On the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Indialogue Foundation co-organised a SDGs Conference in New York in collaboration with the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) and other global partners. It was held on 25th September 2024, at the JWF Headquarters in New York. The three-day program included side events and engagements fostering global partnerships with diverse development stakeholders, creating an inclusive platform for the sharing of best practices among civil society organisations.
Dr Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi, Author and Former Chief Election Commissioner of India was amongst the distinguished speakers at the conference. Representing India at the international gathering, he spoke on “Defending the Independency and Authenticity of Elections in 2024 Amidst AI-dominated News Ecosystem”.
2024 was a historical year as half of the world population voted in general or local elections. Dr Quraishi, an authoritative figure on elections, spoke eloquently on the topic by channeling his experience as an author of numerous publications on elections and democracy as well as his robust career in monitoring elections integrity in India. Apart from sharing a global view on the intersectionality of press freedom, flow of information and elections integrity, he shared some regional highlights from India as well.
This three-day conference served as a platform for discussion and debate on the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The event featured discussions on global challenges and policy recommendations related to advancing the culture of peace, human rights, and sustainable development.
Since 2014, this conference has hosted over 171 high-level speakers, including Heads of States, UN Delegates, UN Senior Officers, diplomats, experts, and prominent civil society actors.
Apart from attending the conference in Manhattan, Dr Quraishi also visited various Hizmet Movement-affiliated institutions in New York and New Jersey such as the Pioneer Academy, ANT Book Store and AfSV, and also paid a courtesy visit to the spiritual retreat centre of renowned Islamic scholar and thinker, Fethullah Gulen whose ideas and teachings inspired the international Hizmet Movement.
Dr Quraishi was accompanied by the Secretary-General of Indialogue Foundation, M Behzad Fatmi on his trip to the US.
