A/HRC/40/34 Sustainable Development Goal implementation. Nadia Isler, Director of the SDG Lab, moderated the discussion. 7. At the closing session, on bringing the human rights narrative to the high-level political forum on sustainable development, Marion Barthelemy, Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, and Peggy Hicks, Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division of OHCHR, shared their key conclusions from the meeting. The Rapporteur provided a synthesis of the meeting. II. Summary of proceedings A. Opening session 8. The Chair opened the discussion by outlining the objectives of the meeting, the modalities and the format. He noted that written submissions received after the meeting would be posted on the website of the meeting. 3 9. The Chair stated that, by focusing on the exchange of practical experiences as well as on tools and methodologies, the aim of the meeting was to deepen the existing understanding of the relationship between the promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Strengthening synergies between human rights and the 2030 Agenda could strengthen the multilateral system by ensuring better coherence between political commitments and legal obligations. 10. The President of the Human Rights Council acknowledged the extensive expertise present in the room, which would ensure a rich discussion and a deeper understanding of the synergies. He underscored that the discussions should facilitate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at both the global and the national levels, from large cities to rural areas, in keeping with the further advancement and realization of human rights for all, without discrimination. 11. In her opening statement,4 the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights described the 2030 Agenda as an ambitious and objective model of equitable and sustainable development that put people at the centre and was explicitly grounded in human rights, including the right to development. She emphasized that the overarching commitment of Member States to “leave no one behind” demanded that inequalities be addressed and that all forms of discrimination be clearly identified and eliminated. She added that this included structural inequalities between social groups. 12. The High Commissioner stated that although there were some examples of the progress made in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, much more needed to be done and the 2030 Agenda was not on track. She noted that many countries were still far from achieving the goal of gender equality, which was also a driver for other Sustainable Development Goals, as women’s inequality remained powerfully entrenched as an obstacle to political empowerment, economic opportunity, physical safety, equal pay and individual freedom of choice. 13. The High Commissioner stressed that there was a need for greater urgency about achieving the 2030 Agenda, as only 12 years remained. The meetings of the high-level political forum on sustainable development to be held in 2019 represented an important milestone that required immediate, accelerated action, including stronger partnerships between stakeholders at all levels, to drive implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. 14. The High Commissioner noted that the human rights-based approach led to development that was more powerful, more sustainable and more effective because it 3 4 See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SDGS/Pages/HRCIntersessionalMeeting.aspx. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24072&LangID=E. 3