(15th meeting) High-Level Political Forum 2025 | 1) Voluntary national reviews (VNRs); 2) Adoption of the Ministerial Declaration; 3) Conclusion of the HLPF

Colleagues, it's my pleasure as the President of ECOSOC to call to order the 15th meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council at its 2025 session. I invite the Forum Excellencies Thank you, Madam Chair and distinguished delegates, to continue its consideration of sub-item C of Agenda Item 2, Voluntary National Reviews, to hear the final set of panel presentations during the High-Level Political Forum under the auspices of the Council during its 2025 session. It is my great pleasure to welcome the distinguished presenters from India, and Lesotho. Before we begin with the presentations, I would like to appeal to the countries who are presenting, if you could please try to adhere to the agreed 10 minutes per presentation so as to allow sufficient time for all presenters as well as engagement with other states and participants. I would, of course, apologize if I have to interrupt in order to try to bring the the discussion to a conclusion, but I'm sure we'll all get along famously and that won't be necessary because we understand that we have to keep the show moving. The forum that you will first hear is the Voluntary National Review by Lesotho, and it's my pleasure to invite Her Excellency Minister Matlanyana, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning of Lesotho, to make a presentation. I thank the minister and her team for cooperating with us and for doing so much to get us to this point and look forward to hearing what she has to say. Please.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished guests. We will start our presentation with a short video.

Lesotho, the land of mountains and resilience. In 2024, the kingdom proudly marked 200 years of nationhood, a moment of reflection and unity. And now, in 2025, Lesotho are shaping a future defined by dignity, equality, and progress. From the majestic highlands flows Lesotho's most valuable resource— water, often called the liquid gold. Lesotho continues to face urgent and interconnected development challenges. Nearly half of young people are not in work, school, or training. Gender-based violence remains alarmingly high, with 44% of women affected. The healthcare system struggles with a shortage of health workers, with one doctor serving approximately 17,000 people. Climate-related disasters are intensifying, yet Lesotho's Disaster Risk Financing Strategy remains underfunded. Internal and cross-border migration is also increasing, particularly among young people seeking livelihoods. Fragmented data and poor coordination across sectors hinder timely decision-making. Lesotho responded by bringing the nation together. The government led the 2025 Voluntary National Review Process Through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Even amid global funding constraints and local economic pressures, Lesotho has made meaningful progress. Under-5 mortality has dropped by 25%, from 72 to 54 deaths per 1,000 live births. Skilled birth attendance now stands at 89%, And contraceptive use at 67%. More women are participating in leadership roles. Youth entrepreneurship is on the rise, supported by initiatives like Sebapatswa. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project stands as a flagship infrastructure initiative. To overcome shrinking aid and limited fiscal space, Lesotho is forging innovative partnerships. These include diaspora investors, private sector collaborations, regional trade alignments, and green financing. Lesotho has identified 12 key investment sectors and secured over $460 million to support the implementation of the SDGs. Lesotho's journey towards 2030 is one of courage, commitment, and collective action. From the highlands to the halls of government, Basotho are shaping a future rooted in dignity, resilience, and possibility. The road ahead is challenging, but with unity, innovation, and partnership, Lesotho is not just moving forward, it is rising. Thank you.

Thank you. Once again, Chairman, let me start by saying that the 2025 Vienna was developed through an inclusive participatory approach involving government, civil society, private sector, youth, persons with disabilities, and development partners. Out of the 63 indicators reviewed, Across 6 SDGs, 51% showed progress, 35% stagnated, and 14% regressed. With regard to health and well-being, 54% reduction in maternal mortality has been experienced. And shortage of skills persists, with 89% of women being attended by skilled health workers. We do recognize as a country the need for multidisciplinary teams of health workers to attend to patients, especially in remote areas. And with regard to child mortality, We currently experience 54 deaths per 1,000 children under the age of 5. An alarming 44% of women experience gender-based violence in their lifetime, an embarrassing and barbaric practice that has to stop. To cap this In this trend, a number of legal frameworks for protection and empowerment of women through equal status in marriage and inheritance rights, as well as an anti-domestic violence law, has been enacted to criminalize gender-based violence. We leverage on traditional and faith leaders, local government authorities, to challenge harmful gender norms and promote community accountability. On decent work and economic growth, over 80% of employed population hold informal jobs. Youth unemployment is at an alarming 38%, reflecting low levels of growth and skills mismatches. Innovative approaches to job creation, including establishment of special economic zones to create sustainable and decent jobs through elevated private sector investments while streamlining education policy and curriculum to respond to the needs of the labor market, is being pursued. And in this regard, we have put in place a new Labour Act 2024 that addresses the current challenges, together with an Occupational Health and Safety Act of 2024 to safeguard the interests of the labour and job employees. With regard to climate action, SDG 13, approximately 4,500 people out of 100,000 Thank you. Are affected by disasters. This includes storms, droughts, floods, early frost, extreme temperatures that affect infrastructure and our capacity to produce food. Accessing green climate funding for accelerating climate-smart initiatives remain major challenges. We are enhancing local-level implementation capacity, including systems for monitoring and evaluation, as well as adaptation. Investing in early warning systems, building climate resilience, adaptation in all its forms requires increased funding. Regarding life below water, Lesotho has increased its production of freshwater fish significantly as we continue to maintain the cleanest and freshest water sources by limiting all forms of pollution. Infrastructure limitations in rural areas increases production costs. Best Aquaculture Practices certification gives Lesotho access to premium export markets with regard to freshwater fish. In this regard, we are making progress in scaling up production of freshwater fish and preserving the resources that we have. In terms of water. With SDG 17, we experience significant data gaps in about 43% of indicators because of funding shortages. Statistical reforms under the new National Strategic Development Plan to strengthen statistical systems are in place and limited availability of granular data for analysis and accurate policymaking limit our analysis. We are looking to employ innovative technology for data collection. In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to the 2030 Agenda, and we acknowledge the synergies between the SDGs and commit to prioritizing investment in areas where goals are mutually reinforcing. We're making progress despite structural and external shocks, and we call for continued support and strengthened partnerships. I thank you.

I want to thank the Minister and her team for the presentation. I think we We were all struck by the directness and the candor of the presentation, and also by the fact that it demonstrates that we all benefit from understanding that even small improvements make a difference and that there's further steps to be made. But the purpose of this exercise under the VNRs is to is to provide sustenance, support, and encouragement to every country as we try to make progress. And I thank Lesotho very much for coming forward and for making the presentation. The Forum will next hear the Voluntary National Review by India, and it's my pleasure to invite His Excellency Suman Berry, who's the Vice President of the National Institution for Transforming India, known as NITI Aayog, the Government of India, to make a presentation. Your Excellency, you have the floor. We look forward to hearing from you. And I might point out that of all of us, India is the most populous among us, and we look forward to hearing the presentation from such an important country. Thank you very much.

Thank you, President, my distinguished colleague from Lesotho, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. It is indeed a privilege to present India's 3rd Voluntary National Review at this high-level political forum. The Sustainable Development Goals are not external to India's development imagination; they are aligned with our constitutional structure and have found deep resonance in the country's policy and governance frameworks from the very outset. India's journey towards Agenda 2030 is not primarily about meeting targets; It is integral to the country's resolve to build a developed India by 2047, what we call Aviksit Bharat. In 2047, India will celebrate 100 years of independence. Like the SDGs themselves, this report is the product of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, driven by strong political leadership, institutional alignment, and active participation of citizens, youth, civil society, and the private sector. From localizing the SDGs to leveraging digital public infrastructure for both inclusion and scale, in India, sustainability is integral to its development strategy. Allow me to share my country's experience through a short video which will be followed by a presentation. Please screen the video.

1.4 billion people, one shared commitment. Bharat ke liye one earth, one family, one future, a commitment. India has accelerated its progress. And the country's Voluntary National Review is proof of its ability to deliver the 2030 Agenda. In the world's fastest-growing major economy, the latest numbers speak for themselves. 248 million people escaped multidimensional poverty. Social protection coverage doubled. 800 million people were guaranteed food security, on track to meet child and maternal mortality targets. Progress has been steady and widespread across states and union territories. India is using data to drive decisions and improve its SDG scorecard, measuring exactly what it has achieved and where the gaps remain through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Technology and innovation are also charting the way forward, both at speed and at scale. Digital public infrastructure, for example, empowers billions of lives every day. From bringing the SDGs center stage during its G20 presidency to bolstering the Global South, India's vision of Viksit Bharat is clear: a sustainable future where no one is left behind.

Could we now move to the presentation? A decade ago, India was counted among the world's Fragile 5 economies and today it ranks among the 5 largest economies in the world. Driven by a profound political commitment to growth through inclusion and inclusion through growth. This transformation is by design. Every initiative is shaped to reach those who need it most, with a focus on well-being, opportunity, inclusion and female empowerment. From household-level improvements to broader social outcomes. The aim throughout is clear: to ensure that no one is left behind. Next slide, please. Transforming lives has been central to India's development model. In just 9 years, as you have seen, 248 million people are estimated to have escaped multidimensional poverty. An achievement rooted in targeted delivery of essential services at scale. Over 500 million people have been brought into the formal financial sector, equivalent to the combined populations of Japan, Germany, the UK, Italy, and Mexico. 150 million households now have access to clean tap water. More than twice the population of South Korea. 550 million people are covered under national health insurance, part of the widening of social protection as acknowledged by the ILO. I do want to note that women have been at the forefront, receiving 68% of all entrepreneurship loans and over 103 million households led by women now cook using clean LPG fuel, which enhances their lives by saving on the collection of firewood and also commensurate health benefits. India has also emerged as the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world, underscoring the entrepreneurial energy unleashed across the country. These are not just numbers. They reflect a shift in human well-being. But you may well ask, how has this scale of transformation been achieved? Next slide. India's development model rests, I would argue, on 3 key enablers: digital, data, and delivery. India has invested massively in digital public infrastructure, which is both inclusive and scalable. Over 970 million people are now connected to the internet. Platforms like our universal ID system, Aadhaar, the Unified Payment Interface, UPI, and the DigiLocker to provide access access to government documents have brought technological services to the fingertips of all citizens seamlessly, securely, securely and swiftly. We have strengthened our data architecture to support evidence-based policymaking. From real-time dashboards to high-frequency household surveys, India captures granular and objective data to guide action. And of course, we all know what gets measured is what gets done. Through targeted initiatives like the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programme, we also try to ensure that delivery extends to the last mile. These programmes help to converge efforts across sectors and government schemes to benefit the most underserved communities and individuals. This transformation also reflects India's unwavering commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Our states and Union Territories have been important partners in India's SDG journey. Competing, yes. Collaborating, yes. And learning from one another. But the momentum is not restricted to government alone. The SDGs have brought together civil society organizations, NGOs, academia, think tanks, and the private sector, making progress a shared national mission. And through decentralization, through localization, Over a quarter of a million village councils have been empowered to design and deliver development tailored to local needs. This bottom-up, people-first approach ensures that solutions are grounded in local realities and helps to ensure that no one is left behind. Next slide, please. As India has progressed, it has looked outward, guided by the spirit of its 2023 G20 presidency, the world is one family, or Vasudev Kutumbakam in Sanskrit, we have deepened our development partnerships, particularly with the Global South, and through capacity building, technology sharing, and human-centric innovation, India remains a committed partner to advancing sustainable development globally. India continues to engage actively with the G20 beyond its presidency, underscoring our sustained commitment to global cooperation in sustainable development. Next slide, please. As 2030 approaches, India recognizes that the SDGs are milestones and not the final destination. Already begun looking beyond towards 2047, the year that India celebrates 100 years of independence. Our national vision is bold, to become a developed society by 2047, which is not just about becoming a $30 trillion economy. It is about building a society where prosperity is inclusive, governance is participatory, innovation is purpose-driven, and our cultural and civilizational values continue to guide us. A developed society by 2047, we believe, will mean access to high-quality education and healthcare for all, thriving green and digital economies, strong institutions, and above all empowered citizens, especially women and youth, contributing meaningfully to national and global progress. In sum, India's SDG journey is a story of scale, speed, and inclusion, but above all, it is a story of shared ownership and shared aspirations. And thank you all for allowing us to share the story with you. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Berry. It's a privilege to listen. Those of us who've been following India's story over the last several years have found it to be truly remarkable, and I think we all recognize that India's leadership with regard to the SDGs, the integration of the SDGs into into the national fabric and framework of the country's policies, and also India's leadership with respect to South-South cooperation and, and with respect to, frankly, providing all of us with a need to better understand and appreciate the challenges that, that you face and that you are overcoming and facing every day. And I, I pay tribute to you and to your country for remarkable progress and for the presentation that you've made today. If I may say so, it's the last V&R we'll hear this year. And I think if any of you are asking yourselves the question, what more can we do, here's the model. And it's an important one to look at and understand and appreciate its significance. And above all, I want to thank you for sharing it. And I can understand your national pride, but I also want to assure you that all of us benefit when India benefits. And so it's, it's good to hear from you in this, in this regard. I have some people who are on the list who wish to speak— South Africa and Malaysia— and I will take others as they come forward.

President, distinguished delegates, colleagues, partners in sustainable development, I'd like to take the opportunity to congratulate Lesotho and India on the presentation of the VNRs. Whilst their contexts may differ in scales, their aspirations towards the Agenda 2030 resonate with remarkable unison. From the highlands of Lesotho to the vast subcontinent of India, a shared ethos emerges to leave no one behind. Both nations underscore inclusion not as an afterthought, but as a bedrock for their development pathways. The story of resilience continues in health as well as social protection. Employment and economic transformation are also central through targeted investments, delivery of infrastructure, and achieving digital public goods. In climate action, both nations demonstrate bold political will. Both VNRs speak candidly about the challenges that remain, such as the need for improved inter-ministry coordination, data reliability, the imperative to deepen youth engagement and women's participation in the workforce. Yet both countries are committed to overcoming these barriers through inclusive governance and partnerships. India's whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to SDGs mirrors Lesotho's calls for more integrated, multi-stakeholder engagement. Colleagues, the voices of Lesotho and India remind us that while resources and capacities may differ, the will to act and drive to innovate and to commit inclusion can actually bridge the gap. The question I'd like to propose to Lesotho is, how are you ensuring that marginalized and vulnerable communities are not left behind in rapid growth in digital transformation? Thank you.

I thank the representative from South Africa. I now give the floor to Malaysia, to be followed by Armenia and the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group.

Thank you, Mr. President. Congratulations to both panelists for your presentation today. Malaysia has one question each for the esteemed delegation of India and Lesotho. For India, a multi-level stakeholder coordination system facilitates effective SDG planning, implementation, and monitoring across national and subnational levels, involving the private sector and civil society. In the VNR process, India has adopted a whole-of-society approach by consulting with civil society organizations. Thank you. How do you plan to incorporate the recommendations received from these organizations, and what mechanisms are in place to ensure their feedback results in meaningful policy actions? Malaysia's question for Lesotho: Cognizant that gender equality is a global dilemma, what progress has Lesotho made, especially looking at the participation of women in leadership positions? Thank you very much.

Thank you so much for that. I'll now turn to Armenia. By the way, the list is closed because we've got lots of people wanting to speak and we have, as you know, other business later this afternoon. Armenia, to be followed by the stakeholder group.

Thank you, President. First of all, I would like to congratulate India and Lesotho for their successful VNRs and insightful presentations. My question is directed to Lesotho. Excellency, climate change is a major concern for economic growth, and what specific measures has Lesotho implemented to mitigate its effects and promote climate resilience in the country? Thank you.

Thank you for that. We'll now hear from the NGO Major Group.

Thank you, Excellencies. We, the Indian civil society, acknowledge India's progress, yet note several persistent challenges excluded from this process. High out-of-pocket expenses and low public health spending related to mental health and SRHR services remain a challenge. Despite its legal abolition, manual scavenging persists, disproportionately affecting Dalit communities through caste-based intergenerational labor. Given post-COVID learning losses, especially in rural and tribal areas, many learners still lack foundational literacy with ill-equipped teachers. Digital public infrastructure has scaled up, but rural internet access remains limited and gendered, hindering access to education, health, jobs, and youth-led innovation. Youth activists and human rights defenders face increasing restrictions curtailing rights to dissent and meaningful engagement in decision-making processes. In this slide, we have 5 recommendations. Move forward a more inclusive, transparent, and transformative VNR process, recognizing and integrating shadow reports and grassroots data. 2, address gender barriers to SRHR and disparities in public health access through community-based systems and budgeted commitments. 3, strengthen gender and caste sensitive redressal mechanisms, fast-track courts and support services, and enact and enforce legal frameworks to ensure funding reaches the most marginalized communities. Allocate dedicated and transparent SDG financing for health, gender equality, education, climate resilience, and social protection schemes focused on SRHR and disability access. Promote civic engagement and protections for democratic freedoms for all, namely women, dissent communities, and indigenous peoples and their right to self-identify. We are here to work with you. I thank you.

Thank the NGO representative. I now have Zimbabwe, Angola, and Czechia. So Zimbabwe first, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. We congratulate both India and Lesotho on the successful presentation of their Voluntary National Reviews and for the progress achieved in the implementation of the SDGs. To the delegation of the Kingdom of Lesotho, we commend your country for the concerted efforts to overcome structural barriers that include the lack of direct access to the sea. We particularly commend Lesotho's achievement as the leading producer of rainbow trout in Africa. May you please share the strategies and best practices that contributed to this remarkable milestone, given that Lesotho is a landlocked country? Thank you.

Thank you for that question from Zimbabwe. Angola, please, and then Czechia.

Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation would like to commend the delegations of Lesotho and India for their excellent presentations and the high quality of their VNRs. We have a question for the delegation of India. Many countries are prioritizing the strengthening of technical capacity and data-driven management for sustainable development? How has India developed and implemented a data monitoring system to track progress on the SDGs, and what mechanism ensured the reliability and accessibility of this data at national and subnational levels? What strategy has India adopted to ensure that statistical frameworks reflect regional variations? Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for the question. We now turn to Czechia, to be followed by the academic educational stakeholder group.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, first of all, congratulations to both Lesotho and India for their VNRs and presentations, and especially for the achievements. It's amazing to see how a huge country as well as a relatively small country are both struggling to achieve SDGs. It's like a true unity in diversity. And I would like to ask India. India has made impressive progress in deploying and universalizing digital public infrastructure. What role might artificial intelligence play in helping India achieve its commitment under Agenda 2030? Thank you.

Thank you very much for that question. I now turn to the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group.

Thank you, Mr. President. Our intervention is to— on Lesotho. We would like to commend the government of Lesotho for demonstrating political commitment towards achieving the SDGs. We also acknowledge the recommendation in the VNR for civil society and NGOs to intensify public engagement and accountability through shadow reporting, civic engagement, and community mobilization. We know the structural challenges continue to undermine the progress of SDG in the country. These include persistent rural-urban disparities in access to quality public service, high youth unemployment, and lack of access for women to higher administrative positions and skills development, and limited institutionalized mechanism for civil society participation. Therefore, we would like to put forward these recommendations. One, Establish and implement COCO policy, a formal inclusive framework for civil society and youth participation in SDGs planning, monitoring, and reporting. 2, strengthen education for decent work for marginalized groups. Review and update TVET and non-formal education policies to address high dropout rates and skills gaps, aligning education with labor market demands, and ensure women access to decent work and a life of dignity. 3, invest in gender transformative education that challenges harmful gender norms such as child marriage and gender-based violence and ensure girls can complete quality education. 4, expand and accelerate gender-responsive budgeting to address barriers faced by girls, boys, women, and marginalized groups. 5, enhance data systems and collect disaggregated data collection by gender, disability, geography, and integrate civil society monitoring tools in the information systems. 6th and last, generate sustainable financing for quality public education and public services by implementing progressive taxation and support efforts towards convening the UN Framework Convention on Sovereign Debt. I thank you.

Thank you. I give now the floor to Israel, to be followed by Norway, Ethiopia, and Bhutan. Israel, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, allow me to congratulate India and Lesotho on their reviews. My question is for His Excellency Suman Berry, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog from India, from the Government of India. Our question to you is, how does India's SDG localization model ensure effective coordination between national, subnational, and local governments? Furthermore, how are the experiences and lessons from these different levels of government help moving the needle on implementation? Thank you.

Thank you very much for that question. I now turn to Norway, to be followed by Ethiopia and Bhutan. Norway, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, let me just congratulate both India and Lesotho with the successful presentations of their VNRs. Norway commends India for its strong commitment to the SDGs and its comprehensive VNR. We welcome India's impressive achievements in poverty reduction, renewable energy expansion, and digital inclusion, exemplified by the use of the Aadhaar system to expand access to public services. As a long-standing advocate for gender equality, Norway encourages India to intensify efforts to empower women and girls, particularly through increased access to education economic opportunities, and efforts to combat gender-based violence. Promoting gender equality remains essential to realizing the full potential of the 2030 Agenda. We wish to ask for India to elaborate on some of the main obstacles to achieving SDG 5. Thank you.

Thanks to Norway, and now to Ethiopia.

Thank you, Mr. President, and allow me to Congratulations to Lesotho as well as India for their successful PNR presentation. My question goes to India. As you know, India's progress is primarily driven by large-scale physical and social infrastructure programs implemented by both central and state governments, and infrastructure is very critical for the socio-economic development of any country regardless of the level of development, especially infrastructure boosts investment and creates jobs for youth and also socioeconomic development. So in this regard, what are some of Indian lessons learned that might be interesting to countries like Africa? I thank you.

I thank you very much, and now I turn to Bhutan.

Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor. I would like to congratulate both India and Lesotho for presenting their VNAs. My comment and question is addressed to India. We commend India for its remarkable progress in advancing Agenda 2030, especially following a very inclusive approach. The expansion of digital public infrastructure, the success of the Aspirational Districts Program, and efforts to lift 135 million people out of multidimensional poverty are truly commendable. These initiatives reflect India's steadfast commitment to leaving no one behind. In this regard, my question is, In light of the opportunities and ongoing transformation in terms of connectivity and access in India's Northeast region, what major initiatives are being undertaken by the government to foster inclusive growth and enhancing access to essential services? Thank you.

So we have— that concludes all the questions for both Lesotho and for India. I will give the floor to the Minister of Finance for Lesotho to answer the questions that she feels have been posed to her in about 5 minutes, if you can do that.

Thank you. I shall try. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman. I'll start with the first question coming from South Africa. The inclusion of marginalized groups. In our approach to the VNR and in our approach to development, the marginalized groups in all their forms are included in decision-making. We make sure that these groups are not left behind by putting them in the forefront. They have their groups that we work with. Civil society is present also to see that these groups are also taken care of. And secondly, with regard to the question coming from Malaysia, Lesotho has made significant progress in promoting women's political Particularly through its adoption of mixed electoral mechanisms and quota-based systems. In particular, in the National Assembly, women now represent about 28% or 23% in the National Assembly, short of our target of 25%— 30%, I apologize. But at the local government level, women are now at 49%, thanks to a legislated quota that we put in to ensure that women participate in politics and decision-making. This quota system, it is enhanced by initiatives offering training in leadership, public speaking, and campaign management for women. Along with voter education campaigns featuring gender components that we put into the framework. With regard to the question coming from Armenia, with regard to climate change, we have made some significant adjustments that ensure that we entrench climate resilience as well as management of our climate in the policies. A big milestone is introducing economic disincentives for plastic use and other non-biodegradable materials, with incentives for usage of biodegradable materials, with revenues collected from this channeled towards environmental programs. Urban pilot projects for waste management have been instituted and public awareness has grown through national campaigns. We have programs that ensure the cleanliness of the environment And every citizen, it is mandatory for every citizen to participate. The next question came from Zimbabwe with the production of rainbow trout in Lesotho. Lesotho is known as the water tower of Southern Africa with abundance of water, fresh water. Which we call liquid gold. Through innovation, the country diversified into trout production for multiple benefits from abundant water. We are the best producer in Africa and possibly the largest as well, and we are now certified as the continent's only best Aquaculture practice practicing country. So this certification enables Lesotho's aquaculture enterprises to access premium export markets and demonstrate compliance with global environmental and food food safety standards. We acknowledge and appreciate the the recommendations that were presented to us and that we were given by the academia, and we will be looking into implementation and furthering these recommendations to be put in place. We thank you.

We thank you, and all of us who are keen Fisher people, and I'm certainly one of them, are very happy to hear about the rainbow trout. That's good news. That's very good news. I now turn it over to you, Mr. Berry. Your 5 minutes to respond.

Thank you. Well, firstly, let me thank all those who have put questions for their encouragement and support. By commending our efforts. I won't necessarily take them in the sequence in which they come, and it'll be fairly telegraphic. But let me also say that on the issues of civil society engagement, I will look to my colleague Rajiv Sen, who basically conducted the workshops with disadvantaged and marginalized communities. So very quickly, Ethiopia asked the question about lessons from infrastructure. I would say firstly, there needs to be balance between both physical and social infrastructure. Secondly, there is a need for adaptability What we have certainly found for national-level projects is very intensive monitoring at the level of the Prime Minister, in which my organization, NITI Aayog, is involved. But we should also recognize that there are complicated issues of balancing private sector and public sector infrastructure, and we have developed a national infrastructure pipeline as a roadmap on the major infrastructure projects. The Czech Republic— Czechia asked about the role of AI, and what I would say is that with respect to the Agenda 2030, I would really say that diagnosis, data, and delivery are 3 ways in which AI could be mobilized. By diagnosis, it just means assembling a mass of data, and we're getting a lot of data to really come up with very specific solutions. With delivery, we— you must recognize that overcoming language differences in a country as diverse as India is very important And what AI gives us the possibility to do is literally almost like nano-irrigation, give information and solutions in the local language in agriculture, say. And these— so the massive processing of data should be a great benefit for the next generation of VNA. For the SDGs. Now, Malaysia asked the question about the multi-level stakeholder coordination system. I do want to insist that in the creation of NITI Aayog, which succeeded the Planning Commission, the idea is very much to move from a bottom— top-down to a bottom-up approach. And so we— NITI Aayog does not, as it were, administer what the states do, but we convene lots of workshops for states. So I would say competition among states is important. Norway had asked about gender equality. Maybe I will leave some of that to my colleague Rajiv Sen, but I would say that since Prime Minister Modi took over in 2014, coincidentally when the SDGs just were agreed, it has been very much a woman empowerment, female-led strategy. So there's education, there's political empowerment, but at the end of the day, we know that social norms, social habits do take time to change. What I would say is that India's desire to become a modern society by 2047 does depend critically on mobilizing women into into the labor force. And Israel, again, asked the question of coordination. In the interest of time, with your permission, Mr. President, let me ask my colleague Rajiv Sen to talk about both follow-up on the consultations with marginal groups, but also as it were, the agenda in issues like health. Rajiv?

Thank you, sir. I would briefly respond to some of the questions relating to health and education and inclusivity which were pointed out. Just to bring to your notice that the out-of-pocket expenditure, which was as a percentage of total health expenditure, which was as high as 64% in 2013-14, has come down to 30% 9% as per the latest figures available. So there has been a huge drop. Schemes like PMJY, that is the Prime Minister's, uh, in, in a universal health scheme, have contributed immensely. Regarding the drop in learning outcomes in education, yes, we, we accede to the fact that after COVID there has been a setback to a certain extent. However, programs like Nipun Bharat and several other FLN-related programs, including digital interventions like Diksha and all, have been able to retrieve a lot of ground, and the government and all the states are aggressively following. And we are sure that within a couple of years, we will be again on the growth trajectory as we are. Regarding scavenging, I would like to mention that prohibition of employment as manual scavengers have already been banned by the Act of 2013. Government has also launched the National Action for Mechanical Sanitation Ecosystems team to address this matter, and it is being followed very, very aggressively. There might be one or two stray cases, but mostly it has been stopped. Coming to the VNR process, you know, I would like to humbly submit that during the discussions we had meetings with 13 marginal and less advantaged groups and across all the countries, and more than 1,000 civil society organizations had participated in that process. So, you know, always more could have been done, but I think we have done enough. And during these discussions, the feedback that we got is that most of the organizations said that a lot has been done vis-à-vis the earlier Vienna that we had presented. However, there are certain things which need to be improved, and we are seized of that matter, and government is fully, you know, geared up to look into those issues.

If you have anything more to add, I think we can hear a couple of seconds more.

No, sir, nothing.

Thank you very much. Let me offer my deep appreciation both to Lesotho and to India for their presentations. We're going to take a short minuscule break. Don't run away, but we have to allow our guests to leave the platform, and then we'll attend to the business of the adoption of the ministerial declaration. Thank you very much. Don't put it on just yet. Just give me 30 seconds. Okay. So we're going to be doing 5 different boats. So we'll see how they Order, please. Order, please. Can we have a little order, please? Order, please. Colleagues. Colleagues, please. Could we have a little order, please? Colleagues, could we have order, please? Order in the hall, please. Colleagues, I want to start when there's silence, and I won't start until there's silence. Colleagues, we are Now seized of the matter of the consideration of Agenda Item 3, which is the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration. And I want to, first of all, without any hesitation, I want to express my deep appreciation to my dear colleagues Jakub Kalaník, the Permanent Representative of Czechia, as well as Her Excellency Ingeronda King, who's a former president of ECOSOC and a permanent representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, for the tremendous effort that they have put into the drafting of the ministerial declaration. I'm going to give my colleague Ambassador Kalanick the opportunity to say a few words, but I want to emphasize that the exercise we're going to go through, I have been advised by my colleagues, is not going to be pro forma. There will be some discussions and motions, and I want to suggest perhaps rather boldly, that that's to be expected given the times that we're in. Given the times that we're in, it is not possible for us to just rap a gavel and say, that's that, it's all wrapped up. So it's our job now to wrap it up. It may take a few votes, may take a bit of time, but I expect and hope that things can proceed in an orderly and respectful fashion. As we listen to each other and as we vote, as we must vote in a democratic way, to say yea, nay, or abstain to various proposals that are being put in front of us. So I think I'll stop the sermon there. If I have reason to come back to it, I will. But let me give the floor to Jakob.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Please. It should work. Well, Mr. President, dear Bob, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues, it is an honor to address you today on behalf of my fellow co-facilitator and my dear friend, Ambassador Rhonda King, and myself. It has been a great privilege for us to help steer this highly complex process of negotiating the 2025 Ministerial Declaration of the High-Level Segment of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Let me begin by extending our sincere thanks to Ambassador Bob Rae, President of ICASSOC, for placing his trust in us and for his continued support throughout this endeavour. We would also like to express our profound appreciation to all delegations for their constructive, collegial and forward-looking engagement throughout the intergovernmental consultations. At a time when serious doubts about the future of multilateralism persist, Your steadfast commitment has been both reassuring and inspiring. This year's deliberations have held particular significance. Ten years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a range of interlinked and persistent challenges continues to jeopardize the full realization of the SDGs by 2030. Our vision as co-facilitators was to work with you in crafting a Declaration that not only builds on our collective achievements, but also reaffirms our shared commitments, including those emerging from the 2023 SDG Summit, the Summit of the Future, and the FFD4 Conference. And the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. The declaration before you addresses this year's theme of ECOSOC and the HLPF, that is advancing sustainable, inclusive science and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals with no one left behind. It highlights both enduring and emerging challenges to achieving progress on the SDGs. It identifies evidence-based policies and scientific solutions that can help accelerate implementation over the next 5 years and follows up on the outcomes of the Summit of the Future. The document underscores the urgent actions needed to deliver on SDG 3 on good health and well-being, SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 14 on life below water, and SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals. Moreover, the Declaration outlines key areas requiring attention to better support countries in advancing the SDGs. And sends important messages regarding the voluntary national reviews. Mr. President, dear colleagues, we firmly believe the text before you reflects a carefully calibrated consensus and offers the most constructive way forward. It represents a reaffirmation by Member States of their shared commitment to implementing the SDGs and accelerating action in the final years leading up to 2030. And if I may, on a more personal note, both Ambassador King and I sincerely hope that the considerable effort invested in this process will lead to tangible results on the ground, turning ambition into lasting impact for people across the globe. Once again, we'd like to thank all delegations for their thoughtful engagement, valuable contributions, and unwavering cooperation throughout this process. Mr. President, dear colleagues, we hope this declaration will clearly signal the international community's unwavering commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in these challenging times. I thank you.

Let me, let me just repeat my thanks to you, Jakub, and to Rhonda for the extraordinary work that you did, the dedication that you showed, the innumerable meetings which you chaired, and every effort made towards reaching the consensus that you have provided to us. I want to make it clear that if we didn't know it before, we certainly know it now, that the word consensus does not mean unanimity. And I think we're— we may discover that today, but it's important for us to recognize that you have, in my view as the chair, when I pass it on to all the members of the council and others to, to, you know, you've given us good direction and I support your direction. I want to make it clear that I believe that this does represent the best possible path forward, and that's why I have commended it to you as chair, as the 2 co-facilitators have as well. You'll also be glad to hear that, and this is particularly important in light of the circumstances in which we find ourselves in, that the draft ministerial declaration has no program budget implications. So we're off the hook on that one. So let's just— let's go on from there. There's a proposed— there are some proposed amendments, and some have come in a little late in the day, so not so much amendments as motions, but I will do my best to take us through this. to lead us to the point where we can, we can make votes and make decisions. So I'm now inviting you formally to take action on the draft declaration that is contained in the document E/HLPF/2025/L.1. In accordance with Rule 64 of the Rules of Procedure of the Functional Commissions, of the Economic and Social Council, the Forum will first take a decision on the amendment, the one amendment that has been submitted to the draft declaration. That stands in the name of the delegation of the United Kingdom who have submitted an amendment to the draft ministerial declaration as, as set out in the document. I would now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom To introduce the amendment contained in document CRP.1. UK, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to begin by thanking the co-facilitators for their efforts during the past weeks of negotiations. Flexibility has been shown from all sides in an effort to reach a final HLPF ministerial declaration that would be acceptable to all. Unfortunately, consensus could not be reached on the reference to unhindered access to medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, which the UK and others consistently raised as an issue of concern. As such, the United Kingdom proposes an amendment to paragraph 48 to replace timely, equitable, and unhindered access access with timely and equitable access, removing the word unhindered. The UK has long been and remains a supporter of better and more affordable access to quality medicines in low- and middle-income countries, including through funding the WHO, GAVI, and the Global Fund, and indeed are co-hosting the Global Fund replenishment with South Africa later this year. We have concerns that the reference to unhindered access could unhelpfully perpetuate a number of false narratives. Therefore, we encourage member states to support this amendment. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the UK, and I now give the floor to the secretary of the co-sponsorship of the draft amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to announce that since the submission of the draft amendment, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of CRP1. Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor CRP.1, the amendment, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see no further co-sponsors. Thank you.

Thank you, Secretary. Oh, I see Albania, Mr. President. Albania, sorry. I see Albania too. Thank you, Secretary. A recorded vote has been requested on the amendment to the draft ministerial declaration contained in document CRP.1. Does any delegation wish to make a general statement or a statement in explanation of vote before the vote? I see none. Iraq, excuse me. Iraq is up.

Excellency President of ECOSOC, Undersecretary-General of DESA, Excellencies distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. I have the honor to deliver this explanation of position on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, the Group thanks the President and the Secretariat of the Economic and Social Council for the preparation of this year's High-Level Political Forum, which has thus far been a tremendous success. Thank you. The Group 77 and China extend its sincere appreciation to Ambassador Inga Ronda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Ambassador Jakub Kolhennik, Permanent Representative of Czechia, as co-facilitators of the intergovernmental consultation, and their respective team for their exceptional steering of the informal consultations. We particularly commend the co-facilitators for upholding the intergovernmental nature of the informal consultations by continuing the practice of line-by-line negotiations in transparent, open, and inclusive manner, which resulted in the carefully balanced document we have before us today that I think it has made us all equally happy and unhappy in different parts. Mr. President, the Group, being aware of the tight timeline to 2030 and the fact that most of the implementation of the SDGs are either off track or in regression, engaged constructively and in good faith throughout the negotiations with the sole objective to have a document that not only highlighted challenges but provided some direction for addressing them particularly through means of implementation. The group decided to support the ministerial declaration under consideration, even though we believe many aspects could have been strengthened, noting the many crises and challenges facing the Global South, which are having tremendous negative impacts to their efforts for sustainable development. We were disappointed by the attempts by some delegations to rewrite and weaken recently agreed commitments from the Compromiso de Seville, as well as the constant attempts to backtrack from principles contained within the 2030 Agenda, such as the principle of CBDR. Mr. President, the Group of 77 and China is disappointed that this year's ministerial declaration could not be adopted by, by consensus, and notes with great concern that several of the areas being objected to are very much a part of our commitments and obligations enshrined in the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, which we all agreed upon and adopted in 2015 in an effort to leave no one behind. In particular, the Group 77 and China expresses its disappointment that a vote has been called on paragraph 14, which undermines the commitment made by all our leaders in 2015 and increasingly threatens our collective commitment to achieve the 2030 Agenda. In this regard, the group of G77 and China urge all delegations to vote in favor of the retention of paragraph 14 and the whole ministerial declaration in case votes are requested. Despite this vote, the Group 77 and China wish to state that this verbatim language from 2030 Agenda remains agreed, and any attempt to change this shall not be accepted. Mr. President, the group wishes to reiterate the main objectives of the HLPF is to review and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. And with 5 more years to the realization of this Sustainable Development Agenda, we need more than ever to start addressing The difficult matters which are hindering progress is attaining the ambitious goals contained in the agenda and its SDGs. These include the unilateral coercive measures, the right to development, the right to self-determination of peoples under living under colonial and foreign occupation, the need to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of states. And the urgency to close the alarming financing gap and to provide the necessary means of implementation to developing countries on the basis of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. The HLPF is not a forum to rewrite and re-script the nor its SDGs. It's a time for us to reflect on what is working and what is not working and how we can facilitate countries in their implementation of the SDGs and the agenda as a whole. Mr. President, the countries of the Global South want an equal, fair, and unhindered path to their sustainable We want to be a respected participant in the decision-making bodies. We need urgent and ambitious actions for the remaining 5 years. Let us commit to start today. I thank you.

I thank the Ambassador from Iraq for his comments on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I wonder if any other delegation wishes to make a general statement in explanation of vote before the vote. I see none on my screen, so we will now begin the voting process. In accordance with Rule 61 of the Rules of Procedure of the Functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council, No representative may interrupt the voting except on a point of order in connection with the actual process of voting. So the forum will now vote on the amendment contained in document EHLPF2025CRP.1. Those in favor of the amendment, please signify. Those against, please signify. And any abstentions? The forum is now voting on the amendment to the draft ministerial declaration contained in document EHLPF/2025/CRP1. Will all delegations indicate their votes on the board And please confirm that their votes are correctly reflected on the board. The voting has been completed. Please lock the voting machine. I thank the secretary. The result of the vote is as follows. Those in favor— I have to bend my neck here— 52. 52 in favor, against 99, abstentions 2. The amendment has been rejected. Does anyone wish to make a statement in explanation of the vote after the vote, or a general statement regarding the amendment? Switzerland.

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the member states for their commitment to the negotiations that led to this ministerial declaration. Switzerland, particularly in this current context, believes that it's very important to move forward together with the 2030 Agenda. We nevertheless regret to see an unbalanced text. On paragraph 48 that we're dealing with, on which we broke the silence twice, we regret that the amendment proposed by the United Kingdom in order to make it acceptable for everyone was not accepted. We therefore wish to clarify our position on paragraph 48. Switzerland believes that the reference to unhindered access has no impact on the protection of the intellectual property of the products and technologies mentioned in this paragraph. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Switzerland. I would ask if there are any others who would like to make a statement. I see none. Now turn our attention to the request that we have received for a vote on paragraph 14 of the draft ministerial declaration that is contained in document EHLPF 2025 L1. Before proceeding to the vote, I will give the floor to delegations wishing to make a statement. In explanation of their vote before the vote on paragraph 14 of the draft ministerial declaration, I would give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel.

Thank you, Mr. President. Israel thanks the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of the Czech Republic and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and their teams for their efforts in delivering the ministerial declaration. Unfortunately, at the conclusion of negotiations, the draft still contains one paragraph that is unacceptable to Israel. My delegation was clear from the beginning that paragraph 14 would not achieve consensus. Israel agrees that sustainable development cannot be achieved without peace and security, and that peace and security are jeopardized without sustainable development. However, we request a vote on paragraph 14, which selectively highlights a single issue within the broader peace and security agenda to serve narrow political purposes. The inclusion of selective references thus appears to reflect a deliberate politicization of the text. We will be voting no on paragraph 14 and call on colleagues to discourage politicizing this forum in the future. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of Israel. Are there any others who would like to say anything before the vote? We're now going to vote on paragraph 14 of the draft ministerial declaration, which is contained in the document EHLPF/2025/L1. In accordance with Rule 61 of the Rules of Procedure of the Functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council, no representative may interrupt the vote except on a point of order in connection with the actual process of Thank you. Delegations are now kindly requested— and the board is being displayed— to indicate your votes. Those wishing to retain paragraph 14 should vote yes. Let me repeat, those wishing to retain paragraph 14 should vote yes. Those wishing to delete paragraph 14 should vote no. The forum is now voting on paragraph 14 of the draft ministerial declaration. Those wishing to retain paragraph 14 should vote yes. Those wishing to delete paragraph 14 should vote no. Will all delegations confirm that their votes are correctly reflected on the screen? Yes. The voting has been completed. Please lock the voting machines. Those in favor are 106. Those opposed are 2. Abstentions are 36. So the paragraph is retained. Okay. Now we have a number of other requests for a vote of which you should be aware. My understanding is that a request has been made for paragraphs 39, 56, 58, 61, and 62, as well as 72. In a separate vote. In a separate vote. So we're going to vote on these. I understand the request has been made to vote on these together, as I believe So let's repeat. One vote on this and a separate vote on 72. Yeah, well, we have them. That's what I'm saying. Okay, so we're voting together on the following paragraphs, just to be, just to be clear. I figure if I'm clear, then that might help everyone else to become clear eventually. We're voting on paragraphs 39, 56, 58, 61, and 62. Sounds like a Johnny Cash song, but anyway. At least some of you got the reference anyway. All right. So let me ask if any delegation wishes to make an explanation of vote before the vote on these paragraphs: 39, 56, 58, 61, and 62. I see the United States.

Thank you, Mr. President. The United States therefore rejects the HLPF Ministerial Declaration. The United States has always supported strong, broad-based economic growth, an unwavering commitment to individual rights, and responsible environmental protections at home and abroad. These are the values we promote, and we will continue to lead by example, taking cues from the generosity of the American people and the innovation and standards of our private sector. In the UN, the United States is guided by our moral and civic duty to protect the interests of U.S. citizens. Our position on the 2030 Agenda is a reflection of that commitment. The HLPF and UN system writ large use the SDGs to promulgate divisive cultural causes. The outrageous diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative termed multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and the radical abortion agenda reflexively advanced by the UN and certain member states has no business in this ministerial outcome. Member states share common goals to deliver prosperity, transparency, and accountability to their citizens. However, the fundamental principle of national sovereignty and national responsibility for sustainable development has been lost. Over the last 10 years, member states and UN institutions have pursued an ever-widening mandate to achieve sustainable development in an attempt to turn a set of aspirational voluntary goals into a mandate to finance other countries' development. They have used the SDGs to attempt to rewrite the rules of the multilateral system and at the expense of U.S. interests and those of our allies. The United States will not accept such provisions, including any provisions that would exceed the U.N.'s authority. The international financial institutions have independent mandates and authorities, and we do not support attempts in the General Assembly or elsewhere in the U.N. system to dictate their priorities or activities. The 2030 Agenda cannot dictate general trade policy to member states, or constrain the application of legal and legitimate sanctions on malign actors. Issues related to international intellectual property law are outside of the scope of the HLPF mandate. The United States rejects attempts by member states to curb well-respected protections to enrich their own economies at the expense of U.S. companies and citizens. The United States rejects collectivist catchphrases like right to development that are used to undermine the rights of the individual and which some governments use to obfuscate human rights abuses against their own people. We reject both the authority and competence of the HLPF to establish or promote debt review mechanisms or reform existing debt treatment frameworks. We reject mechanisms that would undermine the rights of creditors, including the U.S. government, and and private creditors with debts contracted under U.S. law to seek payment on the amounts they are owed. In cases of debt distress, debt treatments must remain voluntary agreements between creditors and debtors and should be conducted in a manner that does not undermine the sound functioning of international capital markets. We reject the idea that national success is contingent upon increased donor funding. We reject the attempts by some nations to justify their international political agendas as furthering the SDGs. Instead, countries should prioritize national policies that foster the enabling environment necessary for development. This includes action against the criminal groups and cartels that are killing our citizens and flooding the streets with illegal drugs. Consistent with countries' national sovereignty and national responsibility for sustainable development, we emphasize the centrality of the mobilization and effective use of of domestic resources and strong partnerships with the private sector to encourage private investment. The United States is committed to ensuring that our resources, including those related to international assistance, are used effectively and efficiently. Foreign assistance must drive development outcomes and diminish the need for assistance in the long run. We will not agree to any measures that impede national sovereignty or contravene the plain language of our March 4th explanation of vote concerning the 2030 Agenda. And it is for these reasons that we have called paragraph votes first on a group of paragraphs that includes paragraphs 39 and 58, which advance this, this radical abortion agenda through the term sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Paragraph 56, which addresses gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda, again a divisive gender ideology. Paragraph 61, which advances the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination point that I referenced earlier, which is an anti-merit and divisive concept, as well as paragraph 62, which addresses gender and climate ideologies, again, which are divisive. For these reasons, we are calling a vote on this group of paragraphs and then a separate vote on paragraph 72, which embroils the ILO's work on labor rights with the promotion of a vague and divisive concept of social justice. I thank you.

I thank the, the representative of the United States. Does any other delegation wish to make a statement as to an explanation of vote prior to the vote? There's none on my screen, so we're going to proceed to a vote. We'll now vote on those paragraphs mentioned, aforementioned, 39, 56, 58, 61, 62. Of the draft ministerial declaration contained in the document EHLPF 2025 L1, in accordance with Rule 61 of the Rules of Procedure of the Functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council, no representative may interrupt the vote except on a point of order in connection with the actual process of voting. Delegations are kindly requested to indicate their votes. Those wishing to retain the paragraphs named 39, 56, 58, 61, 62 should vote yes. Those wishing to delete those paragraphs, 39, 56, 58, 61, 62, should vote no. And those wishing to abstain should abstain. The forum is now voting on paragraphs 39, 56, 58, 61, and 62 of the draft ministerial declaration contained in document E-HLPF-2025-L1. Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed. Please lock the voting machine. Thank you. Thank you. The vote is as follows: in favor, 141; against, 2; abstentions, 5. So we'll now turn our attention to vote number 72, paragraph 72 of the Ministerial Declaration contained in document EHB L1. Does any delegation wish to make an explanation of vote before the vote on paragraph 72 of the draft ministerial declaration? Mexico.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mexico wishes to make an explanation of vote after the vote on the first set of paragraphs, if that would be okay now, or I will Wait for your guidance.

Yes. Wait a minute now. Let's just see what we're doing here. I want to be clear. I did not ask if there were any statements of vote after the vote. I'm sorry, I didn't call the vote. I should have. If there are those who after the vote wish to say something, they can now say it now, and we will then turn to paragraph 72. So this is about the vote that we've just taken, and I see Mexico, Egypt, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Italy, and we'll see what happens after that. Mexico.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Mexico deeply regrets the request for votes on the paragraphs whose agreement by the international community is longstanding. There are terms contained in the 2030 Agenda as well, and also many intergovernmentally agreed documents as relates to sexual and reproductive healthcare— health. And rights, Mexico considers that including an amendment with textual amendment of the 2030 Agenda 3.7— my delegation did not do so to avoid polarization and to respect agreements among delegations during the negotiation. Additionally, these hard-won rights by generations of feminists and the international community are pillars of the development and well-being of our populations. Additionally, in a rules-based system and with longstanding 80-year-old diplomatic norms, presenting amendments on paragraphs to a text which in any case will be adopted by a vote as a whole upon the request of the same delegation that proposed those amendments is absurd. These actions in our best multilateral forum are unprecedented, and we hope that they will not be repeated. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I thank the— I thank the representative from Mexico. I'll give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving me the floor. In the beginning, Egypt would like to thank the co-facilitators for their commitment and the inclusive leadership and the time invested in guiding the groups and member states through the negotiations process in an effort to build consensus and reach compromises in this document. Egypt remains fully committed to the 2030 Agenda and to the universal and the interlinked nature of its Sustainable Development Goals. We also reaffirm our national commitment to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women in accordance with our constitution and national laws, as well as international commitments and obligations. However, Egypt notes with concern that the political declaration at hand has steered away from internationally agreed terms and concepts and would like to place on record its disassociation from paragraphs 30— from paragraphs 61 and 63 of the 2025 Ministerial Declaration. The 2 paragraphs include terminologies and formulations that lack commonly agreed definitions at the international level and also contradict with national legal systems and social frameworks. While we uphold the importance of combating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, we underscore that any international commitments in this regard must remain fully consistent with internationally agreed language, national legislation, and adopted to national contexts, including social and cultural backgrounds. We also emphasize that promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls shouldn't be limited to a one-size-fits-all approach. In this regard, we express particular concern over the use of certain controversial expressions such as multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence, including gender-related killings. Which risk introducing interpretations that extend beyond what is internationally agreed. I submit, Mr. Chair, and thank you.

Thank the delegate of Egypt. I hesitate to say this, but I'll say it anyway. I think it's important for people to understand that there will be other moments during the discussion this afternoon when broader statements can be made with respect to what's taking place. So I'd ask if you could confine your comments to the votes on these particular paragraphs, try to make your remarks as succinct as possible, because we still have a little bit of ways to go before we complete the discussion and complete the afternoon by 6 o'clock. So having said that, I give the floor to Nicaragua.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Our delegation would like to lay out its position on paragraph 58. We reserve that position, which refers to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. This cannot be interpreted as support or promotion of abortion, and in no way the promotion of abortion as a method of family planning. It is a sovereign right of each country to decide on domestic legislation regulating this subject. We reaffirm Nicaragua's position of principle that in accordance with our constitution and laws, it is established that each person has a right to life, and this is a fundamental and inalienable right from the moment of conception. We request that our statement be recorded in the official record of this meeting. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Nicaragua. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Mr. President, allow me to express appreciation to the distinguished representatives of Czechia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for their leadership in leading an inclusive intergovernmental process and undertaking text-based negotiations. I am taking the floor to deliver an explanation of vote on paragraphs 39, 56, 58, 61 and 62. The Government of Pakistan is fully committed to the empowerment of women in all 3 dimensions of sustainable development. We greatly value the work and discussion on ways and means to ensure the economic empowerment of women and their unhindered access to vaccines, medicines, and other diagnostics. It is for this reason that we have voted in favor of the collective set of paragraphs. However, there are some references in the text which remain a concern for our delegation. Specifically in paragraphs 61 and 63. Whilst our delegation reiterates our strong commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls as agreed in the 2030 Agenda, we disassociate from all references to the phrase multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination as it appears in paragraph 61 of the text, as this remains an ambiguous term. We regret that our bridging proposal throughout negotiations on using verbatim language from the Pact for the Future was not taken on board, and instead, uh, repeatedly voted language was insisted upon by delegations. To avoid taking the floor again, we would also express our position on paragraph 63, where we disassociate from the term gender-related killing. On paragraph 58, we have chosen to vote in favor because this language is verbatim from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and Pakistan is fully committed to this development agenda. We hope that that in future processes other delegations will show a similar level of respect for language verbatim from the agenda. Unfortunately, the positions we saw on the vote on paragraph 14 today demonstrate that other delegations are not willing to do so as yet. In conclusion, our delegation will continue to support all efforts to fulfill the global objective of empowering all women and girls in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I thank you.

I thank the representative from Thank you, Pakistan. I now give the floor to the representative of Malaysia, to be followed by Italy and Libya.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Malaysia wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Czechia as co-facilitators for their tireless efforts, as well as to all colleagues who have contributed to the formulation of the HLPF Ministerial Declaration. Mr. Chair, while Malaysia had joint consensus in the adoption of the aforementioned sets of paragraphs, We would like to place on record our position regarding paragraph 61, which contains the term multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Malaysia's interpretation of this term will be based on its national laws, values, and customs, and does not include any concepts that are inconsistent with the existing international human rights architecture. I thank you.

Thank you, the representative from Malaysia. Now I'll give the floor to The representative from Italy.

Thank you, Chair. Colleagues, we thank the co-facilitators for their steady leadership and valuable support throughout this process, and for their commitment towards the prevention and contrast to all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. Today we voted to keep the text as it is. However, with specific reference to Para 61, we would like to point out that the wording used in this para on multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination does not reflect Italy's legal and policy approach. Indeed, the intersectional approach, by focusing on specific and predefined combinations of characteristics, may risk overlooking situations of discrimination that fall outside those combinations. Given that discriminatory behavior can manifest in countless and evolving ways, it is not possible to establish an exhaustive list of grounds of discrimination or their intersections. As a result, some individuals may find themselves without adequate protection under one exclusive intersectional framework. This concern reinforces the importance of adopting a cumulative or overlapping approach, which allows for a more inclusive and flexible legal interpretation of multiple discrimination. Moreover, intersectional discrimination may be difficult to prove, and defining clear and consistent legal standards may become more challenging for national legislators judges. By contrast, an additive approach, which considers multiple grounds of discrimination as cumulative rather than interdependent, allows protection systems to better capture and respond to the full range of vulnerabilities. This in turn enables the development of more effective and secure protection mechanisms for individuals who may be exposed to multiple forms of discrimination. In Italy's view, therefore, a cumulative or overlapping approach is provides the legal clarity, consistency, concreteness, and operational feasibility needed to deliver real enforceable protection, as it strikes the necessary balance between comprehensive recognition and legal effectiveness, which is essential for protecting individuals in complex societies. We regret that we were not able to reach consensus today on this important para on discrimination against women. We believe that it is a loss for everyone in the global common path for gender equality that could have been been easily avoided by using a compromise language including both overlapping, also used in the Pact for the Future, and intersecting forms of discrimination. We kindly request this statement to be included in the meeting's record. I thank you.

Thank you. Next goes to Libya, then Kuwait, followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Yemen, and Iraq. Libya, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, we wish to thank the co-facilitators from Czechia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the efforts made in order to pave the way for a text with great positive potential. We thank them for the efforts made to ensure consensus as to reflect international cooperation. My country's delegation has joined the number of countries that have voted yes Thank you. We voted for 39, 56, 58, 61, and 62, as we believe that those paragraphs are of utmost importance— as we believe that consensus is of utmost importance, and this text includes a reflection of our national interests. However, we wish to disassociate ourselves from paragraph 61, which included a controversial concept on multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination which is not internationally and clearly defined and could be misinterpreted in various ways. These can be in fact exploited to promote concepts that do not coincide with our culture as well as our national legislations. Based on the aforementioned, the language on sexual health and reproductive rights in Para 58, as well as other paras, are interpreted as referring to national programs implemented by member states, and these do not mean that in our country there is a right to abortion. We wish to point out that the concept of gender must in fact be interpreted as referring to the 2 sexes, male and female. We wish to point out that the HLPF is a platform for the reinforcement of our national priorities as member states. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Representative. Libya now turned to Kuwait, followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Yemen, Iraq, and now Gambia. The list—I think I'm going to have to close it because of time. There'll be other opportunities for people to speak.

Thank you, Mr. President. It's on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council and. the UAE, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and my country, Kuwait, that I'm making this statement. We thank you and congratulate you, Mr. President. We also wish to thank His Excellency Ingo Roenggen King, the representative— the PR of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the PR of Czechia, as co-facilitators of the negotiations here at this high-level forum. When it comes to the framework of transparency and multilateralism, we'd like to draw your attention to sexual and reproductive health, sexual and reproductive health rights. This needs to be in line with our domestic legislation and our cultural and religious values. In conclusion, the Gulf Cooperation Council calls for this statement to be included in the summary records of our meeting and the HLPF. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the Islamic Thank you, Mr. President, for the floor.

Mr. President, my delegation joins others in thanking our distinguished co-facilitators and their esteemed teams for all the work that they've done. Mr. President, my delegation would like to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the Ministerial Declaration of HLPF as a non-legally binding and voluntary instrument. Iran had registered before its position on Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development as well as UNESCO Education 2020-2030 Framework for Action. My delegation is not committed to those parts of the above documents and declaration which is one way or another are in contradiction with the Iranian national priorities, laws, regulation, and legislation. Hence, we dissociate ourselves from the specific paragraphs that include non-consensual terminology, including paragraphs 61 and 63, which refer to non-consensual phrases such as multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence. We do not consider these terms as a consensual terminology. Instead, we advocate for clearer, more comprehensive, and universally accepted terminology such as all, all forms of discrimination. Regrettably, during the negotiation, certain delegations insisted on the removal of term unhindered from the text and proposed an amendment to that effect, a demand that runs counter to the spirit of inclusive and equitable access to health to all. Mr. President, unilateral coercive measures, UCMs, constitute a major obstacle to international cooperation and are against international law and Charter of the United— United— UN. They undermine the activities of the United Nations system, impede economic, environmental, and social development, particularly in developing countries, and weakening multilateralism while emboldening unilateralism. Accordingly, we must resolutely oppose the imposition of UCMs, particularly on developing countries, and call for the immediate lifting of all such measures. Mr. President, my delegation would like to request this statement be put in the record of the, of the documents of the process. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now turn to Yemen, followed by Iraq.

Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, we thank the co-facilitators for their constructive efforts throughout the negotiations. We support the objectives of the political declaration, in particular when it comes to implementing the 2030 Agenda to ensure that nobody is left behind. Now, on paragraph 61, despite our agreement on its content to strengthen women's rights, We are opposed to its wording. We have some reservations on certain terms used that are not subject to international consensus and that are not in line with our cultural, our unique cultural and civilizational unique characteristics. When we talk about multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Thank you.

And I'll give the floor to Iraq, followed by Gambia, whose name was on the list before. Iraq, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. We joined the consensus on paragraphs 39, 56, 58, 61 and 62, and we voted in favor of retaining them. Nevertheless, we do disassociate ourselves from certain phrases and terms that feature therein because they contradict our customs, our traditions, our religious values, and our domestic legislation. such as sexual and reproductive health, sexual and reproductive rights, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and also gender, referring to specific— that refers only to men and women. And that's why Iraq calls for this statement to be included in the summary record of this meeting. Thank you.

All those statements will be recorded in any summary of the event. Not to worry, not to worry. And I'll give the floor to Gambia. Sorry, yes, thank you very much, Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

My delegation joins others in expressing appreciation to the co-facilitators for leading this process. The Gambia reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the central role of the High-Level Political Forum in facilitating meaningful, inclusive, and voluntary dialogue on sustainable development. As a sovereign nation with a firm belief in multilateralism, we approach these discussions with the conviction that development cooperation must respect national context, legal systems, and social values. In this regard, our delegation wishes to highlight several key issues arising in the outcome document. One, sovereignty, national prerogatives, and customary international law. We would have welcomed stronger language in the declaration acknowledging the central role of sovereignty and national prerogatives in international cooperation. In a time marked by renewed global discussion on the appropriate scope of multilateral Yeah, excuse me. Multilateral engagement. It is imperative to reaffirm that cooperation must take place within frameworks that uphold autonomy of states. The HLPF has a platform based on political commitments which must be implemented by sovereign member states according to their own national development priorities. Agreements and deliberations under, under the HLPF cannot and should not alter existing obligations under customary or conventional international law. 2. Gender. In line with The Gambia's national laws and international obligations, we stress that the term gender should be interpreted in its ordinary sense as referring exclusively to male and female and should remain consistent with binding international instruments. There is no universally agreed definition of gender that extends beyond this, as confirmed in Annex 4 of the report of the Fourth World Conference on Women. We also dissociate with the term gender-related killings in paragraph 63. 3, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. We note with concern the inclusion of the term multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination in paragraph 61 of the Declaration last consensus and lends itself to a broad or contested interpretation. The Gambia does not support any interpretation that includes categories not recognized in internationally agreed frameworks or in our national laws and policies. For sexual and reproductive health, our delegation does not support the elevation of sexual and reproductive health as an essential healthcare service As expressed in paragraph 39. For The Gambia, terms like sexual and reproductive health, reproductive rights, and related expressions must be understood strictly in accordance with the provisions of the ICPD Programme of Actions, particularly paragraph 8.25, and the Beijing Platform for Action. These terms must imply— must not imply obligations related to abortion, sexual rights, or transgender-related services unless, unless these have been explicitly approved by competent national authorities. We kindly request that our statement be included in the records of this meeting. I thank you for your kind

attention. I thank the representative from Gambia. That completes the— just to remind everybody of where exactly we are, that completes the explanation of vote after the vote with respect to the multiple paragraphs which have been already voted on. We now turn our attention to paragraph 72. A vote has been requested on paragraph 72 of the draft ministerial declaration contained in document EHLPF 2025 L1. So I would ask if any delegation now wishes to make an explanation of vote before the vote on paragraph 72 of the draft ministerial declaration. I see none, so we will now turn our attention to the vote. The forum will now vote on paragraph 72 of the draft ministerial declaration in accordance with Rule 61 of the Rules of Procedure of the Functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council. No representative may interrupt the vote except on a point of order in connection with the actual So delegations are kindly requested to indicate their votes. Those wishing to retain the existing paragraph 72 should vote yes. Those wishing to delete paragraph 72 should vote no, and those wishing to abstain should abstain. The forum is now voting on paragraph 72 of the draft minutes. Will all delegations confirm that their votes are correctly reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed. Please lock the voting machine. I say in an entirely anticlimactic way, the vote in favor is 145, the vote against is 1, the abstentions is 1. We are now going to proceed to consider the draft ministerial declaration that is contained in document EHLPF 2025-L1. A recorded vote has been requested on the complete document, which we've now voted on. So we will now proceed to a vote on the draft ministerial declaration as a whole, as contained in the HLPF 2025-L1. I would encourage any delegation that's wishing to make a statement in explanation of vote, if you possibly could, to make your statement after its adoption. Having said that, I would like to ask Does any delegation wish to take the floor in an explanation of vote before the vote? European

Union. Thank you to the Chair. So I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU and its member states. These are general remarks with regard to the ministerial declaration as a whole, and we shall have an explanation of vote after the vote on the text. So the candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia align themselves with this statement. We thank the co-facilitators Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Czechia for their efforts in the pursuit of a consensus-oriented ministerial declaration this year. These efforts are reflected in the compromise text that was submitted for adoption today. We also thank our counterparts for their constructive and good-faith engagement over many hours on this text. Our consultations this year have once again revealed divergent but genuine and deeply held views on critical issues for sustainable development and our joint commitment to accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the 5 years remaining, leaving no one behind. Recalling the multiple and interlinked crises that we face. The engagement of the EU and its member states in these discussions has sought to underline the need to address critical cross-cutting issues for sustainable development, in particular through a human rights-based approach, as we stay true to our collective commitments. This includes interlinkages with peace and security, just and inclusive societies, continuing work to tackle multidimensional poverty and inequalities between and within countries affecting the poor and most vulnerable first and foremost. Gender equality and the provisions under SDG 5, the empowerment of all women and girls, their protection and full equal enjoyment of their human rights as core values of the EU, have been foremost among our efforts to strengthen the text of the ministerial declaration. This includes the components on participation, eliminating discrimination, all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as on sexual and reproductive health, in line with the EU position and based on targets 3.7 and 5.6 of the agenda. The EU and its member states will continue to insist that the ambition of a gender-equal world is reflected appropriately in the pursuit of the SDGs and beyond, as we cannot achieve sustainable development if we leave women and girls behind. While we support this declaration, the EU and its member states regret the inclusion of 3 elements to which we have objected from the outset of our consultations. We regret the inclusion of paragraph 10 on unilateral coercive measures and dissociate from this paragraph, as we have done previously. This is based on the false narratives propagated by some countries subject to legitimate and legal restrictive measures targeting violations of international law such as crimes against humanity. We also regret the inclusion of paragraph which singles out the principle of common but differentiated responsibility from all of the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. And we regret the use of the opaque unhindered access formulation in paragraph 48, from which we also dissociate. The EU and its member states must underline disappointment that our proposed inclusion of a reference to the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC has not been retained. And we recall that any and all reference to the transfer of technology should note that transfers of technology must be voluntary and on mutually agreed terms. Colleagues, as a final point, we recall that the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda is a shared responsibility that requires both strong leadership and a whole-of-society approach, including meaningful participation and engagement of all stakeholders. I thank

you. Thanks to the EU. I hesitate to ask, is any other delegation going to ignore my request that you speak later, or just the EU? Greater love hath no man than this. Okay, we're now going to proceed to a vote. This is a recorded vote on the draft ministerial declaration as a whole. I would ask that those who are in favor Of the draft ministerial declaration, please signify. Those against? Abstentions? The forum is now voting on the draft ministerial declaration contained in document EHLPF/2025/L.1. Will all delegations confirm that their votes are correctly reflected on the screen? Saudi Arabia has pressed the button. Is that a technical issue? No. Will all delegations confirm that their votes are correctly reflected on the screen? Yes. The voting has been completed. Please lock the voting machine. I want to express my— the vote is as follows, as I'm sure you've seen: in favor of, 154; against, Ayes, 42. Abstentions, 2. So I can now use my hammer again to say that the ministerial declaration is now adopted. Thank you. I see from my screen that there are a number of delegations wishing to speak. In light of the time and the fact that we still have some other business to conduct after these proceedings are concluded, I would like to suggest that you keep your remarks to no more than 3 minutes, if that's possible. And I see it's a very long list, so it's going to be challenging, but I'd ask you to do that. I have Nigeria, Chile, Turkey as the first 3. Nigeria.

Mr. President, Nigeria voted in, in favor of the retention of paragraphs 39, 58, and 61 in the spirit of consensus and because of the overall balance in the text. We wish to state, however, that we dissociate ourselves from references to sexual and reproductive healthcare service, universal access to sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination contained in those paragraphs and do not consider them as legally binding. We will continue to interpret those terms in line with our national laws and our cultural and social norms as appropriate. I thank you.

In light of the number of speakers, I'm going to have to restrict it to 2 minutes because we really do have a time issue. I would now give the floor to Chile, followed by Türkiye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Chile aligns itself by Iraq's statement on behalf of the G77 and China. We thank you for your leadership, and we also thank the co-facilitators for their work negotiating the ministerial declaration. This process reaffirms the importance of multilateralism to advance together in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. 10 years ago, when we adopted the agenda, we agreed on a comprehensive and indivisible roadmap for a more just, sustainable, and inclusive future. The 17 SDGs are interconnected, and they will only be achieved if we ramp up their implementation in a coherent manner with gender equality as a pillar. We regret recent efforts to water down previously agreed commitments. We reiterate that the high-level political forum is not the venue to reopen discussions that have already been resolved for a long time, but rather it's a space to reaffirm and accelerate the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda, protecting the principles of dignity and equality that underpin them. Further, we reiterate the importance of building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies based on the respect of human rights and international law. It's essential to break down the structural barriers that hinder the full enjoyment of the rights of peoples, in particular those under foreign occupation, affecting their economic, social, and environmental development. Chile renews its commitment to the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda, convinced that it's only by working together and without slipping back that we'll be able to achieve the promise of not leaving anybody behind. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you, delegate from Chile. And I'll give— now give the floor to Türkiye. Türkiye, please, followed by Uruguay and the Holy See.

Thank you, Mr. President. We would like to start by expressing our thanks to co-facilitators of the ministerial declaration, Permanent Representative of Czech Republic and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for supporting action for accelerating the implementation of Agenda 2030 and SDGs. Türkiye has closely followed the negotiation process and constructively engaged in it. We are in favor of adoption of our intergovernmentally negotiated documents by consensus. On the other hand, we are not supportive of rewriting the recently agreed outcome documents, which have emerged as a result of long months of tough negotiations and have been adopted in a way to achieve a delicate balance among different concerns of different member states. Therefore, we welcome the outcomes of the 2025 UN Oceans Conference as well as the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development have been fairly reflected in the current text. Yet the language used in relation to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in SDG 14 and the ministerial declaration of the HLPF reflects a delicate balance. As we all know, Türkiye is not a party to the UNCLOS. We have consistently expressed that Türkiye does not agree with the view that this convention has a universal and unified character. We reiterate that the UNCLOS is not the only legal framework which regulates all activities in the oceans and seas. Türkiye dissociates herself from references made to the UNCLOS in the ministerial declaration of HLPF. The participation of Türkiye in the negotiation process of this declaration, or HLPF itself, or the adoption of this declaration cannot be construed as a change in the legal, legal position of Türkiye with regard to UNCLOS. Needless to say, Türkiye is strongly committed to implementing agenda

I'm afraid the 2 minutes is up. We're gonna have to stick to that, and I'm gonna have to say, look, we, we have 35 minutes until 6 o'clock, and we have a large number of people on the list that want to say something about their vote, and that will affect the— we'll have to figure out what we're gonna do with the rest of the agenda. Uruguay, Holy See, and New Zealand on behalf of CANZ.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'll be as brief as I possibly can. First of all, we applaud the facilitators and yourself, sir, for your excellent work. It's always a pleasure to see you chairing meetings and benefiting from your expertise. We use this opportunity to profoundly regret that despite the constructive willingness of so many people and the compromises shown during negotiations, for the first time since the beginning of this forum, we've not been able to adopt this political declaration by consensus. Uruguay further expresses its profound concern regarding the trend to disregard and in many cases undermine principles and agreements that constitute historic achievements of the multilateral UN system, in particular when it comes to sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, universal health coverage. And in this regard, we reiterate that we do not share nor do we align with these attempts to slip back. In a global situation that's particularly unstable, we're convinced that multilateralism is not only an option but rather the only viable way of building common, lasting, and just solutions for the well-being of our populations. That's why we categorically reject the attempts to disregard agreements made like the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs that are essential to making progress for the well-being of our populations, in particular of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged ones. And we reiterate the links between the agenda and the different pillars of this organization. This also weakens our capacity to engage in an intersectional approach to social and environmental rights. To close, we reiterate the importance of this forum as a space for accountability and review for the 2030 Agenda, maintaining the validity of consensus reached in 2015 And reducing pending gaps is not an option but an essential condition for the sustainable development of our countries and the upholding of the multilateral system. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I now turn to the Holy See, New Zealand, on behalf of CANZ and Denmark.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Holy See welcomes the adoption of this Year Ministerial Declaration and is grateful to the efforts of the co-facilitators. And their respective teams to advance the informal consultations. Regarding the text just adopted, the Holy See welcomes the final— that the final text includes a number of important elements, such as the reaffirmation that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge, an overarching objective of the 2030 Agenda, and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, the importance of implementing family-friendly and family-oriented policies. While grateful for the inclusion of these positive aspects, the Holy See wishes to underscore that the introduction of any substantive, substantive changes to the text of the 2030 Agenda falls outside the mandate of the HLPF, which instead should contribute to its effective and faithful implementation. Therefore, the Holy See also finds it unfortunate that the Declaration and its impact are diminished by disputed terms and concepts that are unclear, controversial, including terminology known to be contentious related to discrimination. Finally, the Holy See is obliged to make 2 reservations on the adopted text, reiterating those presented by the Holy See at the International International Conference on Population and Development. The Holy See considers and interprets the term sexual and reproductive healthcare services as applying to a holistic concept of health which embraces the person in the entirety of his and her personality, mind, and body. The Holy See does not consider abortion or access to abortion or access to abortion sufficient as a dimension of this term.

term, and the term gender, its derivatives are— I apologize, but we're under the 2-minute rule now, so I'm afraid the rest of your comments can be made in writing. New Zealand, Denmark, Niger.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Firstly, we wish to reiterate our firm commitment to full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development goals. We recognize that reconciling diverse perspectives is never easy and that multilateralism requires compromise. However, we would like to register our concern with what we see as a weakening of the Sustainable Development Agenda. CANZ recalls that gender equality is needed for the full realization of all SDGs. It has been proven time and time again that the development efforts are more impactful, resilient, and sustainable when they promote gender equality and empower all women and girls. The votes called today on agreed 2030 Agenda language have therefore been extremely disappointing. This is on top of a progressive weakening of language on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in successive rounds of negotiations. The omission of language that goes beyond 2030 Agenda and a text that falls short of language previously agreed in the HLPF context is concerning and undermines our sustainable development efforts. Second, CANZ remains disappointed by the climate language in this declaration. We were particularly disappointed that we were not able to agree to a reference to the Paris Agreement in this declaration. We wish to put on record that we view the Rio principles as a package, with no single principle taking precedence over others, and that we do not regard the formula in paragraph 13 as setting a precedent for other UN processes. Third, CANZ was disappointed by the inclusion of language that we understand to refer to autonomous sanctions in paragraphs 10 and 48. CANZA's longstanding position is that, while sanctions should be used sparingly and applied transparently and consistently, they are a legitimate and legal tool to target egregious conduct that is contrary to fundamental international norms. Throughout this process, CANZA and others advocated for the removal of these references due to their divisive nature. We were disappointed that it was not possible to accept the removal of the term unhindered in paragraph 48, maintain them. Thank you.

We now turn to Denmark, followed by Niger and Mexico.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. We would like again to thank co-facilitators, Georgia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. As outlined in the statement on behalf of the EU and its member states earlier, we believe that the text of the declaration reflects a balanced and acceptable compromise. As mentioned, however, we regret the inclusion of some specific elements in 3 paragraphs. Thus, the EU and its member states dissociate from paragraphs 10, 13, and 48. We also underline our disappointment that our proposed inclusion of a reference to the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC has not been retained, as we recall the position of the EU and its member states that any and all reference to the transfer of technology should note such transfers must be voluntary and on mutually agreed terms. Finally, gender equality and the provisions under SDG 5 have been foremost among our considerations and efforts to strengthen the text of the ministerial declaration. Colleagues, Excellencies, we have nonetheless voted in favor of this declaration in a spirit of compromise as a further indication of our attachment to this high-level political forum and to accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the critical time that remains. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Niger, Mexico, Israel.

Gracias, señor presidente. Thank you, Mr. President. Mexico voted in favor of the adoption of the ministerial declaration of this high-level Political Forum with the conviction that the 2030 Agenda continues to be the roadmap for achieving sustainable development and overcoming multiple interrelated crises facing humanity. We thank the permanent representatives of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Czechia and their teams for their work. Mexico considers that the text is adequate and in general in terms of transparency and equity, particularly when it comes to the silence proceedings at the end of the negotiations. For Mexico, transparency is fundamental in these processes because it generates trust and improves the results of a negotiation. It is important that all delegations be considered on an equal footing when expounding their positions and that we avoid trying to get the general support of the 2 biggest negotiating groups by attaching lesser importance to the positions of individual delegations. Mr. President, throughout the negotiations, Mexico favored a comprehensive view of the 2030 Agenda, aware of the fact that the Sustainable Development Goals are indivisible and interrelated, as has been expounded in all of the negotiations or ministerial declarations. We believe that this time not all of the SDGs that were reviewed had the same level of ambition. We regret that for SDG 3 and SDG 5, of those sections saw some backsliding compared to previous declarations, particularly when it comes to the link between both SDGs and the references to health and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Mexico hopes that subsequent processes will see greater leadership, transparency, equity, and competence in the negotiations. Thank you. Muchas gracias.

Niger, Israel, Indonesia. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation congratulates you on the excellent way in which you have been conducting this forum, which is approaching its end. Niger also thanks Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Czechia for their leadership in the facilitation of this ministerial declaration. Mr. President, Niger voted in favor of the ministerial declaration with the conviction that our multilateral action is essential for achieving these SDGs. My delegation would, however, like to provide the following clarifications. We reaffirm that references to gender and related terminology are based on the identity and biological sexual differences, that is to say, 2 sexes, masculine and feminine. We do not support ideological attempts to redefine or reinterpret these concepts beyond their ordinary meaning and generally accepted meaning. We reserve the right to interpret and implement the provisions contained in this declaration in accordance with our national laws and our development priorities, with the full respect for the various ethical and religious values, cultural factors of our population, and in line with universally recognized human rights. We thus dissociate from the wording multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and other wording relating to sexual and reproductive health in paragraphs 61 and 63. This statement does not modify the current status of customary international law, and it does not impose any legal obligations upon us. We ask that this statement be included in the record of the meeting. Thank you.

I thank the delegate. Followed by Indonesia and the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Mr. President. Israel remains committed to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. This year, we were proud to present our 2nd VNR and look forward to continued engagement on sustainable development. However, we believe that some elements of the text presented for adoption diverge from the core subject of this forum. For these reasons, Israel voted against the draft and wishes to formally dissociate from the following paragraphs: paragraph 14, on which we called for a vote; paragraphs 10 and 48, regarding unilateral economic measures, including the use of the term unhindered, on which we made our position known in relevant discussions, and paragraph 21 concerning technology transfer, which we believe must be on voluntary and mutually agreed terms. We hope that future efforts will allow us to reach a consensus-based outcome, and we take this opportunity to thank the co-facilitators once again for their dedication and hard work. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Indonesia, the Russian Federation, and then to Hungary.

Thank you, Mr. President. Indonesia is ready to join consensus on the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration. Unfortunately, the document has been put to a vote, which Indonesia voted in favor of. We commend the co-facilitators and delegations for their tireless efforts in shaping the document that reflects our shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda. The Declaration captures Indonesia's key priorities, including digital inclusion, SDGs localization, water and sanitation, food security and nutrition, women leadership, skills development, creative economy, sustainable ocean-based economies, innovative financing, and strengthening partnership. However, Indonesia wishes to register its reservation on the non-consensual language used in paragraphs 61 and 63. While we fully support efforts to tackle discrimination and violence against women, we believe that these references should be— should have been aligned with previous agreed UN language. Indonesia underscores the need for inclusive, transparent, and consensus-based negotiation, especially on sensitive issues. We support the declaration in the spirit of multilateralism while firmly reserving our position on the language concerned. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the delegate from Indonesia. Russian Federation, followed by Hungary and Algeria.

Mr. President, the Russian Federation thanks the co-coordinators of the negotiating process on the text of the ministerial declaration for their effective leadership and support during the consultations. During the negotiations, we demonstrated the greatest possible flexibility and readiness to compromise with the full understanding of the national and group interests of member countries. The Russian Federation supported the adoption of the declaration because it contains a number of critically important paragraphs for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and in the interests of developing countries. At the same time, we would like to point out the following regarding paragraph 15. We believe it important to underscore the following: the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be considered not selectively but in full and interconnected. We regret that the text of this paragraph chooses a selective approach to the importance of key elements of the UN Charter, which essentially distorts the balance between them, which was established in the UN's founding document 80 years ago. In that regard, we are forced to dissociate from paragraph 15. We believe that it is unacceptable to refer in paragraph 61 to contradictory terminology, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. It shifts the focus from improving the status of women to advancing the rights of sexual minorities. It is also superfluous and not constructive to create some limited vulnerabilities list. And lastly, we believe it is legally inappropriate to promote the idea of states' fulfillment of the human rights of women rather than creating the conditions for that. And in that regard, we have taken the decision to abstain on the vote requested by the USA on that paragraph. Moreover, the Russian Federation dissociates from the consensus on paragraph 94 of the declaration, which underscores the importance of the prompt entry into force of the agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Thank you.

Thank the delegate. We now turn to Hungary, followed by Algeria and Belarus. Hungary, please.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Hungary aligns itself with the statement made by Denmark on behalf of the European Union and its member states and would like to add the following in its national capacity. At the outset, Hungary wishes to reaffirm its deep-rooted and unwavering commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. We would like to highlight some key considerations for the delegation of Hungary regarding the ministerial declaration. On SDG 3, the ministerial declaration rightly highlights the right of everyone to enjoy enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. We believe that the Declaration gives us a clear roadmap how to advance the enjoyment of this right. In this context, it is particularly welcome that the Declaration recognizes the importance of safe water, hygiene and sanitation services, and hygiene and waste management, and electricity services in healthcare facilities. Regarding SDG 5, we note with appreciation that the ministerial declaration specifically recognizes the importance of implementing family-friendly and family-oriented policies. We believe that true gender equality cannot be achieved without them. Promoting equality between men and women and the empowerment of women and girls are key in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Lastly, with regards to the text of the declaration, we wish to recall Hungary's longstanding principled position that migration should not be considered as a primary tool for development policy, and we should refrain from steps that may lead to creating further migratory pull factors. In this vein, we would like to put on record our reservations regarding the unbalanced approach of paragraph 27 of the Declaration and to express that we do not consider it as the appropriate reference point for future intergovernmental negotiations on this subject. I thank you for your attention.

Thank the delegate. Algeria, followed by Belarus and Japan.

Thank you, Mr. President. We would like first to commend you for your leadership in presiding over ECOSOC. We would like also to thank Czechia and Saint Vincent and Grenadines for their efforts throughout the negotiation process of the Ministerial Declaration of the HLPF. I would like to reaffirm Algeria's commitment to be to the global efforts of combating and ending all forms of violence against women and girls, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of all women, as demonstrated by the adoption of national strategies aimed at strengthening women's participation and leadership in political, economic, social life, as well as their protection against any form of violence. In order to be clear with regard to our voting at an earlier stage, My delegation would like to express its position regarding paragraphs 61 and 63 of the Declaration. From our national perspective, they are controversial as they do not align with our legislation, culture, values, and do not comply with agreed language in UN resolutions. We believe that ensuring the implementation of the SDGs should be based only on the agreed language contained in the Agenda 2030 per se. However, the controversial language included in paragraphs 61 and 63 do not or does not reflect consensus. Mr. President, although my delegation voted in favor of the overall declaration, we would like to dissociate ourselves from paragraphs 61 and 63 of the declaration and preserve the right to interpret them or any reference mentioned therein in accordance with our national laws. Finally, we would like to emphasize that any initiative should guarantee national ownership and should be consensus-based. Our common endeavor should be guided by constructiveness and mutual understanding. I thank you.

Thank the representative from Algeria. I give the floor now to Belarus, followed by Japan and Saudi Arabia. Thank

you, Mr. President. First of all, allow me to express my gratitude to the permanent representatives of Czechia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for their efforts to prepare the draft ministerial declaration and their attempts to achieve compromises and consensus. Belarus voted in favor of the adoption of the declaration, and in light of the inclusion in the final text of a number of concepts and terms that do not correspond to our national priorities, in particular, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and also multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Belarus dissociates from that wording in paragraphs 39, 58, and 61. Thank you for your attention. Thank

the delegate from Belarus. Now I'll give the floor to Japan, followed by Saudi Arabia and Senegal. Thank

you, Mr. President. We would like to express our appreciation for the tireless efforts and the leadership of the co-facilitators. Japan voted in favor of the whole text but is not completely satisfied with some details. First, on the reference to unilateral economic, financial, and trade measures in paragraph 10, we should refrain from using any hostile or controversial language in this declaration with a view to achieving a genuine consensus. Having said that, we'd like to stress that UN member states have a duty to cooperate with other states in the maintenance of international peace and security in full compliance with international law, including the UN Charter, and our measures can serve such purposes. We also share the concerns expressed by some delegations on paragraph 13, which refers to the principle of CBDR. We are convinced that singling out that principle is not adequate here. Mr. President, Japan will continue to focus its efforts to ensure that HLPF will build meaningful momentum towards 2030. Japan stands ready to cooperate with all the member states for a brighter future with no one left behind. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank

the delegate from Japan. Now Saudi Arabia, followed by Senegal, Paraguay, and the UK, and that's the end of the list. Thank

you, Mr. President. First of all, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would like to congratulate— welcome the adoption of the political declaration of the forum for 2025. We express our appreciation for the efforts of Czechia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We support the implementation of the plan of action. However, we express our reservations over concepts that do not enjoy consensus. For example, common response— common but differentiated responsibility. Which may not be in line with national laws and the cultural and religious specifics of states. The same goes for the concept of sexual and gender-based violence in paragraph 63. We confirm our fight against all forms of violence, including violence against women and girls, according to noble Islamic values, national laws which guarantee the protection of and justice for all. The Kingdom supports the national sovereignty of states and underscores the importance of respecting their national regimes and reiterates our efforts to build a more just, sustainable, and inclusive future. We ask that this statement be included in the record. Thank you. I now turn

to Senegal. Paraguay and the United Kingdom. Merci, Monsieur

le Président. Thank you, Mr. President. Senegal aligns itself with the statement by the G77 and China and would like to make the following observations in our national capacity. I would like to express our thanks to the Czech Republic and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for having conducted the negotiations on the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the 2025 session of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development. My delegation also took note with satisfaction of the reports of the Secretary-General and the reports of the regional forums to promote sustainable and inclusive solutions for the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. As we approach 2030, Senegal is aware that it is more necessary than ever to take measures to protect vulnerable groups, to respect commitments on gender equality through the strengthening of social protection systems, which in particular target young people, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities. However, we regret the systematic use of non-consensus terms in this ministerial declaration, which does not facilitate the support of all actors and could could undermine our respective efforts. My delegation thus dissociates from the term multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and reaffirms its sovereign policy on reproductive health. My delegation would also like to clarify that the concept of gender and all terminology that could be related to it only refer to social relations between men and women. Thank you. I thank the delegation

of Senegal. Now to Paraguay, followed by the United Kingdom, who will be the last speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. First of all, given the time, Mr. President, I would like to tell you that the Republic of Paraguay disassociates from paragraphs 35 and 45, and we will explain our position on paragraphs 39, 56, 58, 61, 62, 26, and 93. And in advance, I would like to ask that this explanation be added to the record of the meeting. I would like to deliver this statement, Mr. President, for our national position on paragraph 35. My delegation would like to point out that the reference to other relevant actors at the end of the paragraph does not— is not included in the WHO definition of the One Health approach, and so its inclusion in this paragraph expands the approach of what is currently being discussed at the multilateral level. We are concerned over the scope of the expression. It does not identify or define the sectors or the subjectivity with which one could interpret the term relevant. Ambiguity could give space for non-scientific considerations to be taken into account in the design and implementation of policies. That should be based on science. Therefore, as I said, Paraguay dissociates from that paragraph. On paragraph 45, Paraguay regrets that its wording did not take into account recently agreed language on the importance of food security and open food markets in order to address malnutrition in all its forms. We must not forget the vital role that trade and open markets play in improving food security in all its dimensions and in improving nutrition. Trade and open markets have the potential to support efforts in all 4 of the dimensions of food security, increasing the physical availability of food and reducing its costs and also giving consumers a more varied diet. And for that reason, Paraguay also dissociates from that paragraph.

I'm afraid your time has expired. Give the last word to the United Kingdom.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you again to the co-facilitators for their leadership. The United Kingdom welcomes the HLPF Ministerial Declaration, for which we voted in favor. It is a reminder of the urgent need to accelerate progress on the SDGs over the next 5 years. We welcome the focus on this year's declaration on the SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17. Economic growth and decent jobs are critical to underpinning progress across a range of SDGs. We have heard loud and clear, including through the run-up and at Finance for Development Conference, the need to help foster an enabling environment necessary to attract sustained private sector investment. Building human capital is at the heart of driving growth and development. We must work together to improve global health security, implement the pandemic agreement, invest in UHC and primary healthcare, and tackle AMR. With the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration not far away, HLPA's focus on gender has been very timely. There can be no growth or development without inclusion, which is why the UK continues to put women and girls at the heart of our approach. We welcome the commitment to build on the 3rd UN Ocean Conference to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, tackle illegal fishing, and end plastic pollution. And we are pleased, pleased this declaration highlights the important agreements reached in Sevilla to mobilize more finance for the SDGs from all sources. So there's much— we welcome this declaration. However, there are 3 points of concern that we have. Firstly, the declaration lacks ambition on climate and gender equality, and we regret the lack of reference to the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC. Secondly, the UK must regretfully disassociate from paragraph 48 due to the reference of unhindered, as we said before. Thirdly, we must disassociate from paragraph 13 given the reference to common but differentiated responsibility.

I'm afraid your time is up, but I think you've got your points in. I want to thank everybody. I see no other requests from the floor, and we've thus concluded our consideration of Agenda Item 3. However, there's 2 other items we have to consider. In my capacity as President of the Council, I shall be finalizing the draft report with the support of the Secretariat, and it will be issued as a full report of the Forum's proceedings. The draft report is, is as follows: EHLPF 2025-L2. So are there any further comments on the draft report? I'd like to give you my assurance that as President of the Council, in my finalizing the report, I will include all the proceedings of the forum. So may I take it that you wish to adopt the the draft as it is there and with my assurance that other matters will be included in the document. I hear no objection. I can't believe it. It is so decided. Thank you. I would now like to invite my friend and, and I must say key right hand in all of the work at ECOSOC, Mr. Li Junhua, who's the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, to make a few remarks.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Let me begin by recognizing the tireless efforts of the member states and the stakeholders who infused this year's High-Level Political Forum with such energy and purpose. Over the past 8 days, We witnessed a powerful exchange of inspiring stories, lessons learned, and good practices. This year's Forum attracted around 6,000 participants, including over 100 ministers and other high-level representatives of governments. The presentation of the 35 voluntary national reviews showcased concrete and inspiring examples of the policies and actions advancing the SDGs. With a decade of reviews, DESA's online data now holds over 400 VNR reports, a testament to the countries' commitment to peer learning and exchange of good practices. The vital contributions of the major groups and other stakeholders have added crucial depth to our discussions, and I commend your dedicated engagement. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the Ministerial Declaration that you have just adopted is a powerful reaffirmation of multilateral resolve. It sends a clear signal: our shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda and SDG is unwavering. The Forum reaffirmed our collective commitment to the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. Let us leave this HLPF with a renewed resolve, shared sense of possibility, and a reinvigorated sense of responsibility to lead the way forward. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Li, and thank you and your whole team. Please. I want to, I want to thank a lot of people very, very briefly. It's like this is going to be like one of those Academy Awards ceremonies where the music starts to play. So I do want to thank the people. I want to thank you and Dessa who put on a tremendous, made a tremendous effort. Also the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management and all those people who've really hard to coordinate an extraordinary range of events over the last 2 weeks with all of the people that Mr. Lee has described, over 6,000 people, member states, all the others who participated. It requires an extraordinary amount of work to coordinate this. None of you probably know who all the people are who are beside— behind the scenes have done all this, but let me express my thanks to all of them. Let me also express my thanks to our patient interpreters who have agreed to give us another couple of minutes, which is again a reflection of their devotion to making sure we all understand each other better, even if we don't always agree with each other. And it's with great pleasure that I also give my thanks to the Department of Global Communications and the IIISD for their exceptional work on communications. Before we conclude, I would like to remind everyone that the Economic and Social Council, which is different from the High-Level Political Forum, though also the same as the High-Level Political Forum, will reconvene tomorrow at 10:00 AM for the final day of the high-level segment. I hope everyone's understood what I've just said. So many of the things that we've been discussing today, we'll also be discussing tomorrow and also approving. Details of the program are available on the HLPF website. So I'd like— now like to simultaneously ask if we could play the video and simultaneously declare that the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development convened under the auspices of the Economic Social Council at its 2025 session is hereby closed.