Emphasizing the critical role that public institutions must play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations marked the 2016 United Nations Public Service Day today by focusing on how to mobilize public institutions for the implementation of the SDGs.

The UN Public Service Day has been celebrated since 2003 to recognize public service innovations that have led to more effective and inclusive public service delivery in countries worldwide. Public Service Day thus promotes the search for innovations in governance and public administration through the Public Service Awards Programme.

Public Service Day 2016 was recognized with a high-level panel discussion focusing on leaving no one behind, in recognition of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United Nations Secretary-General delivered a video message and the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Mr. Wu Hongbo also participated.

Also H.E. Mr. Stef Blok, Minister of Housing and Central Government Sector of Kingdom of the Netherlands and H.E. Mr. Reymi Luis Ferreira Justiniano, Minister of Defence of the Plurinational State of Bolivia as well as Ministers from several other countries attended the event.

The UN Public Service Day 2016 highlights the importance of effective and equitable delivery of quality services to the achievement of all the SDGs and promotes creativity and innovation in service delivery.

In order to achieve the SDGs and to ensure that children, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons, refugees and other vulnerable groups are not left behind, public institutions need to adopt innovative approaches in public service delivery and to provide the necessary training to public servants to increase their awareness and skills.

“None of the sustainable development goals can be achieved without bold and innovative efforts from public institutions and public servants. The ideas and creativity of civil servants have never been more important,” UN DESA's Under-Secretary-General Wu Hongbo noted.

The UN Public Service Day 2017 will be hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 23rd of June as the UN Public Service Day in 2002. This year’s event is organized by the Permanent Missions of Bolivia and Netherlands to the United Nations with the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs.