Highlights and images for 16 July 2020

The 2020 High-level Political Forum ended on Thursday, after a further 10 countries presented their voluntary national reviews (VNRs).

The 2020 High-level Political Forum ended on Thursday, after a further 10 countries presented their voluntary national reviews (VNRs).

The High-level Political Forum (HLPF) concluded without adopting the expected ministerial declaration. Mona Juul, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), thanked the co-facilitators of the consultations on the ministerial declaration, saying that while an ambitious declaration was emerging, some issues required further discussion. Suggesting countries were close to an agreement, she encouraged all Member States to support its adoption by consensus.

Mona Juul, President, ECOSOC

 

“We were not on track to deliver when COVID-19 hit, and the road ahead is even steeper,” UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed said in her closing statement. “We can turn this around if we stay true to the 2030 Agenda.”

Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN

 

During the day, ten countries presented their first voluntary national reviews (VNRs): Democratic Republic of the Congo, Comoros, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malawi, Zambia, Republic of Moldova, Liberia, Barbados, and Solomon Islands.

Omar Hilale, Vice-President, ECOSOC

 

Juul declared the meeting closed at 4:18 pm.

Marsha Caddle, Minister of Economic Affairs and Investment, Barbados

 

A summary and analysis for HLPF 2020 is available in HTML and PDF.

Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General to the UN

Marsha Caddle, Minister of Economic Affairs and Investment, Barbados

Mathew Haarsager, US

Mathew Haarsager, US

Highlights of the VNR presented by Kyrgyzstan.