Jamaica to present national statement on SDGs to UN this week
Jamaica is expected to participate in the United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPL) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) starting today in New York.
During the session, Jamaica will deliver it’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the actions and measures for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals under the theme ‘The Jamaica We Want: Vision 2030 Jamaica, advancing the SDGs… Leaving No One Behind.’
Minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Pearnel Charles Jr noted that “The review will give Jamaica an opportunity not only to assess the implementation progress to date, but to mobilise international partners to advance the Vision 2030 National Development Agenda.”
Charles will lead Jamaica’s delegation supported by director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and Jamaica’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.
Jamaica will be one of 47 countries delivering their VNRs, and only one of two from the Caribbean, the other being The Bahamas, participating in the 2018 VNR process.
“The VNR presentations represent a new informal platform referred to as labs,” Charles explained. “The presenting country in the lab setting of a group of countries will share their SDG implementation progress and field questions from participating countries.
“The VNR labs provide an opportunity for member states to share their experiences thus far in implementing specific aspects of the SDGs. It allows for feedback, the sharing of best practices and, importantly, offers learning opportunities for all countries involved,” he said.
Minister Charles is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with the special representative of the UN Secretary General on Disaster Risk Reduction and the UN General/High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, in the margins of the HLPF.
Jamaica will also co-host a side-event titled ‘The 2030 Agenda: From Whole-of-Government to Whole of Society’ with the UN Development Programme.
