Zonta UN member attends the HLPF Sustainable Development event

The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) for Sustainable Development is a meeting of member states and ECOSOC-sponsored organizations to review the status of member states in achieving the goals stated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The theme of this year’s session was “Advocating sustainably inclusive science and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs for leaving no one behind.” It provides a review of SDG3 (health), SDG5 (gender equality), SDG8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG14 (life below water), and SDG17 (partnerships).

The opening session was given by the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, who stated some progress had been made toward the stated goals, but that some countries had also gone backwards. The Deputy Secretary General of ECOSOC expressed concerns about climate change, noting that financing is a significant challenge for many nations. Public/private partnerships will be necessary for making progress.

UN Committee member, Mary Lou Shippe, represented Zonta at this meeting and was inspired because it is one of the major events where member states get together to evaluate their progress, or lack thereof, of reaching the goals established by the SDGs. By networking with other NGOs, Zonta can gain allies in our pursuit of improving the lives of women and girls.

During these difficult times for women worldwide, it is refreshing to know that organizations like Zonta continue to advocate for our goals, ensuring that member states are aware of the efforts of civil society organizations working to support them in achieving their objectives.

Some sessions at the event highlighted that only 35% of the SDG targets are being met. Unfortunately, not many countries have included women in their government decision-making positions. Worldwide, only 27% of parliaments have women as part of the decision makers. Even when they are part of the leaders, their advice is ignored.

Another session gave a report on the status of the SDGs, which made the following points:

  • Identify discriminatory practices
  • Ensure participation by not just leaders, but also those affected by policies
  • Educate girls on their rights
  • Push forward against push back (some countries which have made positive progress in achieving SDG goals have had push back.
  • Invest in gender data systems

One of the challenges in reporting is obtaining reliable data. Many countries do not have systems that provide valuable data, and many do not even have data on women or girls.

Another session Mary Lou Shippe attended talked about the influence of AI. Access to the internet is often a problem for women, as many countries do not have connectivity, and if they do, women do not have access. AI can be a double-edged sword, as the information it provides may not always be accurate. But it may provide some guidance on how to approach topics.

Sessions provided ways countries could work toward achieving the SDG goals. Their suggestions included:

  • Provide sustainable public procurement
  • Close the productivity gap
  • Equip young people with the right skills
  • Integrate policies instead of maintaining silo thinking

Hopeful reflections on these meetings are that many organizations, including United Nations officials, realize they need to convince member states to work harder to achieve their SDG goals and remind those that have made progress not to go back to the old ways. Civil society must continue to encourage member states to work toward the goals, particularly those that involve women and girls.

14 OCTOBER 2025