Engagement Opportunities in the lead up to WSSD2 2025

Heads of State component - Organized by UNESCO, in partnership with the African Union (AU) and the Government of Angola under the theme “Honoring the Past, Valuing Achievements, and Building the Africa We Want,” the Biennale aligns with the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

The event aims to advance the universal right to culture by convening 194 Member States and key stakeholders to shape the global cultural agenda and to promote equitable, inclusive sustainable development. Recognizing that unequal access to culture is a key component of the multifaceted nature of inequalities, the Conference will aim to reinvigorate policy commitments to cultural rights in view of catalyzing social inclusion processes. Concrete policy commitments by Member States to enhance social inclusion through culture can meaningfully contribute to the WSSD2.

The global event brings together 2,000 representatives from 759 biosphere reserves, high-level government representatives, academia, local communities and other network members, and will endorse a new 10-year strategic action plan. Discussions will include thematic areas – such as the integration of conservation and sustainable development that are in alignment with the WSSD2 key themes.

The purpose of this Ad-hoc group is to promote the establishment of favorable conditions for digital empowerment, freedom of expression, media development, access to information and language technology, alongside artistic creation in indigenous languages.

Thematic component - Organized by UNESCO, in partnership with the African Union (AU) and the Government of Angola under the theme “Honoring the Past, Valuing Achievements, and Building the Africa We Want,” the Biennale aligns with the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

The forum will address ethical considerations surrounding AI, contributing insights for policy development at the WSSD2

Organized by ESCWA with a focus on social protection and its impact on the SDGs in the context of lead-up to WSS2. Multiple preparatory meetings of the Arab working group on social protection will be engaged on WSS2 preparations (February in Riyadh and June in Algiers).

This event focuses on economic well-being and its intersections with sustainability and equity, offering perspectives that align with the WSSD2’s overarching goals.

Organized by ESCWA in collaboration with partner UN agencies and the League of Arab States . The Forum will include a high-level ministerial discussion “On the road to WSSD2”, actionable recommendations for the region will derive from the session

Organized by the League of Arab States in collaboration with ESCWA and other UN partners.
Ministerial discussion that will focus on the priorities of the Arab region within the framework of WSSD2, and on the most pressing social development issues facing the region in light of the geopolitical developments

The purpose of this Ad-hoc group is to promote the establishment of favorable conditions for digital empowerment, freedom of expression, media development, access to information and language technology, alongside artistic creation in indigenous languages.

Organized by the Arab NGO Network for Development, Engaging CSOs and youth in WSSD2 regional preparations

Side event on UNESCO's Transformative Actions for Gender Equality, Bridging Gaps, Forging Futures, on the occasion of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Organized by the GCC Executive Bureau and IOM in collaboration with ESCWA.
Ministerial discussion to support GCC countries in preparations for WSSD2 and enhance their participation in preparatory processes at national, regional and global levels