The United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the central platform on sustainable development, and it has a key role in the follow-up and monitor of the Sustainable Development Agenda and Goals (SDGs) on the global scale. It takes place annually under the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and under the General Assembly of the UN every fourth year. The launch of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was ordered in 2012 by the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), “The Future We Want”. The Forum has replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development that was responsible for the processes since 1993.
High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
Ways to participate at High Level Political Forum
Voluntary National Report
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 are expected to serve as a basis for the regular reviews by the HLPF.
Voluntary National Reviews
The voluntary national reviews (VNRs) aim to facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned, with a view to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The VNRs also seek to strengthen policies and institutions of governments and to mobilize multi-stakeholder support and partnerships for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
United Nations Major Groups
Since the Earth Summit in 1992 United Nations recognize the demand for united efforts of the all societal parties, all its groups. The achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires their efforts, vision and contribution. The recognized major groups of the civil society are women, children and youth, indigenous people, NGOs, local authorities, trade unions, private business and industries, academia, farmers, volunteers, people with disabilities, elderly. All these groups are recognized as SDGs stakeholders and participate in the processes through Major Groups.
Major Groups were given important roles and responsible mandates throughout the Rio+20 Outcome Document agreed upon at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. Various rights, obligations and tasks with relevance to NGOs, Major Groups and civil society are interspersed throughout the Outcome Document and an entire chapter is devoted to these groups. In 2020 ECA-CES became Organizational Partner for Central Asia for the United Nations NGO Major Group. The tasks of the NGO Major Group are aimed at facilitating the involvement and strengthen the participation of NGOs in all the processes that surround and relate to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).