A/HRC/37/32 grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights treaties, among other instruments.7 The Sustainable Development Goals seek to realize the rights of all; States have committed, in the 2030 Agenda, to leaving no one behind and to reaching the furthest behind first.8 As previously noted by OHCHR in its position paper “Transforming Our World: Human Rights in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, the Sustainable Development Goals offer a new, more balanced paradigm for more sustainable and equitable development in that, while the Millennium Development Goals addressed only a narrow set of economic and social issues, the Sustainable Development Goals include 17 goals and 169 targets covering a wide range of issues that effectively mirror the human rights framework. Moreover, the targets of the Goals reflect the content of corresponding human rights standards, even though they are not framed explicitly in the language of human rights. The 2030 Agenda and the political commitments contained in it therefore complement the human rights framework by affirming many existing norms and setting out a road map to achieve them. 11. With regard to work, States pledged in the 2030 Agenda to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work and to work to build dynamic, sustainable, innovative and people-centred economies, promoting youth employment and women’s economic empowerment, in particular decent work for all. These pledges are complemented by a commitment to adopt policies that increase productive capacities, productivity and productive employment. Sustainable Development Goal 8, on promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, is the most comprehensive goal applicable to the right to work, in particular the targets 8.3, 8.5, 8.6, 8.8, 8.9 and 8.b. 12. A number of other Sustainable Development Goals and targets are of broader relevance to the right to work. The realization of this right has a clear and direct impact on the achievement of Goal 1 (on ending poverty in all its forms everywhere) and Goal 2 (on ending hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture). With regard to health, target 3.4 aims at reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases through prevention and treatment and the promotion of mental health and well-being, while target 3.9 aims at reducing the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals. Such objectives are directly linked to the duty of States to ensure safe and healthy working conditions. With regard to education and its role in promoting the realization of the right to work by building a skilled workforce, targets 4.3 and 4.4 are pertinent, as they aim, respectively, to ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education and to increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. In the light of the gender disparities that persist in labour force participation and employment (see A/HRC/34/29, para. 15), the achievement of Goal 5 (on achieving gender equality and empower all women and girls), particularly targets 5.4, 5.5 and 5.a, would do much to foster the realization of the right to work, as would Goal 10 (on reducing inequality within and among countries) with its targets addressing laws, policies and practices, social, economic and political inclusion, equality of opportunity, and the reduction of inequalities of outcome, as enshrined in targets 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4. 13. In considering the relationship between the realization of the right to work and the implementation of relevant targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, it is important to recognize that, to the extent that they are implemented consistently with international law, including human rights norms and standards,9 the Goals and targets are a useful framework for supporting States in respecting, protecting and fulfilling the right to work. Certain targets provide for many elements of an enabling environment for the realization of the right to work: article 6(2) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides for, in addition to technical and vocational guidance and training programmes, policies and techniques to achieve steady economic, social and cultural development and full 7 8 9 4 General Assembly resolution 70/1, para. 10. Ibid., para. 4. See General Assembly resolution 70/1, para. 18.