HLPF 2025: Recommended Events

The following is a curated list of High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2025 side events and parallel events that are recommended by JCoR and our Religious community at the United Nations in New York. Please check back as this page will continue to be updated as the HLPF approaches.

 

Tides of Transformation: Aligning SDG 14 Actions from Nice to New York
9 July 2025, 10:00AM-12:00PM (New York Time)

Virtual event (held via Zoom)
 
Sponsor: NGO Mining Working Group, Waterspirit
 
Description: Join us for a conversation bridging the outcomes of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, including the Nice Ocean Action Plan, with the upcoming review of SDG 14 at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum. This event will feature reflections from UNOC3 attendees (including Waterspirit’s Executive Director) as well as a strategic discussion ahead of the HLPF to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14.
 

Beyond Default: The Liberating Power of Debt Reform (SDG 17)
14 July 2025, 8:30AM (New York Time)

Virtual event (held via Zoom)
 
Sponsor: Congregations of St. Joseph, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate, NGO Committee on Finance for Development, Caritas Internationalis, Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE), Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, CSJ Federation Office for Systemic Justice, Centre Oblat, Mary Ward Centre, and KAIROS Canada
 
Description: This webinar will address SDG target 17.4, focusing on the realities, obstacles, and opportunities for developing countries to attain long-term debt sustainability, particularly through initiatives aimed at debt cancellation and reform of the global financial system, especially a debt resolution framework at the United Nations. Participants will hear from speakers who will highlight the interconnections between global debt (SDG 17), good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5) and decent work (SDG 8).
 
Through panel presentations and interactive engagement, participants will gain knowledge, understanding, and the capacity to act towards achieving target 17.4 through the Global Ecumenical Jubilee Year Campaign.
 
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the flyer in English
 
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
 

Gender Equality: The Key Ingredient for SDG2030
15 July 2025, 8:30AM (New York Time)

Virtual event (held via Zoom)
 
Sponsor: Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate, Justice Coalition of Religious, Daughters of Charity, Society of the Sacred Heart, Mary Ward Centre, and The Grail
 
Description: In response to UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality, this webinar will examine the opportunities and barriers young women and girls experience concerning SDG 5. This webinar will examine their experiences related to policies and legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels, particularly applied to good health and wellbeing (SDG 3), decent work (SDG 8), life under water (SDG 14), and partnerships (SDG 17).
 
Event participants will hear from young women and girls from around the world who will highlight the interconnections between these goals. Through panel presentations and interactive engagement, participants will gain knowledge, understanding, and the capacity to act towards achieving SDG 5 locally and globally.
 
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the flyer in English
 
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
 

Welcome Gathering for Delegates of Religious NGOs to the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
16 July 2025, 1:15 – 4:00PM (New York Time)

In-person event on the 10th floor of the Church Center to the United Nations (777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY)
 
Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious
 
Description: JCoR is offering an in-person welcome gathering for the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. This event will be held for delegates of NGOs representing Catholic Sisters, Brothers, or priests at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The gathering will serve as an opportunity to meet other delegates, to pray and reflect on hopes and intentions for engagement with the HLPF process, and to ask questions about how to participate.
 
***English-Spanish interpretation will be provided.***

Decent Work and Economic Empowerment: Grassroots perspectives on barriers and opportunities in achieving productive livelihoods and socio-economic well-being
16 July 2025, 11:00AM – 12:30PM (New York Time)

In-person (Baháí International Community: 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017) and virtual event (held via Zoom)
 
Sponsor: NGO Committee for Social Development, VIVAT International, Congregations of St. Joseph, International Association of Schools of Social Work, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Life Project 4 Youth, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Congregation of the Mission, International Presentation Association, and the Association Dalit Women’s Advancement in Nepal (ADWAN)
 
Description: Echoing the reality and concerns of people from grassroots communities, this side event underscores the interconnectedness of decent work and economic empowerment, along with the barriers and opportunities to achieve a prosperous livelihood and socio-economic well-being for all individuals, particularly those in most need.
 
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
 
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the flyer in English
 

JCoR Reflection and Debriefing Gatherings 
17 July 2025, 6:00PM-7:00PM (New York time)
18 July 2025, 4:30PM-5:30PM (New York time)
21 July 2025, 6:00PM-7:00PM (New York time)
22 July 2025, 4:30PM-5:30PM (New York time)
23 July 2025, 4:30PM-5:30PM (New York time)

 
In-person events held in the conference room of the JCoR office:
Church Center of the United Nations
777 United Nations Plaza
7th floor (Suite 7D, far end of the hall)
 

Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious

Description: Gather with other delegates from the JCoR community for one hour of facilitated reflection/debriefing on your experience at the HLPF. Share your thoughts, learnings, and ideas for follow-up action.

All delegates of NGOs representing Catholic Sisters, Brothers, or priests are welcome to attend these JCoR SDG reflection and debriefing sessions.

Claretian Engagement with the SDGs: From Local Mission to Global Impact
18 July 2025, 8:30AM (New York time)

Virtual event (held via Zoom)
 

Sponsor: Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-Onlus (Claretians)

Description: Listen to Claretians from Angola, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria and the Philippines as they respond to the following questions: (1) How are countries addressing their implementation of the SDGs in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs)? (2) How are Claretians responding through concrete actions and mission-based engagement?

Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87831684793?pwd=tU76v8NYJFPoE1InghGE8LZUqGozkf.1

Catholic Social Forum (CSF) on UN SDGs and Catholic Social Teaching 2025
20 July 2025, 2:00PM-7:00PM (New York time)

Hybrid event held at Manhattan University and via Zoom
 

Sponsor: Manhattan University and Pax Romana

Description: Join Catholic youth, NGOs, and Church leaders as we reflect on global governance, UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), and Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Highlights will include: the role of Catholic NGOs/CSOs at the UN; 10th anniversary of the UN 2030 Agenda and Laudato Si’; and Pope Francis’ prophetic visit to the UN in 2015.

Register to join in-person or via Zoom: https://bit.ly/CatholicSocialForum

Storytelling for Hope: Living the SDG Lifestyle
21 July 2025, 3:30PM-6:00PM (New York time)

In-person (Tzu Chi Center) and virtual event (held via Zoom)

Sponsor: Loretto Community, Tzu Chi Center

Description: Hosted on the sidelines of the High Level Political Forum at the Tzu Chi Center, this offsite event—“Storytelling for Hope: Living the SDG Lifestyle” is part of a series of interactive storytelling circles cohosted by AHAM Education Inc and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation that brings together policymakers, practitioners and community members to reflect on how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are already being integrated our daily lives, and how we can do more to meet and surpass the 2030 Agenda. 

Register to join in-person or via Zoom: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZIvDS_CU8vIHzvB4ZSKB3h7jUbpdkjLe9M5JXA_TS8UPMNg/viewform

View from the Margins: A People’s Critique on the VNR of India
25 July 2025, 9:45AM-11:15AM (New York time)

In-person (Baha’i Office, 866 United Nations Plaza) and virtual event (held via Zoom)
 

Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious, Edmund Rice International, and PRATYeK 

Description: Coming soon

Flyer: Click on the following link to access the event flyer in English

Register to join in-person: https://forms.gle/2WzRrB2TkfCpQ2oAA
***Those attending in person must submit this form no later than 14:00 on 23 July. They must also bring some form of photo identification in order to be admitted to the building***

Register to join via Zoom: https://bit.ly/RefVNRInd

JCoR SDG Lab at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
28 July – 1 August 2025, 9:00AM-11:00AM (New York Time)

Virtual events (held via Zoom)
 

Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious

Description: The annual High Level Political Forum (HLPF) will take place from 14-23 July this year. It functions as the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each year, the forum focuses on a select few SDGs, and government leaders voluntarily report on their national progress toward achievement of these SDGs. The SDGs of focus this year are 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17.

In addition to reports from governments, the HLPF also includes events sponsored by civil society groups, to highlight their perspectives on implementation and progress toward the SDGs in their respective countries. JCoR will join the conversation by offering a series of virtual discussion, which we are calling the “JCoR SDG Lab.” This series will showcase Catholic Religious and their partners’ perspectives on progress and good practices towards sustainable development. It will run from 28 July – 1 August and include sessions dedicated to each of the aforementioned SDGs of focus for the 2025 HLPF.

All are welcome to attend these JCoR SDG Lab sessions. Please see the details below, and register to join us for one or more of the sessions!

***Interpretation will be provided in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish***

Monday, 28 July, 9:00AM-11:00AM (New York time): SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being
Register: http://bit.ly/3TITK0K

Tuesday, 29 July, 9:00AM-11:00AM (New York time) : SDG 5 Gender Equality 
Register: https://bit.ly/4emArUy

Wednesday, 30 July, 9:00AM-11:00AM (New York time): SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
Register: https://bit.ly/4lo7k5v

Thursday, 31 July, 9:00AM-11:00AM (New York time): SDG 14 Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems
Register: http://bit.ly/3I020Hf

Friday, 1 August, 9:00AM-11:00AM (New York time): SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Register: https://bit.ly/45F8WDu