UN Forum To Spotlight Health, Gender Equality, And Oceans In 2025 Push For Sustainable Development
The 2025 High-Level Political Forum, or HLPF, follows two recent successful UN conferences focused on vital development issues: one in June in Nice, France, dedicated to ocean protection, and another held in Sevilla, Spain, centred on boosting financing for sustainable initiatives.
The Sevilla meeting ended with a strong call to action: to urgently address the massive $4 trillion annual shortfall in financing needed to achieve the SDGs. It also highlighted the pressing need for greater investment and deep reform of the global financial system.
Held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forum will take place from 14 to 23 July at UN Headquarters in New York.
Here are five key things to know about this year's forum:
1. It's all about accelerating action
The HLPF is the United Nations' main platform for tracking global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. It meets each year to review countries' efforts, share solutions, and push for faster action to meet the 2030 targets
The 2025 forum is convening under the theme:
Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals leaving no one behind.
This reflects a growing sense of urgency. With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, the forum will emphasise practical, data-driven strategies to close implementation gaps– particularly in the face of intersecting global crisis including climate change, inequality, and economic instability.
2. Five SDGs in the spotlight
Each year, the HLPF conducts in-depth reviews of selected Goals. In 2025, the focus will be on:
SDG 3: Good health and well-being
SDG 5: Gender equality
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
SDG 14: Life below water
SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
These Goals span a wide range of issues – from public health and gender equity to economic resilience and marine conservation.
SDG 17, which is reviewed annually, highlights the importance of revitalising global partnerships and enhancing means of implementation – including financing, which nations committed to just last month in Sevilla.
3. Countries will share their progress, voluntarily
A hallmark of the HLPF is the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) – self-assessments by Member States on their progress toward the SDGs. In 2025, dozens of countries are expected to present their VNRs, offering insights into both achievements and persistent challenges.
These reviews foster transparency, peer learning, and accountability. They also provide a platform for civil society and other stakeholders to engage directly with governments on development priorities.
VNR Labs – interactive sessions focused on national reviews – create space for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration
4. It's not just governments
While the HLPF is a UN intergovernmental platform, it brings together a diverse range of voices, including youth groups, local authorities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, academics, the private sector, and UN system agencies.
A rich programme of side events, exhibitions, and roundtable-discussions. This inclusive approach reflects the spirit of the 2030 Agenda, which recognises sustainable development is a universal, shared endeavour.
5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 The Final Countdown
With only five years left to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, the 2025 HLPF marks a critical inflection point.
It is more than a yearly check-in. This year's session comes at a time when science, solidarity, and urgent action must converge. It will help set the tone for the next Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2027, where world leaders will take stock of collective progress and determine the final push toward 2030.
What happens now – at this two-thirds deadline moment – will shape whether the SDGs will realise a global promise or become a missed opportunity.
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UN Forum To Spotlight Health, Gender Equality, And Oceans In 2025 Push For Sustainable Development
13 July 2025 The 2025 High-Level Political Forum, or HLPF, follows two recent successful UN conferences focused on vital development issues: one in June in Nice, France, dedicated to ocean protection, and another held in Sevilla, Spain, centred on boosting financing for sustainable initiatives. The Sevilla meeting ended with a strong call to action: to urgently address the massive $4 trillion annual shortfall in financing needed to achieve the SDGs. It also highlighted the pressing need for greater investment and deep reform of the global financial system. Held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forum will take place from 14 to 23 July at UN Headquarters in New York. Here are five key things to know about this year's forum: 1. It's all about accelerating action The HLPF is the United Nations' main platform for tracking global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. It meets each year to review countries' efforts, share solutions, and push for faster action to meet the 2030 targets The 2025 forum is convening under the theme: Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals leaving no one behind. This reflects a growing sense of urgency. With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, the forum will emphasise practical, data-driven strategies to close implementation gaps– particularly in the face of intersecting global crisis including climate change, inequality, and economic instability. 2. Five SDGs in the spotlight Each year, the HLPF conducts in-depth reviews of selected Goals. In 2025, the focus will be on: SDG 3: Good health and well-being SDG 5: Gender equality SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth SDG 14: Life below water SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals These Goals span a wide range of issues – from public health and gender equity to economic resilience and marine conservation. SDG 17, which is reviewed annually, highlights the importance of revitalising global partnerships and enhancing means of implementation – including financing, which nations committed to just last month in Sevilla. 3. Countries will share their progress, voluntarily A hallmark of the HLPF is the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) – self-assessments by Member States on their progress toward the SDGs. In 2025, dozens of countries are expected to present their VNRs, offering insights into both achievements and persistent challenges. These reviews foster transparency, peer learning, and accountability. They also provide a platform for civil society and other stakeholders to engage directly with governments on development priorities. VNR Labs – interactive sessions focused on national reviews – create space for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration 4. It's not just governments While the HLPF is a UN intergovernmental platform, it brings together a diverse range of voices, including youth groups, local authorities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, academics, the private sector, and UN system agencies. A rich programme of side events, exhibitions, and roundtable-discussions. This inclusive approach reflects the spirit of the 2030 Agenda, which recognises sustainable development is a universal, shared endeavour. 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 The Final Countdown With only five years left to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, the 2025 HLPF marks a critical inflection point. It is more than a yearly check-in. This year's session comes at a time when science, solidarity, and urgent action must converge. It will help set the tone for the next Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2027, where world leaders will take stock of collective progress and determine the final push toward 2030. What happens now – at this two-thirds deadline moment – will shape whether the SDGs will realise a global promise or become a missed opportunity.
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Richest 1% People Have Enough New Wealth To End Annual Poverty 22 Times Over
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If we are to deliver on promises enshrined in SDG3 related to HIV and TB and other health issues, we must strengthen competencies and capacities in the Global South – and reduce dependencies on the Global North. Celebrating 25+ years of struggle and leadership of NMP+ Network of Maharashtra People Living with HIV (NMP+) was established over 25 years ago. Since last two decades it champions a social enterprise model to reduce dependency on donor-driven funding for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. Famous German film and TV actress Annabelle Mandeng has been a supporter of movements of people living with HIV and human rights for over two decades now. She has also hosted events like the artists against AIDS gala in Berlin. Speaking at an Affiliated Independent Event organised ahead of 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), Annabelle Mandeng said: "When I read about NMP plus, the immortal words of Margaret Mead come to my mind: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Over 50,000 people living with HIV from all gender diversities can live a life of rights and human dignity - thanks to NMP+." Annabelle Mandeng added that "NMP+ has helped people with HIV to care for each other as well as rise collectively to improve HIV responses in their state. Congratulations to Manoj Pardeshi and NMP+ for developing and leveraging social enterprise approaches for the last two decades so that NMP+ can be less dependent on external funding. TAAL+ or a "Treatment, Adherence, Advocacy, Literacy" is a community-run pharmacy based on social enterprise that has been up and running since 2006. TAAL is a shining example today for other civil societies to inspire them to use social enterprise and become self reliant. It is the first ever community-led e pharmacy in India. Over the years, it has transitioned into an integrated healthcare centre as well as managing an online or e-commerce platform since 2023. It offers in-person and online consultation, counselling as well as quality assured and affordable lifesaving medicines for HIV, STI and other co- infections and co-morbidities. Screening for infectious and non-communicable diseases is also provided along with a linkage to care services. Over 3,200 people receive life-saving anti-retroviral therapy along with other care services. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and other HIV prevention tools are also available via TAAL+." Dr Bharat Bhushan Rewari who served at senior levels with Indian government's national AIDS control programme and led the rollout of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy for several years since its beginning on 7 April 2004, said that "World has achieved major progress in its response to HIV/AIDS epidemic with significant reduction in new infections, AIDS-related death and improving lives of people living with HIV. Community has played a big role in this journey especially in empowering people living with HIV and reducing stigma and discrimination. NMP+ is one such organisation which started working for people living with HIV early on (in 2000) when stigma was high and access to treatment was an issue. NMP+ provided a platform for people living with HIV to support each other, and foster self-esteem. Over the years, it has worked tirelessly to uphold dignity and rights of people living with HIV. Their work has helped transform AIDS-related stigma into self-confidence, fear into hope and shame into self-respect. It has worked closely with the government to raise treatment literacy. Today NMP+ proudly stands as a symbol of resilience and a voice for people living with HIV and vulnerable communities." David Bridger, UNAIDS Country Director for India, said: "Today we celebrate 25 years of hard work and progress made possible by NMP+ but at the same time reflect on what we still need to achieve to truly end AIDS as a public health threat. I think today is also really important for us to reflect and recognise that efforts of NMP+ have not only supported people living with HIV, but they have also transformed public health approaches globally. Putting people at the centre is now an approach widely accepted." One of the key brains behind TAAL+ is Manoj Pardeshi - a founding member of NMP+ and also of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI+): "In those initial years, there was no funding. Later donors came but their funding was as per their own respective mandates, while the needs of the community could be different. So we thought of having a separate funding mechanism that would cater to our unmet needs. That is how TAAL became a social entrepreneur model." Manoj shared that two decades ago, they could barely have an action plan for 3 or 6 months and then at most for a year. "We never thought that we would complete 25 years one day." Hope lies in the people, not FfD4 The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development was recently held in Seville, Spain with the intent to reform financing at all levels, including reform of the international financial architecture and to address the financing challenges preventing the investment push for the SDGs. 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Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
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