Karen Percy Highlights the Importance of Women’s Voices at SDGs Conference in New York
The AIS is a firm believer of the SDGs as highlighted by the UN and has partnered with the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) to contribute to the discussions aiming to make progress on these fronts. This year Ahmet Keskin and AIS Advisory Board member Karen Percy recently travelled to New York to take part in the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Conference, held alongside the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly during 21-23 September 2026.
The JWF conference brought together more than 100 participants from around the world for three days of discussion on sustainable development, human rights, democracy, peace, media freedom and the role of civil society.
Karen joined an international panel examining the current state of the media, with a particular focus on the challenges facing women journalists. In her speech, Karen highlighted the barriers women continue to face across the media industry, including online abuse, sexualised harassment, physical violence, unequal treatment, underpayment and limited opportunities for leadership. She described the issue as more than a question of workplace equality. When women are excluded or silenced, half of the population is missing from the conversations that shape society.
“Half of the population” cannot be marginalised from the planning, discussion and implementation of efforts to advance democracy, peace and justice, Karen argued. Her message connected directly with the broader aims of the SDGs, particularly the importance of gender equality, reduced inequalities, strong institutions and peaceful, inclusive societies.
The panel also explored the relationship between a free and responsible media and healthy democracies. Speakers discussed misinformation, social media, artificial intelligence and the growing challenges of determining what information can be trusted. For Karen, these issues reinforce the importance of ethical journalism and ensuring that diverse voices are represented in public conversations. As a journalist and media advocate, she has long championed public interest journalism, media literacy and greater diversity within the industry.
The conference provided an opportunity for participants from different countries, professions and backgrounds to exchange ideas on some of the major challenges facing communities today. Discussions ranged from faith and pluralism to youth leadership, AI and human rights, democracy, peace and social cohesion.
For Karen, one of the strongest messages to emerge was the value of bringing people together. “When people meet, something changes,” she reflected following the conference.
Ahmet reflected on the conference as an opportunity for not only great minds to come and share their views but to hear successful outcomes in other parts of the world. Whether the issues are similar or nuanced somewhat, to hear a story of collective will overcome a challenge is inspirational and could be the trigger for others to find a way forward in their area. Through these gatherings we engage, reflect and build capacity and will to create opportunities for people to make their environment better than what it was.
The trip also gave us an opportunity to visit some organisations and family visits.
