Opening the first meeting of the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development since the adoption of the UN?2030 Agenda, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) today outlined the tasks before the body and called for stronger commitment to accomplish its mandated tasks.
“A strong Forum means faster progress towards the attainment of the 17 ambitious and indivisible Sustainable Development Goals towards inclusive, equitable, and prosperous societies for all,” said ECOSOC President Oh Joon in his?remarks.
The High-Level Political Forum will be held from?11 to 20 July?at UN Headquarters in New York and it will also include a three-day Ministerial Segment, from 18 to 20 July, which coincides with the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC’s annual session.
Recalling the theme of Forum, ‘Leaving No One Behind,’ Mr. Oh said that the body will assess the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, a year after its adoption.
He noted that the deliberations will focus on enhancing national ownership around theSustainable Development Goals?(SDGs), mainstreaming it in development plans, integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development, addressing challenges in mobilizing means of implementation, and harnessing science, innovation and technology for advancing the Goals.
He further noted that the regional perspective in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda will also be explored in the discussions.
“At the same time, we will assess progress on ensuring that the 2030 Agenda delivers for countries in special situations and facing specific challenges, such as small islands developing States, [least developed countries], [landlocked developing countries] and those in conflict and post-conflict situations, as well as middle-income countries,” added Mr. Oh.
He further emphasized the Forum’s role as the central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs is extremely important for the future of the 2030 Agenda and its long-term success.
Enumerating the main tasks of the session, he explained: “We will be charting our direction forwards in new and innovative ways to ensure the Forum is substantive contribution to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda.”
The session will include national reviews shared by 22 countries from across the world. The volunteer reviews will include the challenges and gaps they encountered.
“I firmly believe that exchanging country experiences and best practices not only benefit individual Member States, but also the long-term implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” said the ECOSOC President.
The Forum will also consider the Secretary-General’s annual progress report on the SDGs, compiled in cooperation with the larger UN system, as well as inputs from ECOSOC’s functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies and platforms.
In its work, the Forum will engage with major groups and other stakeholders in the discussions and consider the reports on their contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Mr. Oh expressed hope that the experience gained from the present session of HLPF will be guide the development of subsequent sessions as well as the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
“A strong Forum means faster progress towards the attainment of the 17 ambitious and indivisible sustainable development goals towards inclusive, equitable, and prosperous societies for all,” he concluded.
The Forum succeeded the Commission on Sustainable Development in 2013, in line with the outcome of the landmark UN conference on global sustainability known as?Rio+20. It meets both under the UN General Assembly every four years and the UN Economic and Social Council in other years with technical, ministerial and high level segments.
Source: UN News Centre