The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the tenth of which is "Reduced inequalities", namely: Reduce inequality within and among countries. 

Under this major goal, there are ten targets, the second of which is "By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other statuse".

● Current Situation

About the World

COVID-19 Pandemic Aggravates Inequities

Reducing inequalities and ensuring no one is left behind are integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Inequality within and among countries is a persistent cause for concern. Despite some positive signs toward reducing inequality in some dimensions, such as reducing relative income inequality in some countries and preferential trade status benefiting lower-income countries, inequality still persists.

Text and photo source: un.org

About China

Promote Social Equity and Protect Rights and Interests of Specific Communities 

Photo source: Xinhua Daily

China has achieved a moderate prosperity in all respects. It earnestly safeguards and promotes the rights and interests of farmers, and attaches great importance to safeguarding the rights and interests of specific groups such as women, children, the elderly, the disabled and ethnic minorities, so that they can have equal opportunities and participate in economic, political, cultural and social life, and share the fruits of development.

Text source: Xinhua News Agency

●  Cases

About the World

Age Equality is Part of Sustainable Development

Between 2017 and 2030, the global population aged 60 or over will increase by 46%, from 962 million to 1.4 billion, more than the total number of global young people and children under the age of 10. Only by achieving equality among people of different ages can development be truly realized. Empowering older persons in all aspects of development, including promoting their active participation in social, economic and political life, is a way to ensure inclusiveness and reduce inequality.

World Health Organization has launched an electronic application to improve care services for the elderly, which has been used to provide practical guidance to deal with key issues such as mobility restriction, malnutrition, vision and hearing loss, cognitive decline and depressive symptoms, as well as to provide social care and support. The old age gap often reflects the accumulated disadvantages in geographical location, gender, socio-economic status, health, income and other factors. Rapid population ageing and demographic and social or structural changes themselves may exacerbate inequalities in old age, thereby limiting economic growth and weakening social cohesion.

Text and photo source: un.org

About China 

AI Technology Reduces Inequality

Artificial intelligence technology plays an obvious role in reducing income gap and gender inequality. More importantly, technological updates will bring new ways of interaction between people, human and information, and even changes in work and life styles. Information accessibility - equal right to communication is the premise of equal development. The development and innovation of artificial intelligence technology is of great significance to the visually, hearing and other disabled people.

Photo source: baidu.com

Tencent Youtu Laboratory and Shenzhen Information Accessibility Research Association jointly released "Youtu AI Sign Language Translator", which can quickly convert sign language into text and promote barrier free communication. IFLYTEK has also made a series of achievements in the barrier free transformation of government website information, audio e-books for the blind, Internet software for the blind and classroom teaching assistance system for special education through artificial intelligence technology.

Text source: sdg-china.net

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.