UN – High Level Political Forum at UN Headquarters

21 July 2016

(ANS – New York) – Delegations from all the Member States arrived in New York to participate in the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), July 11-20, 2016. HLPF is the most inclusive and participatory forum at the United Nations, bringing all States Members of the United Nations and members of specialized agencies together. The Salesians of Don Bosco, through their representative at the UN, Fr. Thomas Brennan, SDB, participated in the preparatory meetings and major sessions of the Forum.

Over 230 official meetings, special events, side events and learning sessions were held during the HLPF, that is the chief mechanism for the review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the Member States on September 25, 2015.  

A Ministerial Declaration will be adopted and is expected to provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations on the 2030 Agenda’s implementation and follow-up; keep track of progress of the SDGs; spur coherent policies informed by evidence, science and country experiences; as well as address new and emerging issues.

Fr. Brennan organized two events held during this important meeting.

The Human Right to Water and Sanitation: the Foundation of SDG 6

In this interactive dialogue, panelists discussed the intersection of the human right to water and sanitation and water justice with poverty eradication, gender equality, hunger eradication, good health, climate action, and sustainable communities. The speakers addressed the cross-cutting and multidimensional nature of this vital life source and its foundational role in the realization of all human rights. Their diverse perspectives offered an opportunity to envisage a just, rights-based implementation of SDG 6 and its implications for sustainable development as a whole.  Additionally, panelists identified and analyzed several development implementation pitfalls that are currently threatening the viability of the 2030 Agenda, the well-being of the world’s peoples, and the habitability of the planet.

You can watch the event here

Eliminating the Trafficking of Children and Youth

The trafficking of persons is a crime that shames us all. Pope Francis has called it “a crime against humanity” and “an open wound on the body of contemporary society.” It thrives on the silence and complicity of many sectors of society as well as on the desperation that many who live in poverty ex­perience throughout their life. With false promises of a better life and financial security, traffickers lure innocent victims into a web of pain and suffering.

Of the 21 million people trafficked each year thoughout the world it is estimated that 5.5 million are children. They often experience intense suffering due to violence, exploitation and abuse at the hands of unscrupulous traffickers and employers. Trafficked children and youth can be found in prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, forced marriage, sweatshop work, begging, child soldiers and many sectors of agriculture. This needs to stop.

A panel of experts addressed some of the key dimensions of this crime against children and youth that has led to trafficking and other forms of modern day slavery. Included in the discussion were the following topics: Trafficking and Child Labor; Use of the internet in the trafficking of children and youth; Criminalization of homeless children who have been trafficked; Giving voice to victims of child trafficking and assisting in their healing; A personal testimony of a survivor of child trafficking; Advocating for the protection of children and youth from trafficking; The Faith community as a leader in ending trafficking.

For more info visit HLPF website

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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