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Peace Boat at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)
The United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is being held from July 9-18 at the UN Headquarters in New York City. Peace Boat is participating in the HLPF through its 2 week-long exhibitions, several events and through its work on SDG 16 on peaceful societies as a member of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).
In partnership with the UN SDG Action Campaign, Peace Boat is holding an exhibition at the HLPF titled “Education and Action for the SDGs: Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.” The exhibit shows through photographs and video how Peace Boat, as a committed campaigner for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), works in partnership with other organizations and networks to further the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The exhibit focuses on SDG 4 (through Peace Boat’s educational programmes), SDG 16 (through our peacebuilding and disarmament programmes), as well as SDG 13 on climate action, featuring our Ecoship, which will sail as a flagship for the SDGs and showcase renewable energy technologies, a marine research lab, an ecologically sustainable garden and innovation to reduce our CO2 by 40%).
During the HLPF Peace Boat is participating in several side events. On July 10, Peace Boat US’ Director Emilie McGlone spoke on a panel titled “Youth Climate Action for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” which focused on the importance of youth-lead solutions for climate action. She shared the stage with two young leaders who have all traveled on Peace Boat and are now making positive actions towards a more just climate for all: Selina Leem, a youth advocate from the Marshall Islands and Milka Rodriguez, South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation. Peace Boat will also co-sponsor an event titled, “SDG 8, Leave No One Behind: The 2030 GDP Target -Vulnerable People and the Regions Where They Live.”
In addition to the Exhibition and events, the review of SDG 16 on Peaceful societies during this session of the HLPF is important to Peace Boat’s work. Peace Boat, as a member of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) network, will bring civil society voices on SDG16 implementation and the importance of an integrated approach to SDG implementation for the success of peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Please see here GPPAC’s article calling for increased action on SDG 16+ and the need for greater political will and commitment towards peaceful societies.