Iraq participate in High-Level Political Forum for sustainable development

A high-level Iraqi delegation Headed by Minister of Planning, Dr. Nouri Sabah al-Dulaimi participated in the High Level Political Forum  under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council for the period 9-18 July 2019, in order to review the progress made by States in the implementation of a specific set of the 17 sustainable development goals. A technical Iraqi delegation, headed by Minister of Planning Dr. Nuri al-Dulaimi, participated in the forum.

The Forum was held under the slogan “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. In the review, the forum focused on five of the goals of sustainable development: quality of education, economic growth, employment opportunities, and reduction of inequality, as well as climate change, peace and justice, and promotion of partnerships.

Iraq volunteered to provide its voluntary national review (VNR) during 2019, in addition to 46 other countries, which will help the Iraqi government to identify the areas of success and progress as well as areas where more efforts are needed to achieve success. The VNR highlighted the impact of terrorism as a hindrance and a serious challenge faced by the Iraqi government in its role to implement Iraq’s national sustainable development plan.

The meetings of the Forum included a presentation by the Minister of Planning to the international community, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development, in order to demonstrate the efforts of the Arab region to achieve the goals of sustainable development and the obstacles it faces.

The forum also included the participation of Iraq in sponsoring a side event with the Republic of Korea and the Central African Republic on peace and sustainable development.

In addition to that, a presentation made by the Iraqi delegation at the meeting on the review of goal 16 of the goals of sustainable development on security and justice for all, which highlight the efforts of the Iraqi government to develop security and judicial institutions in areas affected by terrorist operations to ensure the achievement of the aforesaid goal.