High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was held from Monday, 10 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2023, in New York under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council . This included the three-day ministerial segment of the forum from Monday, 17 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2023 as part of the High-level Segment of the Council. The last day of the High-level Segment of ECOSOC was on Thursday, 20 July 2023.

The theme was" Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”.

The HLPF in 2023, without prejudice to the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the SDGs, will also review in-depth Goals 6 on clean water and sanitation, 7 on affordable and clean energy, 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and 17 on partnerships for the Goals.

Indigenous Peoples at the HLPF side events:

“Mining for Clean Energy Technologies: Unveiling the Impacts to Indigenous Peoples” - 12 July 2023

Co-organized by Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP) and Oxfam, this event highlighted the impacts of mining transition minerals on Indigenous Peoples, and how the transition to renewable energy and sustainable development should not result in environmental damage and violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

The extraction and processing of the minerals used to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy often occur in territories inhabited by Indigenous Peoples who rely on them for their cultural, social, and economic well-being. The event highlighted cases of violations of Indigenous rights and environmental degradation in Chile and the Philippines, as well as the use of child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Overall, there is a need for a structural change aimed at minimizing the negative impacts on communities and the environment while supporting the growth of clean technologies: all mining companies need to adopt strong policies on free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) and commit not to proceed without respecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights, ensuring transparency, and protecting environmental sustainability. Furthermore, considering that Indigenous Peoples often support their own transition to sustainability, it is essential to ensure complete, participatory, and Indigenous-led FPIC processes, while acting strongly against human rights violations.

“No SDGs – No Land Rights” - 12 July 2023

The event co-organized by SDG Land Momentum Group, ILC and IWGIA with participants from Oxfam, Transparency International and Landesa has placed crucial importance on land rights in achieving the 2030 agenda due to the interconnectedness of the goals and the implications and effects of land rights, while raising awareness of reporting to effectively track progress.

The key land targets and indicators mentioned include target 1.4 on ensuring that “all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources and basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property” and target 5.a on equal rights for women to these resources, equal access to ownership and control over land.

In line with the aforementioned targets, ensuring land as a fundamental right is particularly important for the most vulnerable populations, especially Indigenous Peoples, who face daily forced displacements and suppression of their rights, lack of free, prior and informed consent and the lack of acknowledgement of their own rights. Land rights inequity is at the heart of unequal societies, and “land is where everything begins” according to OXFAM.

The importance of reporting to track progress and ultimately achieve the SDGs was also a focus of this event. Less than 20% of the countries who agreed on SDGs ever reported on land indicator 1.4.2 on “Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, with legally recognized documentation and who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and by type of tenure.” Of these countries that reported on the indicator, only a few made explicit references to women, and even fewer to Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, ethnic minorities, IDPs or other vulnerable populations. This lack of effective reporting contributes to the invisibility and marginalization of these groups, their reality, and specific needs.

“Implementing Indigenous Peoples Rights, Key to Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals” - 14 July 2023

Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples International Centre for Policy Research and Education), Indigenous Peoples Major Group on Sustainable Development (IPMG), International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) and Indigenous Navigator (IN) organized this event to acknowledge that the collective efforts and rights of Indigenous Peoples are instrumental in the effective implementation and success of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Indigenous Peoples rights’ violations cannot continue occurring in the name of sustainable development: the SDGs are interconnected, and therefore the SDGs cannot be tackled individually but rather holistically.

The event highlighted the initiative of the Indigenous Navigator - an Indigenous-led data tool that monitors rights in relation to the SDGs, helping Indigenous Peoples to recognize and identify their situation, their needs and priorities, and develop projects in a sustainable way. So far the tool has helped to develop 58 community-led SDG-related projects.

Examples were provided from Tanzania and the Philippines, where the Indigenous Navigator identified continuous violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, in particular on land, territories and resources, and a need for inclusion in decision-making processes and awareness and realization of the rights, particularly those of Indigenous women and youth.

“Accelerating SDG7 Implementation and Reaching the Last Mile through Indigenous-led Renewable Energy Initiatives” - 13 July 2023

The event co-organized by Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) has highlighted the importance of not only transitioning to renewable energy in a sustainable and just way but also of providing access to clean energy for Indigenous Peoples and of protecting their rights during such processes.

Midway through the implementation of the agenda 2030, focusing on the SDG7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”, Indigenous Peoples are still among those who have no access to energy as most are located in remote locations. The event highlighted rights-based Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives in partnership with UN agencies such as International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Some examples have been mentioned out of the numerous projects arising from such partnerships which focus on providing access to clean energy, clean water, and sustainable livelihood all while preserving cultural heritage and natural environments.

Combining the traditional knowledge systems with science and technology has contributed to multiple benefits all while empowering communities and transforming their lives. Indigenous Peoples are leading actors in the sustainable transition, and their knowledge can inspire positive change that is needed in many levels of society.

The meeting of the HLPF in 2022 was held from Tuesday, 5 July, to Thursday, 7 July, and from Monday, 11 July, to Friday, 15 July 2022, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This includes the three-day ministerial segment of the forum from Wednesday, 13 July, to Friday, 15 July 2022. The high-level segment of the Council concluded with a final day on Monday, 18 July 2022.

The theme for the 2022 HLPF is “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

44 countries carried out voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the 2022 HLPF. For more details, please click here.

The HLPF adopted the Ministerial Declaration as the outcome of its session. The President of ECOSOC will also prepare a summary to capture the key messages of the discussions. For more information, click here

Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary National Reviews 

Several VNRs pointed to efforts to improve the status of indigenous peoples. Argentina noted the importance of the education of indigenous children and provided education and vocational training for vulnerable indigenous children to ensure equal access to education for all. Suriname organized workshops for primary and secondary students, including from indigenous and tribal communities, and cooperated with the UN system to provide funding through the UN-SDG Fund to ensure conditions for the fundamental labor rights of indigenous peoples and propose concrete solutions to support the children of indigenous and tribal peoples.

Many VNRs highlighted the importance of traditional knowledge and access to genetic resources and benefit sharing for indigenous peoples, as established by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol. Argentina and Uruguay both reported on measures to strengthen the capacity of indigenous peoples to contribute to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. Dominica has implemented the Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by improving access to markets and services for indigenous industries and ensuring sustainable incomes and has supported mainstreaming the Kalinago Development Plan to involve indigenous peoples in national planning.

Some regions of the Philippines have developed technical working groups that specifically target indigenous peoples’ concerns, including watersheds, infrastructure, and streamlining of the SDGs at the local level; the “Program Classhome” was developed as a response to poor living conditions of indigenous peoples. Argentina is addressing disparities to ensure indigenous peoples’ access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Malawi has integrated indigenous knowledge into early warning systems for efficient dissemination of weather updates.

The meeting of the HLPF in 2021 was held from Tuesday, 6 July, to Thursday, 15 July 2021, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This included the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Tuesday, 13 July, to Thursday, 15 July 2021.

The theme was “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.

The HLPF in 2021 discussed Sustainable Development Goals 1 on no poverty, 2 on zero hunger, 3 on good health and well-being, 8 on decent work and economic growth, 10 on reduced inequalities, 12 on responsible consumption and production, 13 on climate action, 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17 on partnerships in depth. The Forum also considered the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals.

42 countries carried out voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda. For more details, please click here.

The HLPF adopted the Ministerial Declaration as the outcome of its session. The President of ECOSOC will also prepare a summary to capture the key messages of the discussions. For more details, please click here.

Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary National Reviews

16 VNRs included references to Indigenous Peoples (Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chad, China, Colombia, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, Laos Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Sweden, Thailand, Zimbabwe). Indigenous Peoples were most frequently highlighted in reviews of SDG 1, 2, 5 and 16. Some countries, such as Mexico explicitly mandates recognition and respect for the functions and powers that the country’s legal framework grants to Indigenous communities and their decision-making bodies in their National Development Plan of the Government of Mexico (2019-2024). 

Several VNRs pointed to the high rate of poverty and extreme poverty among Indigenous Peoples (e.g., Bolivia, Laos, Malaysia, and Paraguay) and noticed that progress made in the last years were reversed by the pandemic (Bolivia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan). To address the issue, some Governments have undertaken specific socio-economic policy frameworks and social protections strategies targeting Indigenous families (e.g., Bolivia, Malaysia, Laos, Chad). Malaysia has implemented a Community Feeding Programme aimed at children under 5 from Indigenous communities to either rehabilitate or prevent undernutrition. 

Governments including Colombia and Norway have addressed, through public policy initiatives, cultural and linguistic barriers hindering access to health services for Indigenous Peoples. Colombia’s Ministry of Health, for instance, has addressed the high maternal mortality rates among Indigenous Peoples, by creating a guidance document for the sociocultural suitability of maternal perinatal health services for Indigenous Peoples. 

Quality education is still a challenge for many Indigenous communities. High illiteracy rates among Indigenous Peoples in Paraguay, reading difficulties among ethnic minorities in Norway, are among examples of persisting challenges in the education system for many Governments. Initiatives to address these barriers have included the translation and adaptation of teaching material to Indigenous languages in Norway, and the appointment of Indigenous representatives to the Council of the Indigenous School Education Sector in Paraguay. Mexico prioritizes Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples up to age 29 in the scholarship program for higher education. 

Indigenous communities in several countries (e.g., Malaysia, Colombia, Chad) face challenges regarding land and property rights as well as access to benefit sharing. To address the issue, in Colombia the National Agency of Lands has guaranteed access to property to, among others, Indigenous families. Chad’s Inclusive Development Program of Reception Areas – South Zone, targets vulnerable populations, including Indigenous Peoples. 

Several VNRs, including Sweden, Norway, Malaysia, have expressed concerns on the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on Indigenous Peoples. Strategies to address the issue, have in Norway involved representatives of Indigenous communities. The Barents Action Plan on Climate Change in Norway, for instance, poses a focus on Indigenous Peoples and youth. Malaysia has implemented a policy towards community forestry and involvement of Indigenous and local communities to joint forest management initiatives. 

The meeting of the high-level political forum 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. 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 “.

The HLPF annual meeting is the core United Nations platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

In the 2020 HLPF, participants will debate where we stand on the SDGs in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They will reflect on how the international community can respond to the pandemic in a way that puts us back on track to achieve the SDGs and accelerate progress during the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.

47 countries will carry out voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the 2020 HLPF from Friday, 10 July to Thursday, 16 July 2020. For more details, please click here.

The HLPF will adopt a Ministerial Declaration as the outcome of its session. The President of ECOSOC will also prepare a summary to capture the key messages of the discussions.

For more details on 2020 HLPF, please click here.

In this context, an official virtual side event entitled “Delivering results for not leaving indigenous peoples behind: COVID-19 responses and beyond” will be organized on Tuesday, 7 of July from 12:00 – 1:30 pm (EDT)

>>>Concept Note

Registration is required https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GSoJ_5-STOGc4eKkNgaiTA
Zoom Password: 580014

Interpretation in English <>Spanish available

Co-sponsors: Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development, the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, IWGIA, and the DESA/DISD/Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch / Secretariat for the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

For the third year, a series of Voluntary National Review (VNR) Labs are being convened on the margins of the 2020 HLPF. The VNR Labs provide an informal platform for experience sharing and reflection on the Voluntary National Review (VNR) process. The Labs will be held under the Chatham House rule and will be open to Member States, the UN system and representatives of Major Groups and other Stakeholders.

In this context, VNR Lab 4 entitled “Engaging social groups in the VNR process – A case study of persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples” will be organized by UN DESA’s Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) and will take place on Wednesday, 8 July from 12:30 – 2 pm (EDT). 

More information including Concept Note, here >>>

Registration CLOSED

In 2019, two high-level political forums on sustainable development took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York:

HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC 2019

The 2019 high-level political forum under the auspices of ECOSOC took place from 9–18 July 2019 under the theme “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. The following Sustainable Development Goals were reviewed:

• Goal 4: Quality Education
• Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Goal 13: Climate Action
• Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

In 2019, there were 47 Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) out of which 13 Member States referenced indigenous peoples.                       In 2018, there were 46 VNRs out of which 10 Member States referenced indigenous peoples.

•  Homepage of the 2019 HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC
• Voluntary National Reviews Database
• 2019 Voluntary National Reviews Synthesis Report

SDG Summit 2019 (HLPF under the auspices of the General Assembly)

The SDG Summit (High-level political forum under the auspices of the General Assembly) was held from 24–25 September 2019 under the theme “Accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The event was the first UN summit on the SDGs since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015. The United Nations SDG Summit was be chaired by the President of the General Assembly and also resulted in a concise negotiated political declaration.

Political Declaration of the HLPF

The General Assembly in its resolution 70/299 decided that the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) shall have only one negotiated Political Declaration, covering the different and complementary functions of both sessions of the forum under the auspices of the General Assembly and the Summit, and the forum under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) when the forum is convened twice in the same year.

•  Homepage of the SDG Summit 2019
• Draft Political Declaration of HLPF under the Auspices of the General Assembly

IPDB/SPFII Side Event at the HLPF

Theme: Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16

16 July 2019, 1:15–2:45 pm
Room S-1522, UNHQ New York

The 2019 high-level political forum convened under the theme “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality” reviewed a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including, among others, SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. Using this excellent opportunity to highlight the contribution of Indigenous Peoples to achieving the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, a side event on the role of Indigenous Peoples in implementing SDG 16 was also held.

The side event brought together representatives of Indigenous Peoples and Member States, as well as other stakeholders to deepen our understanding of the role of Indigenous Peoples in the implementation of SDG 16. It included presentations by invited speakers and an interactive discussion. The outcomes from the discussion will inform a UN DESA Expert Group Meeting on the same theme in October 2019, as well as the 2020 session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The side event was organized by the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch/Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). Co-organizers were the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) and the Indigenous Peoples Major Group on SDGs (IPMG).

• Download the HLPF Side Event Flyer

Indigenous Voices (Media Zone) at the HLPF 2019

Theme: Indigenous Peoples’ Inclusion and Empowerment in the implementation of the SDGs

16 July 2019, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm
UN Correspondents Association Lounge, UN Secretariat Building, 3rd Floor (take escalator from the 1B level)

• Download the programme of the Indigenous Voices Media Zone event

The Permanent Forum’s recommendations on the 2030 Agenda

In its report of its 18th session, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues made the following recommendations regarding the 2030 Agenda and the high-level political forum:

• 58. The 2030 Agenda is now in its fourth year of implementation, yet few countries refer to Indigenous Peoples in their voluntary national reviews. The Permanent Forum therefore urges countries undertaking voluntary national reviews at the high-level political forum on sustainable development to include Indigenous Peoples under all Sustainable Development Goals.
• 59. The Permanent Forum expresses concern that Indigenous Peoples are not receiving adequate information regarding the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level and encourages Governments, United Nations entities, Indigenous Peoples and civil society organizations to convene workshops and other forums to ensure their effective participation in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
• 60. The Permanent Forum recommends that the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly ensure the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and the Forum at the meetings of the 2019 high-level political forum on sustainable development, to be convened under the auspices of the Council and the Assembly in July and September 2019, respectively. The Forum stresses that the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda should be adequately reflected in the outcome document of the high-level political forums convened under the auspices of the Council and of the Assembly.
• 61. The Permanent Forum reiterates the importance of data collection and disaggregation for tracking progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda to ensure that Indigenous Peoples, who often trail the general population on development indicators, are not left behind.

The 2018 High-Level Political Forum took place from 9–18 July at the UNHQ in New York under the theme “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies”. The following goals were reviewed:

• Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
• Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

In 2018, 47 States submitted their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), including several countries with Indigenous Peoples (such as Australia, Bhutan, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Namibia, Niger, Paraguay, Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka and Uruguay). Find information on the VNRs and the full list of countries here.

The Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch / Secretariat for the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues hosted a side event on “Learning from Indigenous Peoples’ Traditional Knowledge” on Monday 9 June 2018, 1:15–2:30 pm in Conference Room 12. The event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Canada.

In 2017, HLPF took place from 10–19 July at the UNHQ in New York under the theme “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”.

The goals under review in 2017 were: Goal 1 (End poverty), Goal 2 (Zero-hunger), Goal three (Good Health and well-being), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) and Goal 14 (Life below Water), as well as every year Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Further, 44 countries participated in the Voluntary National Reviews, including many countries with Indigenous Peoples. See the full list of countries here.

A delegation of around 20 Indigenous representatives were attending the HLPF and provided inputs to the discussion from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples.

Various side-events related to Indigenous Peoples’ rights and the 2030 Agenda were organised and an Indigenous Media Zone covered the first day of the high level/ministerial segment of the HLPF on 17 July.

Activities related to Indigenous issues during the High Level Political Forum 2017

• SIDE EVENT on 12th July 6.15 to 7.30 PM in Conference Room B:
  • Side Event on “Overcoming Poverty – Indigenous Concepts of Well-being and Development” with Ms. Tarcila Rivera Zea (UNPFII), Mr. Selim Jahan (Human Development Report Office, UNDP), Mr. Inge Herman Rydland (Special Representative from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway) and Ole Kaunga Johnson (Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation in Kenya). The side event was organised by the Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group, the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII/DSPD/DESA) and the International Indigenous Women’s Forum – and co-sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and UN Women.
  • See the Flyer for the event here: Side Event Flyer_Overcoming Poverty_Indigenous Concepts of Well-being and Development_12 July 2017.
  • See a short Summary of the event here: Summary of Side Event_Indigenous Peoples 2017
• PRESS CONFERENCE on 13th of July:
  • The 2030 Agenda: Progress for Indigenous Peoples? (UN Department of Public Information). Watch it HERE
• INDIGENOUS VOICES AT HLPF on 17th of July 9 AM to 6 PM:
  • Indigenous Voices at the High Level Political Forum. Indigenous representatives and community media covered the HLPF 2017 through their own perspectives, voices and languages in this one-day space with panels, interviews and story telling with the Indigenous representatives at the HLPF. The programme is available here: Programme_Indigenous Voices at the HLPF_2017_July 14 

UNPFII’s substantive inputs to HLPF 2017

As a subsidiary body to the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues provided substantive inputs to the thematic reviews of the High Level Political Forum 2017, highlighting what is needed to ensure that Indigenous Peoples are not left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The substantive inputs can be found in all UN languages here.

On the main page of the HLPF, the different progress reports and synthesis reports informing the HLPF 2017 are available.

The “Synthesis of voluntary submissions by functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council and other intergovernmental bodies and forums” makes several points related to Indigenous Peoples, including the importance of reviewing legislation from the perspective of human rights of Indigenous Peoples and of ensuring effective engagement of Indigenous Peoples’ as active stakeholders in implementation, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda. The report also draws attention to the special situation of Indigenous women, the customary rights and laws of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to access, use, govern and manage lands and natural resources and the negative effect of business enterprises that have adverse impacts on Indigenous Peoples.

The UNPFII substantive inputs were submitted to the President of ECOSOC on the 28 April 2017. Unfortunately, the substantive inputs were not integrated in the synthesis report.