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Three students from ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Leicester (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) have been on a trip to the United Nations HQ in New York and presented their ideas and views on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ is a global academic hub for SDG 16 - to promote peace, justice and strong institutions - and is working with the UN and partners around the world to improve the lives of millions of people by 2030. 

Olivia, Kai, Sherilyn and Celine inside one of the iconic UN chambers in New York

It gives ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ a huge responsibility as SDG 16 is the goal that effectively allows all the other 17 goals to flourish, because without peace, justice and strong institutions there is little chance of eliminating poverty, having good health, economic prosperity, equality and tackling climate change. 

The team, which also included Sherilyn Pereira, acting Deputy Director of the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, attended high-level talks and presented their work at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ to representatives of United Nations Academic Impact. 

Olivia Hawley, a 2nd year Interior Design student from Leeds, Kai Allman, from Barbados, who is studying a Master’s in International Relations and PhD student Celine Ilo, From Nigeria, were given the privilege of representing ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ students at a UN conference specifically about SDG16, and a renewed call for action as 2030 approaches. 

Before heading to New York all three students had expressed a frustration about how slowly global governments are moving to address the SDGs.  

But Kai returned feeling more positive about hitting the goals, with the mantra that we, as individuals, can take the lead and governments will follow. 

The students and Sherilyn with Mark Charlton (2nd left) and UN reps

Kai said: “I made it known that I was frustrated by the slow movement of global governments when it came to pushing for action. 

“It sparked in my mind that academia does not have to be slow to act and social justice does not have to move slowly. 

“Sometimes the UN can get stuck because of government inaction but it is okay for us all to take the lead respectfully and diplomatically. We can speed up the process.” 

Celine, who also visited a law firm to see the work they were doing in the Brooklyn community, said: “It was quite an experience – a real eye-opener. We were sitting with people who are making huge decisions. It was empowering as a PhD student to be sitting in the same space in the UN as political leaders. They gave us plenty of food for thought.” 

Kai, Olivia, Sherilyn and Celine in the chamber at the UN's New York HQ

Olivia, who has been on an internship with the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Sustainability Team, presented on practical things universities can do and how other institutions can follow the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ model. She said: “It was an incredible trip and an inspirational one. It was important to meet with the UN and put across our ideas on how to escalate the work on SDG 16. 

“Now that my internship has come to an end with the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Sustainability team I still want to get involved in projects and events push people on campus to learn more about the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ hub. If we all do our bit we can go above and beyond the 2030 target.” 

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Associate Director of Sustainable Development Goal Impact, Dr Mark Charlton said: “The trip gave the students the opportunity to realise they could be the agents of change.

"The SDG 16 conference demonstrated to them how the negotiations between countries to find positions to move together for sustainability was a slow process, whereas being members of civil society allows them to move at speed and make impact. They were all such great ambassadors for the university, I am excited to see what they do next.” 

The students’ trip to New York was supported by the Ben Lazarus Fund – in memory of a ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ student renowned for his passion for travel.