High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

13:30-15:00 CET / 7:30-9:00 ET

The importance of rehabilitation for achieving SDG3: Challenges and best practices to access quality rehabilitation services and inclusive health systems.

Learning from the COVID19 crisis and looking beyond it, this side-event will raise awareness on the crucial role of rehabilitation to achieve SDG 3 and have a ripple effect on many other SDGs. In the first part of the event, panelists’ contributions will provide a better understanding of the increasing global need, as well as of the challenges to access quality rehabilitation services - during and beyond the pandemic. In the second part of the event, panelists will showcase evidence and good practices to inspire action and outline key recommendations towards stronger, more resilient and more inclusive health systems that integrate rehabilitation and ‘leave no one behind’.

Speakers include:

• Ms. Marie-Anne Marx, Deputy Director, Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Luxembourg
• Dr. Ariane Mangar, Ministry of Health, Guyana
• Dr. Alarcos Cieza, Unit Head, World Health Organisation
• Ms. Florence Daunis, Deputy CEO, Humanity & Inclusion
• Ms. Smitha Sadasivan, Civil Society Engagement Mechanism, UHC2030
• Dr. Janet Janet Prvu Bettger, Duke University

Organized by the Permanent Mission of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the UN (Geneva) and Humanity and Inclusion (Handicap International Federation)

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Tuesday, 6 July 2021

19:00-20:30 CET / 13:00-14:30 ET

Accelerating progress towards the health-related SDGs in a time of crisis: solutions for an equitable and resilient recovery

Join us as we take stock of status of progress on health-related SDG targets, discuss approaches to accelerate progress in achieving the health-related SDG targets and find solutions for an equitable and resilient recovery from COVID-19.

Opening remarks by Dr Tedros, Director-General of WHO

Speakers include:

• H.E. Dr. Fawziya Abikar Nur, Minister of Health of Somalia
• H.E. Ms Ogerta Manastirliu, Minister of Health of Albania
• Hon. Mr. Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Republic of Kenya
• H.E. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed al-Saidi, Minister of Health, Oman
• Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa
• Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
• Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe
• Anuradha Gupta, Deputy CEO of Gavi
• Ms. Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen, Regional Director for Europe, IFRC
• Lakshmi Narasimhan Balaji, UNICEF, Head of Health System Strengthening
• Dr. Justin Koonin, Co-chair of UHC2030 Steering Committee (President of ACON)

Panel discussion will be moderated by Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, President & CEO of the UN Foundation.

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Thursday, 8 July 2021

15:00-18:30 CET / 9:00-12:30 ET

SDGs in focus: SDGs 3, 10, 16, 17 and interlinkages among those goals and with other SDGs

The continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic risks increasing inequality both within and among countries along many dimensions. Income inequalities within countries have widened, with lower income households bearing a disproportionate burden of the pandemic in terms of lost jobs or greater exposure to the virus. Across countries, differences in recovery trajectories – due to unequal fiscal resources and also unequal access to COVID-19 vaccinations – threaten to further widen gaps in per capita incomes between developed and most developing economies. Forms of inequality that pre-date COVID-19, including unequal care burdens at home and the digital divide, now stand to set women, school aged children and rural communities back decades. Even past progress in many areas of health and well-being including in maternal mortality and childhood vaccinations stand to be reversed. All of these heighten social tensions and polarization and weaken social cohesion. At the same time, in many cases, institutions intended to promote more peaceful, just and inclusive societies have fallen short, including during COVID-19 related lockdowns, increasing risks of unrest, conflict and violence. The stresses being experienced could also however motivate new partnerships and initiatives to reduce inequalities, advance well-being and promote justice and inclusive, effective and accountable institutions. This session will explore the situation and interlinkages among SDGs 3, 10, 16 and 17 and identify ways forward toward more peaceful, equal and inclusive societies.

UHC2030, together with PMNCH, WHO Global NCD Platform, NCD Alliance, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, UNAIDS, and Stop TB Partnership, announced a new initiative in this official HLPF program. Recognizing the need for greater collaboration and harmonization across health stakeholders and programmes, the Coalition of Partnerships for UHC and Global Health unites health leaders and advocates in a common goal to align advocacy and accountability efforts to achieve UHC and advance the SDGs.

A recorded video of this HLPF session is available here. Find out more about the Coaltion, visit this page.

Tuesday, 13 July 2021

13:30-15:00 CET / 7:30-9:00 ET

Protect the Progress: Rise, Refocus, Recover

Equity in the Era of COVID-19 and the SDGs: Improving Accountability for the Health and Rights of Vulnerable Women, Children and Adolescents

Now more than ever we want to raise visibility of the inequities women, children, adolescents and vulnerable communities face as a result of  COVID-19, and encourage governments to commit to greater accountability and multisectoral action in the pandemic response and recovery. #ProtectTheProgress #COVIDCallToAction

The Rt Hon Helen Clark, Board Chair of PMNCH, will convene the leadership dialogue. Opening the event, we will have a special performance from spoken-word poet Mumbi Macharia. The event is moderated by Maziko Matemvu, Vice President Young Feminists Network, Malawi and PMNCH Vice Chair, Partner Engagement, Adolescents & Youth Constituency.

Confirmed speakers include:

• H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy-Secretary-General
• H.E. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia and newly appointed UN Secretary-General's Global Advocate for Every Woman Every Child
• Børge Brende, World Economic Forum President
• Gabriela Cuevas Barron, Co-Chair, UHC 2030 Steering Committee
• H.E. Dame Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the UK to the United Nations
• H.E. Kimihiro Ishikane, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
• Josiah Tualamali'i, Co-founder, Pacific Youth Leadership and Transformation Council, young Samoan New Zealander

Hosted by the Government of Estonia and co-organzied by PMNCH, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and UHC2030.

Register here

Recorded event video

Monday, 19 July 2021

14:00-15:30 CET / 8:00-9:30 ET

Accelerating Digital Health Solutions to Deliver UHC Post COVID-19

COVID-19 has forced global health systems to adapt to rapidly evolving contexts, employ new methods of service delivery, and rely on new collaborative partnerships across sectors. In many parts of the world, this crisis has  accelerated the digital transformation and provided digital solutions which can be taken forward to build back better,  strengthen health systems and advance progress toward UHC; it has also highlighted significant gaps and disparities  which need to be addressed in order to leave no one behind. This session will explore solutions for scaling up and  maximizing the impact of both new and existing collaborations and partnerships in the wider digital health ecosystem.

Confirmed speakers include:

• H.E. Mr. Kaha Imnadze, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN 
• H.E. Mr. Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN 
• H.E. Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN 
• Dr. Lalitaya Kongkam, Deputy Secretary-General, National Health Security Office, Thailand 
• Dr. Adrián Pacheco López, General Director, Centre of Excellence on Health Technologies & Director of Telehealth, Ministry of Health of Mexico 
• Dr. Garrett Mehl, Unit Head for Digital Health Technology, World Health Organization 
• Dr. Akihiro Seita, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) 
• Mr. Edward Booty, Chief Executive Officer of reach52 & Member of the UHC2030 Private Sector Constituency

Moderated by:

• Professor Ilona Kickbusch: Principal Investigator & Co-chair of The Lancet and FT Commission Governing health futures 2030: Growing up in a digital world & Chair, International Advisory Board, Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies Geneva & Member of the UHC Movement Political Advisory Panel, UHC2030

Organized by the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of UHC and Global Health (Permanent Missions of Georgia, Japan and Thailand to the UN), WHO and UHC2030

Register here

Recorded event video