Hi John,

In 2015, world leaders pledged to combat poverty and strive for peace and prosperity for all people, everywhere, by 2030 (‘Agenda 2030’).

We are already halfway to 2030 – and we still have a long way to go.

Those who are poor have no voice. And having no voice keeps them stuck in poverty. Because it is only when people raise their voices together that they can demand the change they need.

Only freedom of expression – that is, informed voice – can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in Agenda 2030.

Freedom of expression, which includes both the right to speak and the right to information (RTI), is critical to sustainable development because:

• It enables us to find out what’s going on – and what’s going wrong – inside our governments and public institutions.
• It equips us with the knowledge we need to hold our leaders accountable for their obligations to us, like providing good healthcare, quality education, and clean water.
• And it empowers us to speak out and demand better – for ourselves, our families, our communities, and our planet.

In other words, freedom of expression ensures that all people, everywhere, are informed; it enables dialogue; it helps the public to recognise truth; and it contributes to collective knowledge.

They will be meeting at a crucial summit to discuss next steps in achieving Agenda 2030. 

We want them to: 

1. Improve the quality of RTI laws worldwide;

2. Explicitly recognise, in the Summit Declaration, that freedom of expression is critical to achieving all the SDGs; and 

3. Provide more effective and transparent monitoring of RTI laws and the safety of journalists, human rights defenders, and whistleblowers.

Only freedom of expression can empower everyone, everywhere, to speak up and demand all our other rights – like healthcare, education, and climate action – which our governments have pledged to deliver by 2030.

Only freedom of expression can empower everyone, everywhere, to speak up and demand all our other rights – like healthcare, education, and climate action – which our governments have pledged to deliver by 2030.

At the SDG Summit today and tomorrow, UN leaders must make sure no one is left behind.

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