The 2024 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), held from July 8 to 17 under the auspices of ECOSOC at the UN Headquarters in New York, gathered over 250 high-level special events, VNR labs, side events, and exhibitions, both in person and online. This year’s forum, the first HLPF after the 2023 SDG Summit, revolved around the theme: “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions.” The focus was on SDGs 1, 2, 13, 16, and 17, with SDG 16 highlighting the importance of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

As a representative of the African Centre of Excellence for Access to Justice (ACE-AJ) at various side meetings, I observed that the HLPF was a crucial opportunity for networking and collaboration among diverse stakeholders. However, a concerning trend emerged: the forum is losing momentum, with a noticeable decline in the participation and engagement of civil society organizations (CSOs). The shrinking civic space has begun to reflect within the UN, with fewer NGOs attending and the civil society presence being more limited than in previous years. This decline can be attributed to a lack of funding, visa issues, and overall accessibility challenges.

Despite these challenges, civil society sessions proved to be the most substantial and impactful, offering critical voices, solutions, and critiques. However, engaging with the UN has become increasingly difficult for CSOs, highlighting the need for better organization and strategic effectiveness. There is a growing disillusionment around the HLPF as a space, with a noticeable decline in engagement since 2013. This situation calls for a renewed focus on community-building and networking, leveraging past documentation and practices that allowed for more inclusive participation.

The ministerial declarations this year reflected a fragmented and polarized political landscape, with the declaration approved at the HLPF but subsequently held up in ECOSOC due to questions and critiques. The negotiation process lacked CSO involvement, with member states now holding closed sessions. The ECOSOC ministerial declaration did not gain consensus, as the US delegation noted, highlighting the insertion of “unnecessarily divisive and politicized issues” into the historically consensus-driven process.

Furthermore, while countries referenced CSOs during the VNR processes, actual CSO involvement in decision-making remained limited in most countries. This disconnect between national-level observations and what is presented at the UN raises questions about the accuracy and relevance of these reporting mechanisms.

As we plan for the future, it is crucial to mobilize around key milestones, such as the Summit of the Future, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, and the World Summit for Social Development. Building momentum through partnerships and engaging thematic clusters will be essential to expanding into other thematic areas.

We must remain committed to promoting access to justice, universal human rights, the rule of law, and legal aid for marginalized and poor communities across Africa. Our work is rooted in the rich traditions of African and international practices and thought leadership, striving to craft a vision for a society that upholds human dignity and provides justice beyond narrow legal conceptions to the most vulnerable sectors of society. As we navigate the challenges of shrinking civic space and the complexities of the HLPF, we must remain steadfast in our mission to uphold the principles of SDG16 by promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, ensuring access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at every level.