The meeting of the high-level political forum (HLPF) on sustainable development in 2020 will be held from Tuesday, 7 July, to Thursday, 16 July 2020, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This will include the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Tuesday, 14 July, to Thursday, 16 July 2020. The theme will be “Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development “.
In accordance with paragraph 84 of the 2030 Agenda, Member States have decided that the HLPF shall carry out regular voluntary reviews of the 2030 Agenda which will include developed and developing countries as well as relevant UN entities and other stakeholders.
In 2020, 51 countries (28 first time presenters, 22 second time presenters and 1 third time presenter) will present their national voluntary reviews to the HLPF. The VNR presentations are planned to begin on Monday, 13 July 2020 (the last of the first five days of HLPF) and proceed for the three days of the ministerial segment of HLPF (14 – 16 July 2020).
First-time presenters: Austria, Barbados, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Micronesia, Mozambique, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinea, Moldova, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Zambia
Second-time presenters: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Honduras, India, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Samoa, Slovenia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Third-time presenter: Benin
* In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and expected limitations on in-person meetings and international travel, the ECOSOC Bureau is planning to make adjustments to the format and programme of HLPF 2020. Available technological solutions for virtual sessions and interaction are being explored – including for presentations of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Any potential physical participation will have to be limited to New York based delegates only. All side-events will be virtual. The final format and programme of HLPF will follow the recommendations of the UN Medical Director regarding the convening of in-person meetings.
More information: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf/2020