High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

“Human rights-based approaches to development are powerful tools that make us safer and more resilient. They place our emphasis on the people most at risk of discrimination. They are the best way to reduce inequalities and resume our path towards realising the 2030 Agenda.“

- Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,addressing the 2021 High-level Political Forum

The High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF) is the central global platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

As reaffirmed by the UN Secretary-General in his 2020 Call to Action for Human Rights and the 2021 Common Agenda report, human rights permeate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the vast majority of its goals and targets correspond to legally binding human rights commitments made by every Member State. Therefore, discussions at the HLPF and its preparatory processes need to be likewise anchored within a human rights-based discourse.

The HLPF meets annually under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council and every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government under the auspices of the General Assembly. Preparations for the annual HLPF encompass:

• Regional preparatory meetings convened by the UN Economic Commissions;
• Official inputs to the HLPF (submitted by OHCHR, Human Rights Council and Treaty Bodies);
• Preparation of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs);
• and a variety of expert group meetings.

The overarching themes for the HLPF are negotiated in New York through an inter-governmental process every four years. For the current HLPF cycle, the themes for the annual sessions and the selected focus SDGs are as follows:

2023 HLPF: “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”

The meeting will feature in-depth reviews of SDGs 6 (clean water and sanitation), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 17 (partnerships for the goals).

2022 HLPF: "Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development"

The meeting will feature in-depth reviews of SDGs 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), 14 (life below water), 15 (life on land) and 17 (partnerships for the goals).

2021 HLPF: "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 meeting also featured in-depth reviews of SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 3 (good health and well-being), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 10 (reduced inequalities), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13 (climate action), 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), and 17 (partnerships for the goals).

2020 HLPF: Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development

Learn more about how OHCHR engages in the Voluntary National Reviews

Resources

Human Rights Council contribution to the 2016 High Level Political Forum (June 2016)

Human rights treaty bodies contribution to the 2016 High Level Political Forum (May 2016)

CEDAW contribution to the 2016 High Level Political Forum (May 2016)