Advancing Justice, Sustainability, and Human Dignity
From July 14–23, 2025, VIVAT International joined global leaders and civil society at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development—marking ten years of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our participation reaffirmed VIVAT’s commitment to standing with the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Setting the Global Stage
The forum opened with a sober reminder of the world’s uneven progress. According to the UN Secretary-General’s 2025 report, only 35% of SDG targets are on track, with crises of poverty, climate instability, and economic inequality deepening worldwide. This reality underscores the urgency of VIVAT’s mission: advocating for systemic change rooted in justice and human dignity.
Debt Justice and Financial Reform
On July 14, VIVAT co-sponsored a pivotal side event, “Beyond Default: The Liberating Power of Debt Reform (SDG 17).”
Experts—including Dr. Martín Guzmán, former Finance Minister of Argentina—presented insights from the Jubilee Report commissioned by Pope Francis, exposing the moral and economic costs of global debt.
Key facts shared:
- 2 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt than on education
- 3 billion live in countries that spend more on debt than on health
- The ongoing debt crisis amounts to a bailout of private creditors by global taxpayers.
Sister Ludo Divina Hernandez highlighted Honduras’s struggle, where $9 billion in foreign debt hinders education, healthcare, and environmental protection. The session concluded with a renewed call for the 2025 Jubilee campaign, inspired by the 2000 initiative that led to $100 billion in debt cancellation for 36 low-income nations.
Gender Equality and Youth Empowerment
VIVAT’s advocacy for gender equality (SDG 5) was front and center in sessions like “Gender Equality: The Key Ingredient for SDG2030.”
Young women from Canada, Germany, and South Africa shared their stories and strategies for breaking systemic barriers.
Highlights from their dialogue:
- Nearly 1 in 2 women experience workplace sexual harassment
- Women represent less than 30% of the STEM workforce.
- Persistent wage gaps and structural discrimination remain unresolved.
Participants called for mentorship programs, gender education, and stronger inclusion frameworks—areas where VIVAT’s member congregations continue to lead by example.
Climate Justice and Environmental Stewardship
VIVAT’s integral ecology perspective resonated throughout the forum’s climate discussions. A key moment came with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on state obligations regarding climate change, clarifying nations’ legal duties.
The court affirmed that:
- States have binding obligations to protect the climate system
- The duty to prevent environmental harm applies to all nations.
- Climate change poses a universal risk demanding collective action.
These findings strengthen VIVAT’s advocacy for climate justice grounded in moral responsibility and ecological solidarity.
Renewing Multilateral Cooperation
VIVAT also championed reforms to strengthen global cooperation and financial accountability, emphasizing the need for:
- Transparent and equitable debt restructuring
- Increased official development assistance (ODA)
- Active civil society participation in international governance
From Commitment to Action
As HLPF 2025 concludes, VIVAT renews its resolve to turn global commitments into local impact. The forum’s central message—leave no one behind—aligns with our mission to amplify the voices of those too often left out of decision-making spaces.
Building a just and sustainable future demands bold collaboration between governments, civil society, and faith-based organizations. VIVAT will continue to serve as a bridge, linking grassroots realities to global policy action.
Take Action with VIVAT
In light of the 2025 HLPF, we invite our global network to:
- Support the 2025 Jubilee Campaign for debt cancellation
- Champion gender equality in every ministry and community
- Deepen our climate action and environmental commitment.
- Continue amplifying the voices of the marginalized in public forums
The 2025 HLPF reminded us that achieving the SDGs is more than a political goal—it is a moral imperative grounded in justice, compassion, and human dignity. Together, we can help shape a world where no one is left behind.
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