High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2017

Trade Unions were at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2017, the annual follow-up and review mechanism of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Daily update of trade union participation are made available.

Read the trade union assessment of the High Level Political Forum 2017 here.

Trade union highlights:

  • Update #1 - 10 July 2017 - Focus on Social Protection
  • Update #2 - 11 July 2017 - Focus on SDG 1 - ending poverty
  • Update #3 - 12 July 2017 - SDG 1 and Inequality - Side-event, intervention by Union to Union
  • Update #4 - 12 July 2017 - Good health and well-being: Review of SDGs implementation: SDG 3 - Plenary session intervention by Public Services International
  • Update #5 - 12 July 2017 - Gender equality: Review of SDGs implementation: SDG 5 - Plenary session intervention by Public Services International
  • Update #6 - 13 July 2017 - Thematic review: SDG 17 Investing in and financing for SDGs - Plenary session intervention by Public Services International
  • Update #7 - 17 July 2017 - World Youth Skills Day 2017 side-event
  • Update #8 - 18 July 2017 - Civil society as a driver for change towards sustainable societies
  • Update #9 - 18 July 2017 - Nigeria Voluntary National Review
  • Update #10 - 19 July 2017 - Major Groups and ministers breakfast meeting
  • Update #11 - 19 July 2017 - Botswana Voluntary National Review
  • Update #12 - 20 July 2017 - General debate at the closing of the HLPF 2017

The trade union advocacy paper to the HLPF 2017 is entitled Fighting poverty and promoting gender equality. It emphasises the comprehensive approach of the Decent Work Agenda as a framework for the implementation of the SDGs. It highlights that successfully ensuring the components of the Decent Work Agenda is central to the achievement of SDG 1 (ending poverty), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 5 (achieving gender equality) and SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure).

The position paper elaborates on the role of minimum living wages in tackling in-work poverty and boosting the economy. It also emphasises the role of social protection systems in combatting poverty and promoting inclusive growth. On gender equality, it details how labour market and social policies can help close the gender pay gap and highlights how investing in the care economy can remove barriers to women’s employment. On health, it highlights the importance of occupational health and safety standards to ensuring well-being in and out of the workplace.


The HLPF is also the platform for the Voluntary National Reveiws (VNRs) within which countries present their progress on the 2030 Agenda. This year a total of 44 countries will be presenting their VNRs. Members of the TUDCN are conducting their own national monitoring and analysis to ensure that countries are on track to fulfill their commitments. These are summarised in the national trade union focus on the SDGs:


Find out more about trade unions’ work on the SDGs here.