Registration point at G-Tower building. Venue of this year’s UNPOG Regional Symposium (Courtesy: Wonji Kim).

The United Nations’ regional symposium on “Strengthening the Capacities of Public Institutions and Developing Effective Partnership to Realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” commenced today Wednesday 24^th October, 2018.

The three day event, scheduled to run from October 24^th to 26^th is organized by the United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) in Songdo; in conjunction with Incheon Metropolitan City, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and South Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Safety.

The venue of the regional symposium is the historic G-Tower building on 175, Art Center-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Songdo.

According to UNPOG’s official website, this year’s conference is: “to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights (including the right to development), on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions”

The organizers further stressed that: “The Symposium will provide a platform for decision-makers to discuss challenges and share knowledge on how to strengthen public governance and bolster capacities of public institutions to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Asia and the Pacific. Selected Eastern Africa countries will also benefit from the discussions.”

The opening plenary session will commence at 2 pm today and will focus on “Taking stock of the implementation of SDG Goals 16 on Effective, Accountable, and Inclusive Institutions in Asia and the Pacific- Lessons Learned and Good Practices.”

Other plenary sessions including panel discussion, forums, round-table dialogue, Q&A opportunities as well as breakout sessions are staggered throughout the three-day event. Talks will focus on e-governance, Policy Implementation for SDG, Fourth Industrial Revolution, Citizen-government interface, women’s right, youth engagement, aging societies and poverty in underdeveloped regions of the planet.

The concluding remarks and closing of the Symposium will take place on Friday 26^th from 4.30 pm.

Although registration and participation is by invitation only, UNPOG have given a special concession to students of the University of Utah Asia Campus to attend any plenary session, particularly on Friday.  If interested, please pick up a participation form from Dr Jatula.

For more information about the Symposium, visit: http://symposium.unpog.org/2018/sub4_2_tab_introduction.asp