The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) took place from Tuesday, 5 July to Monday 18 July 2022. The theme for the 2022 HLPF was “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The HLPF is the primary United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level.
The five Sustainable Development Goals reviewed in 2022 were:
- Quality education (SDG4)
- Gender equality (SDG5)
- Life below water (SDG14)
- Life on land (SDG15)
- Partnerships (SDG17)
We, as member of the NGO (Non-government organization) Major Groups, were part of the whole process throughout the HLPF. The preparation by the NGOs for the HLPF takes place months before the actual event at the UN. Regional and national consultations are held to get the first-hand information on the implementation of the SDGs at country level. As a result, a shadow reports are prepared and submitted to the UN by the NGO groups. Position papers on each SDG being reviewed were written and sent to the UN as part of the input from the NGOs for the ministerial declaration.
Forty-four countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). All VNR reports that were submitted can be found HERE. NGOs were given the opportunities to make interventions during the presentation of VNRs.
There were many side events and SDG labs organized by various NGOs based on their work on the ground around the world. Most of the side events were online which many could access from anywhere in the world. We were also able to host a side event in partnership with other faith-based NGOs on SDGs 4 & 5 bringing the good practices from our network.
Do you want to know more about HLPF 2022? Read HERE.
Author: Cynthia Mathew cj
Photo: Opening of the High Level Political Forum
