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The General Assembly decided in its resolutions 75/290 A and resolution 75/290 B to conduct the reviews of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum in conjunction with each other at the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly.
Reviews of ECOSOC & HLPF at GA78
Background
The General Assembly decided in its resolutions 75/290 A and resolution 75/290 B to conduct the reviews of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum in conjunction with each other at the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly.
In line with the above mandate, H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, in his letter dated 10 October 2023 appointed H.E. Mr. Paul Goa Zoumanigui, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Guinea, and H.E. Ms. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to be the co-facilitators for the consultations to review arrangements contained in General Assembly resolutions 75/290 A and 75/290 B and their annexes on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council and the review of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in order to benefit from lessons learned from relevant processes under the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council related to the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda, as well as from previous cycles of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
After a process of informal consultations from February through May 2024, the co-facilitators submitted a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly, which adopted the draft as resolution 78/285 on 7 June 2024.
Through resolution 78/285, the General Assembly decided that the thematic focus of the 2025, 2026, and 2027 sessions of the ECOSOC and HLPF shall be:
- For 2025: Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind;
- For 2026: Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for all; and
- For 2027: Scaling up just transitions to achieving sustainable development, poverty eradication and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.
The sets of Goals to be reviewed in-depth shall be:
- For 2025: Goals 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17;
- For 2026: Goals 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17; and
- For 2027: Goals 4, 10, 12, 15, and 17.
The General Assembly also agreed to fully review, during its 80 th session, the arrangements for ECOSOC and HLPF contained in resolution 75/290 A and 75/290 B and their annexes, in conjunction with each other, in order to benefit from lessons learned from the previous cycles of the HLPF as well as from relevant processes under the General Assembly and ECOSOC related to the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda.
Resolution - Adopted resolution, drafts and draft elements
- Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on the review of implementation of resolutions 75/290 A and B (7 June 2024)
- Final draft GA resolution on the review of implementation of resolutions 75/290 A and B (24 May 2024)
- Revised draft GA resolution on the review of implementation of resolutions 75/290 A and B (9 May 2024)
- Revised zero draft of the GA resolutions on the review of implementation of arrangements contained in General Assembly resolution 75/290 A and 75/290 B and their annexes on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council and the review of the high-level political forum on sustainable development (24 April 2024):
- Co-facilitators revised zero draft – Part A (24 April 2024)
- Co-facilitators revised zero draft – Part B (24 April 2024)
- Co-facilitators revised zero draft – Part A – Marked up version (24 April 2024)
- Co-facilitators revised zero draft – Part B – Marked up version (24 April 2024)
- Zero draft of the GA resolutions on the review of implementation of arrangements contained in General Assembly resolutions 75/290A and 75/290B and their annexes on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council and the review of the high-level political forum on sustainable development (18 March 2024)
- Co-Facilitators' elements paper on the review of implementation of arrangements contained in General Assembly resolutions 75/290A and 75/290B and their annexes on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council and the review of the high-level political forum on sustainable development (28 February 2024)
Letters
- Letter of the President of the General Assembly conveying the letter of co-facilitators and draft resolution after successful conclusion of silence procedure (24 May 2024)
- Letter of the co-facilitators on the draft resolution announcing the successful conclusion of silence procedure (24 May 2024)
- Letter of the co-facilitators on the revised draft of the GA resolution (9 May 2024)
- Letter of the co-facilitators on the revised zero draft of the GA resolutions (24 April 2024)
- Letter of the co-facilitators on the zero draft of the GA resolutions (18 March 2024)
- Letter of the co-facilitators on the elements paper and the second informal consultations on 7 March 2024 (28 February 2024)
- Letter of the co-facilitators with guiding questions for the first informal consultations on 15 February 2024 (30 January 2024)
- Letter of the co-facilitators for the first informal consultations on 15 February 2024 (11 January 2024)
- Letter of the President of the General Assembly appointing co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations related to the ECOSOC and the HLPF review process (10 October 2023)
Informal Consultations
- Sixth meeting (17 May 2024)
- Fifth meeting (6 May 2024)
- Fourth meeting (2 May 2024)
- Third meeting (28 March 2024)
Statements: Group of 77 and China , Switzerland , United Kingdom
Written inputs on the zero draft by NGOs and MGoS to the Co-facilitators, received after the third meeting: Local Authorities Major Group - Second meeting (7 March 2024)
Statements: Group of 77 and China , European Union , CANZ , Armenia , Mexico ( English | Spanish ), Russian Federation , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Holy See , Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) , LGBTI Stakeholder Group (MGoS)
Written inputs on the elements paper by NGOs and MGoS to the Co-facilitators, received after the second meeting: Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS), Asia-Pacific Regional CSOs Engagement Mechanism (MGoS), NGO Major Group (MGoS) - First meeting (15 February 2024)
Statements: Group of 77 and China , European Union , CANZ , Croatia , Germany , India , Malaysia , Mexico , Russian Federation , Switzerland , UK , BRAC International (NGO) , Indigenous Peoples Major Group (MGos)
Compilation of inputs by NGOs and MGoS to the Co-Facilitators for the virtual informal briefing of stakeholders on Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Secretariat’s Issue Briefs of January 2024 on ECOSOC’s work and roles for the consultations at GA78
- Brief I: ECOSOC mandates and evolution of functions
- Brief II: ECOSOC Policy Dialogue and Guidance
- Brief III: ECOSOC Guiding and promoting a coherent and coordinated UN system
- Brief IV: ECOSOC Subsidiary bodies
- Brief V: ECOSOC’s Relationship with the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council
- Brief VI: ECOSOC and Countries in Special Situations
- Brief VII: ECOSOC Addressing Emergency Issues
Other relevant background documents for the consultations at GA78
- Informal paper prepared by the Secretariat: Forums convened by the Economic and Social Council (12 February 2024)
- Subsidiary bodies of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly in the economic, social and related fields: Part I: Subsidiary bodies of the Economic and Social Council (E/2019/INF/3 (Part I))
Major Documents Related to ECOSOC and HLPF Mandates
- United Nations Charter (1945): Chapter IX: “International economic and social cooperation” and Chapter X : “The Economic and Social Council”
- A/RES/32/197 (1977): Restructuring of the economic and social sectors of the UN System
- A/RES/45/264 (1991): Restructuring and revitalization of the UN in the economic, social and related field's
- A/RES/48/162 (1993): Further measures for the restructuring and revitalization of the UN in the economic, social and related fields
- A/RES/50/227 (1996): Further measures for the restructuring and revitalization of the UN in the economic, social and related fields
- A/RES/53/12B (1997): Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform
- A/RES/60/1 (2005): World Summit Outcome Document
- A/RES/61/16 (2006): Strengthening of the Economic and Social Council
- A/RES/66/288 (2012): The Future We Want
- A/RES/67/290 (2013): Format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable development
- A/RES/68/1 (2013): Review of the implementation of GA resolution 61/16 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council
- A/RES/70/1 (2015): Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- A/RES/70/299 (2016): Follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level
- A/RES/72/305 (2018): Review of the implementation of GA resolution 68/1 on the strengthening of the ECOSOC
- A/RES/74/4 (2019): Political Declaration of the HLPF convened under the auspices of the General Assembly
- A/RES/74/298 (2020): Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 67/290 on the high-level political forum on sustainable development, resolution 70/299 on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level and resolution 72/305 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council: adopted by the General Assembly on 12 August 2020
- 75/290 A - Economic and Social Council [ العربية | 中文 | English | Français | Pусский | Español ]
- 75/290 B - High-level political forum on sustainable development [ العربية | 中文 | English | Français | Pусский | Español ]
Additional Background Documents for previous GA reviews of ECOSOC & HLPF
Background
The General Assembly has reviewed the functions of the Economic and Social Council periodically since its creation. The Council has adapted its functions over time to correspond to the dynamic international development landscape. In 2018, General Assembly resolution 72/305 on the implementation of the GA resolution 68/1 on ECOSOC strengthening addressed a wide range of issues, including revisiting the ECOSOC cycle, and the Council’s oversight and coordination of its subsidiary bodies. The General Assembly also decided that the arrangements contained in that resolution and its annex would be reviewed at the 74th session of the GA and at subsequent review cycles in conjunction with the review process of the HLPF.
On the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the General Assembly decided in 2016 in its resolution 70/299 to review progress in implementing resolution 70/299 and resolution 67/290 on the format and organizational aspects of the HLPF at its 74th session. The review was to benefit from lessons learned in the first four-year cycle of the forum, including the SDG Summit in September 2019, as well as from other processes under the GA and ECOSOC related to the follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During the 74th session of the General Assembly, on 13 January 2020 the President of the GA appointed the Permanent Representative of Benin and the Permanent Representative of Georgia to facilitate the intergovernmental negotiations related to the implementation of resolution 72/305 on ECOSOC strengthening and the HLPF resolutions 67/290 and 70/299. The General Assembly then adopted, in August 2020, resolution 74/298 on the review of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 67/290 on the high-level political forum on sustainable development, resolution 70/299 on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level and resolution 72/305 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council. Due to the limits to the negotiation process resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution deferred much of the review of ECOSOC and HLPF to the following session of the General Assembly.
During the 75th session of the General Assembly, on 5 November 2020, the President of the GA appointed the Permanent Representative of Austria and the Permanent Representative of Senegal to facilitate the intergovernmental negotiations related to the ECOSOC and HLPF review process.
The General Assembly further adopted, on 25 June 2021, resolution 75/290 A on the Review of the implementation of GA resolution 72/305 on the strengthening of ECOSOC and resolution 75/290 B on the Review of the implementation of GA resolutions 67/290 on the format and organizational aspects of the HLPF and 70/299 on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level.
Non-papers for the Consultations at GA74 and GA75 :
- Non-paper by the co-facilitators “High-level political forum on sustainable development: thematic reviews, VNRs and HLPF-related issues” (5 March 2020)
- Non-paper by the co-facilitators “Review of the implementation of GA resolution 72/305 on Strengthening the Economic and Social Council” (6 March 2020)
Secretariat’s Issue Briefs on ECOSOC’s work and roles for the Consultations at GA74 and GA75:
- Brief I: ECOSOC mandates and evolution of functions (November 2020)
- Brief II: ECOSOC Policy Dialogue and Guidance (November 2020)
- Brief III: ECOSOC Guiding and promoting a coherent and coordinated UN system
- Brief IV: ECOSOC Subsidiary bodies (November 2020)
- Brief V: ECOSOC’s Relationship with the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council (November 2020)
- Brief VI: ECOSOC and Countries in Special Situations (November 2020)
- Brief VII: ECOSOC Addressing Emergency Issues (November 2020)
Other Relevant Background Documents for the Consultations at GA74 and GA75:
- Contributions to the High-Level Political Forum Review Debates by Javier Surasky, CEPEI
- Summary of the Expert Group Meeting on “The Way Forward – Strengthening ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development” held at UNHQ in New York, 3 to 4 December 2019
- Summary of the Expert Group Meeting on “Lessons learned from the first cycle of the HLPF” held at UNHQ in New York, 6 to 7 May 2019.
- HLPF thematic session on “Lessons learned from the first cycle of the HLPF and Messages for the 2019 HLPF Summit”, 18 July 2019
- Background note of the HLPF thematic session on “Lessons learned from the first cycle of HLPF and Messages for 2019 HLPF Summit: What should Heads of State and Government know and how can we improve the HLPF?”, 18 July 2019.
- Results of the Survey on the HLPF: Evaluation after 4 years
Letters from Nnegotiation of previous GA reviews of ECOSOC & HLPF at GA74 and GA75
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, regarding the successful conclusion of the silence procedure for the revised draft resolutions (15 June 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, extending the silence procedure for the consideration of the revised draft resolutions to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 June 2021 (15 June 2021)
- Letter dated 11 June 2021 from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, conveying further revised resolutions placed under silence procedure (11 June 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of ECOSOC and the HLPF, extending the silence procedure for the consideration of the revised draft resolutions (dated 11 June 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF on extension of silence procedure (9 June 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, circulating the revised draft resolution for silence procedure (8 June 2021)
- Letter by the President of the General Assembly dated 7 June 2021 calling for consensus on the draft texts for the review process of ECOSOC and the HLPF (7 June 2021)
- Letter dated 21 May 2021 from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of ECOSOC and HLPF, conveying the that silence procedure has been broken in the draft resolutions for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review (21 May 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of ECOSOC and the HLPF regarding the final draft resolution for silence procedure (12 May 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of ECOSOC and the HLPF regarding a revised draft resolution and the virtual consultation on 19 April (9 April 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of ECOSOC and the HLPF regarding the virtual consultation on the draft resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review on 31 March (26 March 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of ECOSOC and the HLPF regarding the further revised draft resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review (17 March 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, announcing the cancellation of the informal consultations of 12 March (12 March 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of ECOSOC and the HLPF, regarding consultations on the revised draft resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review (9 March 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum, regarding virtual consultation on the zero draft of the resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review (23 February 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF regarding the zero draft of the GA resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review (12 February 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF regarding the zero draft of the GA resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review (12 February 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF regarding the second virtual informal meeting on 5 February 2021 at 10 a.m. (29 January 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF regarding the first virtual informal meeting on 25 January 2021 at 3:00 p.m. (19 January 2021)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF (15 December 2020)
- Letter by the President of the General Assembly on the appointment of co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations related to ECOSOC and the HLPF Review process (5 November 2020)
- Letter dated 12 August 2020 regarding the draft resolution entitled “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 67/290 on the high-level political forum on sustainable development, resolution 70/299 on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level and resolution 72/305 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council” (A/74/L.83), informing that the silence procedure has concluded without objections (12 August 2020)
- Letter dated 7 August 2020 regarding the draft resolution entitled “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 67/290 on the high-level political forum on sustainable development, resolution 70/299 on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level and resolution 72/305 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council” (A/74/L.83), placing it under silence procedure, until Wednesday, 12 August 2020, at 3:00 p.m. (07 August 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, informing that the silence procedure on the draft resolution entitled, “Review process of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 67/290 and 70/299 on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level and resolution 72/305 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council” concluded successfully (03 August 2020)
- Letter dated 30 July 2020 from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, informing that the silence procedure on the draft resolution is extended until Monday, 3 August 2020 at 12:00 p.m. (EDT) (30 July 2020)
- Letter dated 28 July 2020 from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum, sharing the revised draft resolution (28 July 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, on the breaking of the silence procedure (9 July 2020)
- Letter dated 7 July 2020 from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, sharing the final draft resolution (7 July 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum (29 June 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum, conveying the rescheduled date and time for the virtual consultation (12 June 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, conveying the revised draft resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review to be discussed at the virtual consultation to be convened on 15 June 2020, at 3:00 p.m.-TBC (8 June 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, conveying the inputs received from delegations (21 May 2020)
- Letter by the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum on the virtual informal consultations taking place on 8 May 2020 (5 May 2020)
- Letter by the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum on the zero draft of the GA resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC review (24 April 2020)
- Letter by the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum announcing a virtual consultation to discuss the way forward for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review in light of the COVID-19 pandemic on 8 April 2020 at 3 p.m. (6 April 2020)
- Letter by the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum (1 April 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum (18 March 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum (5 March 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, conveying the dates of the forthcoming thematic review meetings (26 February 2020)
- Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF resolutions (3 February 2020)
- Letter on the appointment of co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations related to the ECOSOC and the HLPF (13 January 2020)
- Letter by the President of the General Assembly and the President of ECOSOC on the Group of Friends of the VNRs,(14 November 2019)
HLPF Over The Years
2024
Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.
2023
Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels - HLPF under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council
SDG Summit 2023 – HLPF under the auspices of the General Assembly
2022
Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
2021
Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.
2019
Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.
2018
This year’s forum, under the theme “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies,” concluded with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration. Forty-six countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews on their efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
2017
The meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2017 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, was held from Monday, 10 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Monday, 17 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017.
