Member States & Other Stakeholders Commitment Statements

Member States & Other Stakeholders Commitment Statements

Member States & Other Stakeholders Commitment Statements

Member States & Other Stakeholders Commitment Statements

Member States & Other Stakeholders present their commitments

Member States & Other Stakeholders Commitment Statements

Combining Emmy-winning filmmaker, Lisa Russell’s 15+ years of expertise as a global health filmmaker with Pixar in a Box's interactive lessons, the SDG Storytelling Master Class provides participants with insight and activities on the craft of storytelling for the social good. From character development to story structure to finding and pitching projects, the Master Class helps participants explores solutions-focused and character-driven narratives that compel people to act for justice, health equity and human rights.

“If we do not stand up for ourselves, nobody will.” Tahira, Bamiyan Cycling Team Member, Afghanistan Following a new generation of young Afghan women cyclists, Afghan Cycles uses the bicycle to tell a story of women's rights - human rights - and the struggles faced by Afghan women on a daily basis, from discrimination to abuse, to the oppressive silencing of their voices in all aspects of contemporary society. These women ride despite cultural barriers, despite infrastructure, and despite death threats, embracing the power and freedom that comes with the sport. Afghan Cycles spans a four-year period, from 2013 to 2017. As the stories of these brave women develop and evolve, the security situation in Afghanistan worsens. Women bear the brunt of this shift, and as Afghanistan deals with growing security threats, it jeopardizes these female riders and Afghan women as a whole. Documentary/Afghanistan/France/USA/Dari/90 mins/2018 Director: Sarah Menzies Producer: Sarah Menzies, Shannon Galpin, Caryn Capotosto, Anna Brones, Jenny Nichols

With introduction by Maria Efrosinina, UNFPA Honorary Ambassador The film follows Aisholopan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter a tradition that has been handed down from father to son for centuries. While there are many old Kazakh eagle hunters who vehemently reject the idea of any female taking part in their ancient tradition, Aisholpan’s father Nurgaiv believes that a girl can do anything a boy can, as long as she’s determined. Set against the breathtaking expanse of the Mongolian steppe, the film features some of the most awe-inspiring cinematography ever captured in a documentary. The story begins after Aisholpan has been training with her father’s eagle for many months. As every eagle can only have one master, the time has come for Aisholpan to capture an eagle of her own. Clambering down a sheer rock cliff with a rope, Aisholpan retrieves a fledgling eagle from its nest as its mother circles overhead. Her eagle will live, train, and hunt with her, until she releases it into the wild years later. After months of training her eagle with her father, Aisholpan is ready to test her abilities, entering a renowned competition against 70 of the greatest Kazakh eagle hunters in Mongolia. Documentary/Mongolia/Kazakh/87 minutes/2016 Director: Otto Bell Producer: Stacey Reiss, Sharon Chang

With introduction by the Director, Xoliswa Sithole Celebrated South African filmmaker, Xoliswa Sithole, takes us on a historical journey through time in this award-winning documentary that connects female resistance movements in South Africa. The starting point of the documentary is August 9, 1956, which marks the day that 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in protest against the dehumanizing apartheid law that required all Africans to carry a pass. “You have touched a woman, you have struck a rock,” they chanted, a mantra which has continued to stand as testimony to the resilience of many remarkable South African female activists, including Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Albertina Sisulu. The screening will be followed by a Q & A session with the Director, Xoliswa Sithole. Documentary/South Africa/English/70 minutes/2018 Producer and Director: Xoliswa Sithole