The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2017 was held from 10-19 July 2017 on the theme, Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a changing world.” VIVAT members in New York actively participated in the HLPF in the main sessions and side events and in the processes led by the NGO Major Group as well as Women Major group. Civil Society groups and NGOs also had several events. VIVAT also cosponsored a parallel event.
The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2017
The United Nations’ High-level Political Forum (HLPF) is a key platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HLPF replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development on 24 September 2013. It was part of the agreement at Rio+20 for strengthening the governance for sustainable development at the UN for focused action agenda, follow up and review progress in implementing the commitments by the members states etc. From 2016 onwards HLPF, under the auspices of ECOSOC has integrated the Annual Ministerial reviews on the Sustainable Development goals
HLPF meets every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government under the auspices of the General Assembly, and every year under the auspices of the ECOSOC for eight days, including a three-day ministerial segment. The Secretary General’s Report on SDGs
The HLPF 2017 was held from 10-19 July 2017 on the theme, Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a changing world.” During the Sessions of HLPF, SDGs: Goal1 (End poverty in all its forms everywhere), Goal 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture), Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages); Goal 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls); Goal 9 (Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation); Goal 14 (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development); and Goal 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development), were reviewed and focused in depth.
The three day Ministerial Segment on the theme, “Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions through promoting sustainable development, expanding opportunities and addressing related challenges” was held from 17-19 July. As per the decisions made by the Member States for bringing in regular voluntary reviews of the 2030 Agenda from the national perspective, 44 countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) citing achievements and challenges. At the conclusion of HLPF the ECOSOC High-level Segment adopted the Ministerial Declaration. The civil society was represented by the nine Major groups and other stakeholders. The reports and statements on the goals reviewed were part of the process.
For further reading: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf
Parallel Event, Grassroots Perspectives on Reviewing SDGs Implementation
VIVAT International, as a member of the NGO Committee on Social Development- a coalition of organizations, that works towards people centered social change and development through the United Nations. The subcommittees within this coalition focus on various issues of social development, Grassroots subcommittee being one of them.
As part of this subcommittee VIVAT along with other members worked in developing and conducting a survey to gather information for qualifying UN efforts for sustainable development and at the same time to give grassroots an additional voice at the UN with regards to Sustainable Development. The results of the survey will be used for our advocacy work at the United Nations. The findings resulted in the parallel event during the HLPF 2017. The Survey involved 160 responses from those countries presenting VNRs. The event mainly focused on the awareness of SDGs at the grassroots as well as new partnerships between governments and organizations and way forward.