HLPF 2024: Global Civil society call for equity in Decision Making

 Global Civil Society take: 

• Attendance is not participation 

• UNMute Civil society 

• Why are we not making sufficient headway in combatting climate change? Furthermore, why do we witness an escalation in wars and conflicts? 

From July 8 to 18 July 2024 the US is hosting the 2024 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). On July 13, the Civil Society, led by Action for Sustainable Development, NGO Major Groups, CIVICUS, and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, coordinated a Weekend Workshop. This event aimed to facilitate informal discussion, networking, and dialogue on critical issues for civil society involvement in the 2030 Agenda. The workshop covered various topics, including “UNMute Civil Society.” 

Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) joined the rest of the CSOs to interrogate the role and the voice given to Civil society in the implementation of Sustainable development Goals (SDG). 

There is a worry that the world may not achieve the 2030 agenda within the so short timeframe remaining.  The UN’s recent release of the 2024 SDGs Report confirmed this through the assessment done on 135 targets out of the 169 targets, 135 were assessed using global trend data from 2015 to the present. 

The participants of the workshop highlighted the ongoing restriction of civil society’s space and voice, with the increasingly vocal (right-wing populist) minority gaining more influence.  They expressed that minorities disregard CSOs’ opinions and never feature them in the final decision.  

HE Maritza Valverde, Ambassador of Costa Rica, who has long advocated for CSO participation in UN decision-making, emphasised that CSO “attendance is not participation and called for a change in the process and inclusive consideration for inclusion of CSOs.” There is a crucial need for rules to ensure meaningful CSO involvement in UN decision-making. 

Speaking to participants, Dr Augustine Njamnshi, the Chair, of political and technical affairs, PACJA questioned why no progress was made while the world, in recent years, prolonged into wars and conflicts, populism and the influence of dictatorship regimes while little was made to combat climate change which is affecting communities.  

Dr Njamnshi emphasised that there is a crucial need for rules to ensure meaningful CSO involvement in UN decision-making. 

“With only six years left to achieve Agenda 2030, it is imperative that we come together, introspect, and evaluate our actions honestly to understand how we reached our current state. Otherwise, we will continue to convene each year only to express our regrets.” Stressed Dr Njamnshi.  

About  HLPF 

The HLPF is the main UN platform for sustainable development. It has a central role in the follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs. All UN Member States as well as representatives from civil society organizations participate in the HLPF, which meets under the auspices of ECOSOC.  

The forum takes place while the SDG agenda remains with 6 years to targets. Under the theme “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises: The effective delivery of Sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions”, participants held an in-depth review of five SDG Goals namely SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals).