GFMD PARTICIPATION IN THE 2019 HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM

Under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the annual High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is taking place from the 9th until the 18th of July 2019 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The HLPF plays a central role in achieving the 2030 Agenda as it reviews yearly the progress that has been made towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This year, the Forum focuses on the theme of “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”.

The five following Goals are under review:

• Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• 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 revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

GFMD, with its ECOSOC Special Consultative Status, will be present alongside other partners to disseminate the outcomes of the project “Mobilising Media Development Actors in Support of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.10”, which started in September 2018. With strong collaboration between GFMD, Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW-A), Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and local partners, the project assessed the implementation of Access to Information (ATI) laws related to SDG 16.10.2, in six countries. Essentially, the assessment aims to provide independent information and analyses which complement the official reporting process from national governments (Voluntary National Review – VNR) on the implementation of their ATI policies. The data will be gathered into a spotlight report containing specific recommendations per country to improve ATI implementation.

GFMD’s partners and other stakeholders have taken this opportunity to organise side events during the two weeks of the HLPF to share the work they have completed towards the 2030 Agenda:

• SDG 16 Data Initiative
  •  “The Critical Role of Non-Official Data in Monitoring and Implementing SDG16”, 8 of July at 10 AM, Conference Room 5.

• NGO Major Group
  • “From Grounded Policy, Through Embodied Practice, To Broad Participation:  The SDGs in action”, 11th of July – 6.30 PM to 8.00 PM, Conference Room 1.
  • Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality Perspectives of society, 11th of July – from 09.00 AM to 11.00 AM at Conference Room 4.

• TAP Network
  • Voices of Civil Society/SDG 16+: Expert Round table, 11th of July – 09:30 AM to 12:00 PM at IPI building, 12th floor.
  • Renewing the ambition of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:Civil Society perspectives on Principles for a successful HLPF review, 11th of July – 1.15 PM – 2.45 PM, Conference Room 1.
  • Voices of Civil Society/SDG 16+: Policy Forum, 11 of July – From 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM, IPI building, 12th floor
  • Empowering Civil Society for Reporting & Implementation of SDG 16 Report and Event, 12 of July from 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM, Korean Mission to the UN.
  • SDG16+ Umbrella Side Event “SDG16+ and the Future We Want”, 16^th of July, 15 PM to 7.30 PM (Panel at UN HQ) 7.30 PM to 9.30 PM (Reception at Ford Foundation).

• Free Press Unlimited,UNESCO
  • Why access to information is crucial to achieving SDG 16 and how monitoring systems contribute to it, (co-hosted with GFMD) 17th of July to 08:30 AM from 09:45 AM, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

During the High Level Segment (HLS) held on July 19, which gathers diverse groups of representatives from Governments, private sector, civil society and academia, GFMD will deliver an oral statement on its position representing the media development sector.