b'advocacyNew YorkHigh-Level political forum Commission on Social DevelopmentThe 2020 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF),The 58th Session on the Commission on Social which met from 7-16 July 2020, was heldDevelopment was held 10 - 19 February 2020. virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme of the Commission was Affordable The theme was Accelerated action andHousing and Social Protection Systems for All to transformative pathways: realizing theAddress Homelessness. SI was very active in the decade of action and delivery for sustainableCommission, submitting a written statement, development.Much of the HLPFs attentionproviding an intervention during the general was focused on the impact of COVID-19 onsession delivered by SI President, Sharon Fisher, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).and organising a side event. The 2020 public health crisis became anThe side event, The Rise of Homelessness economic, social and human rights crisis. in Ageing Women, discussed work done by COVID-19 exacerbated the vulnerability of theNGOs for homeless older persons, and the least protected in society and highlightedpolicy changes that are necessary to prevent existing economic and social inequalities, andhomelessness. Speakers including SI President inadequate health and social protection systems. Sharon Fisher, and UN Representatives Frances Forty-seven countries presented VoluntaryZainoeddin and Maria Fornella, pointed to the National Reviews, and spoke about the impact offact that older women represented a fast-the pandemic on the achievement of the SDGs. growing population in homelessness around the Building back better became the rallying cryworld. for creating safety nets for the most vulnerable; investing in public health and education, andCauses of homelessness included: ageism and building more sustainably.age discrimination in the work place ,which At official meetings, civil society participatedoften results in forced retirement, leaving older through the mechanism of the Major Groupspersons with little or no income security. Inability and other Stakeholders (SI is a member of theto pay rent or lack of inheritance rights for Womens Major Group), despite many technicalwidows can lead to eviction, and homeless may difficulties.SI submitted its annual report onarise from abandonment by families, mental implementation of the SDGs, in addition to aillness, (often undiagnosed due to lack of access statement in collaboration with Women forto health care), or the impact of natural disasters. Water Partnership and Association of CountryTo add insult to injury, following a lifetime of Women Worldwide. providing unpaid care for their families, older women often live in poverty.Regrettably, Member States could not agree onSI UN Representative, Maria Fornellathe annual Ministerial Declaration to reflect the outcome of the 2020 HLPF.SI UN Representative, Frances Zainnoeddinsoroptimistinternational.org 13'