Summary of the HLPF 2021 July 6-15, New York
During the first week of the 2021 HLPF (6-9 July), governments and stakeholders revised progress of nine of the 17 SDGs and discussed how to accelerate their achievement by 2030.
- NO POVERTY2. ZERO HUNGER3. GOOD HEALTH & WELL-BEING8. DECENT WORK & ECONOMIC GROWTH10. REDUCED INEQUALITIES12. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION13. CLIMATE ACTION16. PEACE, JUSTICE & STRONG INSTITUTIONS17. PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
The second week of the HLPF (12-15 July) started with a panel about public and private financing to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The second week also featured the presentation of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) from 42 countries. The presenting countries included ten first-timers, 24 second-timers, and ten third-timers. Messages from the VNR presentations underscored that governments “have not given up” on the SDGs even amid the setbacks to every country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many said the 2030 Agenda is serving as their guide to recovery…read more in the official report: (HLPF Discusses 42 VNRs, Stumbling Blocks to 2030 Agenda | News | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD)
Note: Civil Society reports to the VNRs are NOT included to the documentation. Although the follow-up and review processes on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda are state-led, they are supposed to be inclusive and consultative, and to welcome inputs from relevant stakeholders. Read more:
This paper discusses two such inputs to the HLPF process from civil society: shadow reports and spotlight reports.
The paper argues that spotlight reports do not play any official role in the review processes, but they are nevertheless critical tools, especially for stakeholders with limited or no access to cooperation with their governments. In fact, they serve the same purpose as shadow reports and states’ own VNR reports, which is ultimately to improve the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and benefit the well-being of people.
The Alliance members discussed, that they may draft a statement for the next HLPF to amend Resolution 67/290 to include Civil Society reports to the documentation of VNRs and institutionalize CSOs participation in the review process as it is followed in other UN Conventions, in order to achieve SDG 16 and no one left behind.
On the last day of the HLPF ministers adopted a declaration, which should have been ready at the beginning of the forum. On the official website you can read that [the declaration] reflects a conservative level of political will. However, discussions throughout the eight-day session sent strong messages of commitment, urgency, and confidence in available solutions.
At the margins of the sessions 276 side events, 10 special events and other activities, f.e. exhibitions, workshops were organized. As SDG 16 was under review several side events were organized with UNODC, the panels were organized in a very creative way with a lot of input, especially monitoring data collections.
NGO participation (see background information https://crimealliance.org/events/87)
The Major Groups – in charge to coordinate Civil Society participation in all relevant sessions - drafted a statement to urge member states to adopt a powerful declaration to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. It was distributed in the second week of the Forum.
The STATEMENT of the NGOs on the 2021 MINISTERIAL DECLARATION begins as follows:
This year’s HLPF has failed to come up with bold and transformative recommendations for action in a time when approximately 4 million people have perished due to the COVID-19 pandemic, close to 190 million have become sick, over 250 million have lost their jobs, over 1.6 million had their education disrupted and hundreds of millions more have already fallen into acute hunger and extreme poverty. It is inexcusable that during this world crisis Member States failed to agree on a strong, human-rights centered, transformative, action-oriented Ministerial Declaration.
Adding to the existing crises of inequality, sustainability, climate change, rapid biodiversity loss, decent work deficit, and poverty traps for low and middle-income countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only dealt a devastating blow to the economies and societies but also undermined the little progress that was being made towards achieving the SDGs.
Reaffirming old commitments (which were patently insufficient before the pandemic) is not an adequate response to the pandemic. We are extremely concerned with the consistent refusal to address the root causes and systemic barriers to achieve a world where no one is left behind (continued reliance on fossil fuel power sources, seeking infinite growth from extractivist economies, unequal power relations engendering unsustainable debt and illicit financial flows, patriarchy as a political tool, corporate capture of governance, development and sustainability agenda and its implications for the fulfillment and respect for human rights, to name a few).
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MGoS HLPF statement on the HLPF 2021 Ministerial Declaration - 15 Jul 21 - Google Docs
The statements ends:
We urge Member States to restore faith in multilateralism for the achievement of the SDGs. Human rights, gender equality, and ecological balance must be central to all recovery and restoration efforts.
NGOs were active as organizers, moderators, and speakers in 18 other side events.
Traditionally the WMG was very active and present at the HLPF
With 12 interventions (including 6 VNRs questions/statements) in official sessions
One lead discussant (Valentina Bodrug-Lungu) and one moderation/opening speech (Mabel Bianco) and three Side Events, 2 delegations meetings, a social media toolkit etc,
WMG also co-organized, with FEMNET and others, an SGDs learning and training session.
The WMG`s overall message was Feminists want system change
WMG concluded their report:
This year’s HLPF had the potential to be a first step towards better, human rights centered systems. Unfortunately, HLPF became a missed opportunity with many States refusing to let go of “business as usual.” We are disillusioned to have witnessed States’ discussions and disagreements during the adoption of the HLPF outcome document, the Ministerial Declaration, with many debating and questioning the human rights and most basic needs of people and the planet, including civil society’s right to meaningful participation and the cross-cutting and imperative need to advance gender equality. We were also concerned to see States looking for solutions that rely on contributions from the private sector, which concerns us regarding the corporate capture of multilateralism and UN spaces……… We are extremely concerned with the consistent refusal to address the root causes and systemic barriers to achieve a world where no one is left behind.”
And the report ends with some positive aspects:
Glimpses of a More Feminist and Transformative HLPF
In spite of the issues raised above, HLPF also offered glimpses of hope: we saw some Member States defending human rights for all and gender equality, an increased emphasis on the intersectionalities and cross-cutting issues in the 2030 Agenda, and a stronger narrative of systems change and development justice in the interventions of speakers in the official sessions as well as the side events.
Ingeborg Geyer August 12, 2021
02 Sep, 2021