UN High-Level Political Forum July 16

Forus network's engagement at the UN High-Level Political Forum 2025 - #HLPF2025. At the #HLPF2025 in New York, on July 16 Forus and its members took part in three key side events, showcasing the leadership of civil society in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 🌍 📍 Local2030 Coalition Side Event Dr. Moses Isooba, Executive Director of the Uganda National NGO Forum and Forus Vice-Chair, emphasized the power of local action and civil society in unlocking sustainable financing. He called for flexible, community-led development and highlighted that “65% of the SDGs depend on localisation.” 📍 Side Event on SDG Target 8.7: Achieving a Child Labour-Free World With 138 million children still in child labour—over half in sub-Saharan Africa—this session brought together global actors to drive urgent solutions. Co-organized by Forus member JANIC, along with ACE and partners, the event renewed the push to eliminate child labour by 2025. 📍 Side Event by the Government of Uganda & UN Economic Commission for Africa Dr. Isooba also spoke at this event, stressing that civil society is not only a service provider but a key contributor to policymaking and decision-making. He urged international institutions like the UN, OECD, and Bretton Woods bodies to meet financing commitments and support sustainable development globally.