From July 8-17, I had the privilege to attend the 2024 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and collaborate with our CJ/IBVM UN NGO network and other partners from Canada and around the world to continue efforts to educate and advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Because I had attended the HLPF in 2023 when Canada presented its Voluntary National Review, I had a good sense of what to expect from the meetings and where it might be possible to develop activities for education and advocacy this year.
Since the 2023 HLPF, I have been working with partners from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto Ministry for Social Justice, Peace, and Creation Care and the Office for Systemic Justice of the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada on the SDGs as they relate to newcomer youth and migrant workers in Canada. I have also been building relationships with the SDG Unit at the department of Employment and Social Development Canada to advocate for better inclusion of youth, especially newcomer youth, in SDG processes and implementation. These partnerships have deepened my appreciation for the necessity of broad collaboration to achieve the SDGs. Alone, it is not possible. When we work together, we can achieve so much more.
When I found out the Canadian government intends to send an official delegation to the HLPF each year until 2030, I knew it would be important to be present at the HLPF to continue our relationship-building and advocacy activities. After much conversation with partner organizations, and the blessing and collaboration of Janet at the UN Office, we hosted two online side events and one hybrid side event:
• Responding to Climate Anxiety: Cultivating Resilience and Hope in Youth (SDG 13)
• Localizing the SDGs: Community Perspectives and Knowledge Sharing (SDG 1)
• Plight on the Road to Dignity: The Intersections between Poverty, Hunger, Climate Change, Migration and Human Trafficking (multiple SDGs)
The experience of developing and delivering the side events was pure joy for me. It was the embodiment of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) as we brought together government, academia, religious congregations, and community organizations to share best practices, achievements, challenges, and our visions for achieving the SDGs. My own network was expanded and I could witness the gift that the IBVM/CJ have to offer to the world.
While at the HLPF, I was able to meet delegates from the Canadian delegation on the sidelines of the meeting, and, thanks to Janet, I joined the group from our NGO office to meet with a representative of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN. We were able to talk about the work undertaken by the CJ/IBVM network worldwide to combat human trafficking and explore possible connections within the Vatican to further our work.
Overall, this year’s HLPF was the most energizing experience I’ve had at the UN. I felt a sense of connection and community with other delegates at the meeting, especially with those from religious congregations through prayer and joint action. However, I believe that it is not enough to come to the UN. I commit to be active in Canada to advocate for the dignity and rights of all people, but especially those living in impoverished conditions of any kind, and to achieve SDGs. Now is the time for bold action.
Author: Sarah Rudolph IBVM
