Regional Forum 2019

Two focus events on cutting-edge topics took place in the plenary room:

• Technology, Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence – Curse or Blessing for Sustainable Development? (22 March, 10:00-11:25)
• How to Measure Progress? Data and Statistics for SDGs (22 March, 11:35-13:00).

The peer learning round tables focused on the implementation of the following five SDGs under in-depth review at the 2019 High-level Political Forum.

	First set of round tables                          (22 March, 10:00-11:25)	Second set of round tables                      (22 March, 11:35-13:00)
	Learning without Limits: Lifelong Learning and Inclusive Education	The Power of Knowledge for Change: Education and Learning as Drivers of Sustainable Development
	The Growth We Want: Solutions for Sustained, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth	The Future of Work: Productive Employment and Decent Work for All
	Bridging the Gap: Achieving Greater Income and Economic Equality	Towards a World of Equal Opportunity:  Tackling inequality caused by exclusion and discrimination
	Acting for Climate: Stepping Up Climate Change Policies, Action and Awareness in the Region	Coping with Climate Change: Strengthening Resilience and Adaptation
	Strengthening Institutions for Change: Fostering Effective and Inclusive Governance for Sustainable Development	Empowering People to Protect the Planet:  The Environmental Dimension of SDG 16

Governments and other stakeholders were asked to provide case studies from their national experience in implementing the five SDGs, which framed the discussions at peer learning round tables. The compilation of all case studies is available here.

Report

Please find here the report of the meeting (EN, FR, RU) including the Chair’s summary of the discussions. In its final version, the report will become part of the official documentation of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (9-18 July 2019, New York).

SDG Report

How are we progressing on the SDGs? The SDG Snapshot Report provides on overview of some aspects of SDG performance in the UNECE region.

Participation

Who attended the Regional Forum 2019? Please have a look at the list of participants.

All the essentials on logistics are summed up in our guide for participants.

Programme

	EN	FR	RU
Programme	PDF
Provisional Agenda	PDF	PDF	PDF

Statements

Speaker	Statement
Chair of the Regional Forum: H.E. Ms. Ogerta Manastirliu	Opening Statement
UN Deputy Secretary-General: Amina J. Mohammed	Special Address
UNECE Executive Secretary: Olga Algayerova	Opening Statement
Chair of the Regional UNSDG Team for Europe and Central Asia: Mirjana Spoljaric Egger	Opening Statement
Director of the Environmental Policy Centre at the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE: Eeva Furman	Keynote Address
Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva: Michael Møller	Closing Statement
UNECE Executive Secretary: Olga Algayerova	Closing Statement

 

Member State	Statement
Armenia	Statement High-level Policy Segment
Belarus	Statement High-level Dialogue on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) (Russian)
Germany	Statement High-level Policy Segment
Israel	Statement High-level Policy Segment
Switzerland	Statement High-level Policy Segment

 

Organization	Statement
Civil Society Organizations	Opening statement
Civil Society Organizations	Closing statement
Youth representative (European Youth Forum)	Reporting back
Council of Europe	Statement
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)	Statement
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)	Statement

News & Photos

Press Releases

UNECE Regional Forum 2019: shifting from intentions to action (April 2019)

UNECE Regional Forum Shares Country Experiences in SDG Implementation (IISD Knowledge Hub, April 2019)

Photos

Regional Forum: Opening Regional Forum: High-level Policy Segment Regional Forum: Focus Event 1 and Focus Event 2 Regional Forum: Connecting the Dots Regional Forum: Closing Regional Forum: Side Events

• UNECE Regional Forum 2019: Peer learning for a sustainable future (March 2019)
• UNECE’s Regional Forum 2019: Giving fresh impetus to sustainable transformation (September 2018)

 

Evaluation

Please find here a note on the Evaluation Survey of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region for 2019.

Thursday, 21 March 2019, 13:00-14:30

• Forest Quiz Time: Test your forest knowledge
• Youth Pre-meeting: Open session for all stakeholders
• Reducing Inequalities in Access to Clean and Safe Water
• Voluntary Peer Review Mechanisms in support of Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean

• Addressing statelessness and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable groups through the SDGs (concept note)

Friday, 22 March 2019, 8:30-9:45am

• A sustainable future for all by fostering labour inclusion of persons with disabilities
• Youth Organisations' contribution to the 2030 Agenda
• Drug Policy and the Sustainable Development Agenda: Challenges and Opportunities in the European Region
• Ensuring Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promoting Lifelong Learning Opportunities
• Eurasian Economic Commission: View on Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development
• Linking peace, justice and development through good governance in SDG 16

Friday, 22 March 2019, 13:15-14:30

• Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value
• Economic Growth vs Environmental Sustainability - What does the growth target in SDG 8 mean for developed countries? (Statement from side event)
• Financial Inclusion: Matching Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Investors
• The Global Migration Data Portal: International Migration Data in Europe
• Leave no one behind: Driving policies through data and a human rights-based approach
• Partnership for People: The UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region

21-22 March 2019

• Make visual interlinkages among the SDGs at the SDG Linkages Board (SDG Lab)

Civil Society

Civil Society Pre-Meeting (20 March 2019, Palais des Nations)   

The Regional Forum was preceded by a civil society pre-meeting; please find the agenda here. Further information is available online.

Youth

Youth Pre-Meeting (21 March 2019, International Conference Centre Geneva)

For the first time, a pre-meeting for and by young people was held ahead of the Regional Forum. Please find further information in the agenda.

Volunteerism

Regional Consultation on the Plan of Action for Integrating Volunteerism into the 2030 Agenda (21 March 2019, International Conference Centre Geneva)

Led by UN Volunteers (UNV), this consultation engaged member states, UN bodies and other stakeholders in highlighting regional perspectives on volunteerism in the region. Key findings from the Regional Synthesis Report on Volunteerism were presented and discussed with participants during the event.

Pre-Meeting for VNR countries

Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 2019 VNR countries (20 March 2019, Palais des Nations)

UN DESA organized a Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 12 countries of the UNECE region undertaking Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) in 2019. The meeting took place on 20 March 2019 at the Palais des Nations; participation upon invitation by UN DESA.

Public procurement

Back-to-back Meeting

Pan-European Regional Workshop on Sustainable Public Procurement (19-20th of March 2019, Palais des Nations)

Building on existing national activities, this first regional workshop facilitated the exchange of good practices and lessons learned in developing and implementing Sustainable Public Procurement policies and practices. Please find the further information here.