IACD AT THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM, NEW YORK, JULY 2016.
Being one of the organizations accredited to the UN, the IACD hosted a side event as part of the first High Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals. IACDs side event was held on 20th July 2016 attracting attendees from various fields of expertise. IACD’s position statement was “Without Community Development, there is no Sustainable Development. The event was chaired by Charlie McConnell, IACD President. Anita Paul from India, one of the founders of the Pan Himalayan Grassroots Foundation, shared with the participants the relevance, implication and impact the SDGs could have to grassroots foundations. John Stansfield from New Zealand gave a detailed and evidence based analysis on the 17 SDs and ways in which they could be implemented. Main issues highlighted at this side event were that the implementation and success of the SDGs will rely on countries’ own sustainable development policies, plans and programs.
In summary the week long events at the UN Secretariat focused on the following; The meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2017 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, was held from Monday, 10 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Monday, 17 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017.
The theme was “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world” (resolution A/70/L.60). The set of goals reviewed in depth were the following, including Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development that will be considered each year:
Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
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
Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.
