Type

Report

Year

2019

The High-level Political Forum (HLPF) is the main United Nations (UN) platform on sustainable development, playing a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level. As part of its follow-up and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda encourages Member States to “conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven.” These national reviews serve as a basis for the regular reviews by the HLPF. As stipulated in paragraph 84 of the 2030 Agenda, regular reviews by the HLPF are voluntary, state-led, undertaken by both developed and developing countries, and provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS).

The 2019 HLPF was held from Tuesday, 9 July, to Thursday, 18 July 2019, including a three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Tuesday, 16 July, to Thursday, 18 July 2019 in New York. The theme of the forum was "Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality". The set of Goals reviewed in depth included the following:

  • Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all;
  • Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all;
  • Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries;
  • Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts;
  • Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; and
  • Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

In 2019, 47 countries (7 for the second time) volunteered to report on their progress achieved in implementing the SDGs. These countries included: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Congo (Republic of the), Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania and Vanuatu.

Highlights from the 2019 HLPF for the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities (SGPwD) are as follows:

  • Mr. George Khoury was an official discussant during the opening session of the HLPF.
  • The SGPwD held an official side event entitled “Reducing inequalities: a look at persons with disabilities”. The side event was attended by over 100 people.
  • Mr. Jose Viera, Permanent Representative of the SGPwD, was a keynote speaker in the official session on “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality - Perspectives of society”.
  • During the 47 voluntary national review (VNR) oral presentations, 34 included references to persons with disabilities.
  • The SGPwD delivered 4 interventions during the first week of the HLPF.
  • The SGPwD delivered 5 statements on behalf of civil society during the voluntary national review sessions of the ministerial week.
  • The HLPF was accessible with real-time captioning.
  • The Ministerial Week of the HLPF was accessible with International Sign interpretation.
  • The SGPwD had 72 persons with disabilities and advocates attend the HLPF.
  • The 47 Voluntary National Review long reports contained 1,959 references to disability.
  • Disability was referenced during all thematic sessions of the first week of the HLPF.
  • The SGPwD launched an official Twitter page (@SGPwD).

Download the report below.

For more information on the HLPF, click here.

Documents

See more by