Sustainable Development Goals Overview

The United Nations calls its 17 Sustainable Development Goals "the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all." With a target of achieving them by 2030, the goals are all interconnected and address the global challenges we face.

This series includes stories about these goals and sisters working to achieve them.

Click here to return to the full Sustainable Development Goals Collection.

Women of Catholic nongovernmental organizations gather to celebrate at the conclusion of the 66th Commission on the Status of Women. (Courtesy of Durstyne Farnan)

Women's lives depend on UN commission's work

by Durstyne Farnan

Apr 5, 2022

The 66th Commission on the Status of Women was especially timely this year, as it continues to work to accelerate the hoped-for gender equality and empowerment of women.

Young women work together to present at UN forum

by Martha A. Kirk, Tatum Spriester

Sep 2, 2021

When we sisters started the Women's Global Connection ministry, we didn't know that the seeds would blossom with young people in conversations with participants all over the world. In 2021, young women worked together for successful presentations at the UN's NGO CSW Forum.

Srs. Florence Anaso (left) and Mary Atema of the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi tend to baby chicks in Jinja, Uganda.

African sisters take path from donor-dependent to self-reliant

by Doreen Ajiambo

Jul 19, 2021

The Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in Uganda are among the congregations using entrepreneurial skills they acquired in 2019 after receiving training on how to transform their social ministries into enterprises.

The March 15 opening session of the U.N.'s 65th Commission on the Status of Women was held at the U.N.'s General Assembly, though only a small number of people attended in person because of COVID-19 restrictions, with others joining online. (UN photo)

COVID-19 has made world worse for women, say participants in UN commission

by Chris Herlinger

Mar 30, 2021

Participants called the 65th U.N. Commission on the Status of Women a success, with an estimated 25,000 people worldwide joining two weeks of online meetings. But they also noted a sense of impatience with the pace of progress.

Feature Series ›

Sustainable Development Goals Overview

Women's lives depend on UN commission's work

Young women work together to present at UN forum

African sisters take path from donor-dependent to self-reliant

COVID-19 has made world worse for women, say participants in UN commission

United Nations at 75: Sisters and their reps discuss its feats, failures

Affirming the dignity of those forgotten, shunned, ignored

New book says prevailing national interests and need for reform hinder United Nations

Sisters at UN meeting on women emphasize human rights, local action

Year-end roundtable: A look back at 2018's challenges and signs of hope

Presentation Sisters help implement UN sustainable goals at local level

Q & A with Fr. Roger Landry on the UN's exhibit on Mother Teresa

Sisters urge UN to remember grassroots work in pursuing development goals

The Sustainable Development Goals in action

Global citizenship and education key to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals, sisters say