The UN’s High Level Political Forum (HLPF) is a key date in Soroptimist International’s global policy calendar and this year was no exception. With so many global challenges facing humanity and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the ability for organisations to share recommendations and for states to agree actions was extremely important. This year, the HLPF saw the review of two goals which speak to the mission of SI –– SDG 4 on education and SDG 5 on gender equality. Speaking to the broad issues facing these two SDGs, SI UN Representative, Evelyne Para, who advocates at the UNESCO centre in Paris wrote this blog on transforming education and Global Policy Advisor Francesca Fletcher Williams blogged about SDG5 and the mounting challenges facing women and girls in achieving gender equality.

Each year, countries and civil society organisations speak about their experiences in implementing the SDGs. Civil Society Organisations, like Soroptimist International, can share their implementation experiences and recommendations through reports known as ‘para 89 reports’, and you can read more about SI’s 2022 report here. Countries can present a Voluntary National Review as part of the HLPF process, and in her latest blog, SI UN Representative Maria Fornella, shares her experience of watching some of those VNRs this year. As she shows, these presentations provide a key space for asking questions and scrutinising implementation –– it is important the HLPF is not merely allowing states to congratulate themselves when so much more needs to be done.

In her latest blog, Frances Zainoeddin, SI UN Representative, tackles the problem of inaction head on. Here, she explains why civil society coalitions are so disappointed with the weak language of the HLPF Ministerial Declaration. When the world is in a time of crisis it appears self-evident that the world needs decisive, transformative action. However, the Ministerial Declaration appeared to offer platitudes instead. This is where Soroptimist International can step in and advocate. The language and commitments states agree to at the UN come from governments sharing their views and Soroptimists can influence what those views are. To encourage your government to take a stronger stance on education, gender equality, human rights, climate change, peace and other pressing issues, write to your government representatives, campaign and advocate. The more pressure civil society applies to states, the more they are held accountable for inaction and the more likely it is that they will act. SI’s position papers offer clear guidance on what SI advocates for and contain key recommendations to governments. These papers make an excellent starting point for any Soroptimist advocacy campaign.

In the sphere of the UN, SI UN Representative Bette Levy represented the Women’s Major Group at a UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Learning, Training and Practice Session during the HLPF. This event aimed to support women and organisations working in their communities to work effectively and to be able to relay that information in a way that will impact global policy. You can read about the event in Bette’s blog, and watch the session on YouTube. Bette’s advice focused on the importance of data in developing, implementing and reporting on projects. She used an SI project from the Philippines, ‘Adopt a National Police Women’s Desk’, to illustrate her point. You can read about that project in SI’s HLPF report here.

While this year’s HLPF may have been frustrating for many members of civil society, looking forward to next year, what is needed is action. Now, we must hold states accountable for the commitments they made, and demand that they act for change.