDGS. He also welcomed the fresh domestic policy on elderly people’s freedoms, which is being validated at the final point.
Through quotes from elderly individuals about their emotions about their freedoms, Mr. Mugabowishema pointed out how the government could do even better by creating a cross-cutting problem of ageing across all other measures such as health nutrition, gender, disaster management, social protection. He flagged the feeling of the elderly in Rwanda, although Rwanda has high technology and infrastructure speeds, elderly individuals do not always profit from the absence of particular interventions to promote participation through long-term learning, customized training and education.
He shared two strategies that NSINDAGIZA used to boost the inclusion of elderly individuals in the application of SDGs: construction capacity and partnership in the fight against ageism, poverty and discrimination. He explained how the organization worked with the National Human Rights Commission, the Rwanda Elders Advisory Forum and the Civil Society to advocate improving the situation of the elderly. NSINDAGIZA was able to organize periodic multi-stakeholder workshops through the assistance of HelpAge International and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP), which played a major part in promoting advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns.
Attending the HLPF was a main chance for NSINDAGIZA to discuss the issues and realities of elderly individuals in Rwanda and to communicate with various stakeholders working with marginalized groups to share best practices and experiences.
NSINDAGIZA hopes that this sense of partnership will be extended to the Government of Rwanda and that it will continue to involve civil society in the application of SDGs, including through a clear follow-up system for reviewing HLPF suggestions
