10 May 2016: In the lead-up to the 2016 session of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ (DESA) Division for Sustainable Development launched a blog on the 2016 HLPF theme, ‘Ensuring that no one is left behind.’ Available on the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, the blog features contributions from UN Member States, the UN system and Major Groups and other stakeholders on how to ensure that no one is left behind in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The most recent post was contributed by the International Disability Alliance and International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), on 10 May, in which the groups call to link SDG reviews with human rights review processes. They note that many stakeholders are already engaged in these processes, through treaty bodies, special processes and the UN Human Rights Council. The authors also call for collaborating nationally to ensure representation of all stakeholders, including persons with disabilities, in SDG national planning and implementation.

In earlier posts, Oh Joon, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), underscores the need to address inequalities in access and opportunity to education, health and other social services, and highlights the need to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities, while Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, suggests identifying strategies that are succeeding in reaching those furthest behind first. He also observes that where a “leaving no one behind” strategy is different from the current strategy, it could be particularly difficult to implement.

As per the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the HLPF has the central role in overseeing follow-up and review of the Agenda at the global level. Its 2016 session will take place from 11-20 July 2016, at UN Headquarters in New York, US. [HLPF 2016 Blog] [UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform Website] [HLPF 2016 Website]