A/HRC/43/33 Right to Development Division at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), shared their takeaways from the meeting and identified key messages and areas for follow-up for the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development. II. Summary of proceedings A. Opening session 7. The Chair opened the discussion by outlining the objectives of the meeting, the modalities and the format. He recalled the outcomes of the first intersessional meeting (see A/HRC/40/34), on which the second meeting would build. 2 The present summary report of the meeting would feed into discussions at the high-level political forum in 2020. 8. In his opening remarks, the President of the Human Rights Council recalled the success of the first intersessional meeting. 3 The political declaration of the high-level political forum called for accelerated action at all levels, including the involvement of all stakeholders, whether public or private, to leave no one behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. A concerted effort was therefore required to come up with lasting solutions and fill the systemic gaps in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. 9. He recalled that the Human Rights Council had adopted 42 resolutions that referred specifically to the Sustainable Development Goals. Many focused on specific groups of rights holders, such as girls and women, children, young people, workers, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, displaced persons and other vulnerable groups. The resolutions made it clear that sustainable development was more than economic growth; it was an economic, social, cultural, environmental and political process, which was linked to the enjoyment of all human rights without distinction of any kind. 10. The President of the Economic and Social Council delivered a video message. 4 She expressed support for the meeting, which was dedicated to strengthening cooperation and dialogue on human rights and the 2030 Agenda. Human rights and sustainable development were inseparable, and the fundamental principle of the 2030 Agenda – to leave no one behind – struck at the very core of human rights, namely non-discrimination, equal rights and dignity. Respecting human rights was a major step in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. 11. She urged the participants at the meeting to keep in mind those who were set to benefit from their efforts. Behind every piece of data and information and every target and indicator were human beings with aspirations, hopes and human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. She noted the shortfall in achieving the Goals and the need to work together to formulate a way forward that was driven by innovative and practical steps to bring about the desired change. Time was running out in a race that they could not afford to lose. 12. The Economic and Social Council stood ready to work with others to disseminate the recommendations from the intersessional meeting, help guide discussions in New York and across the regions, and promote uptake and implementation at the national level. The report of the intersessional meeting would provide important input for the high-level political forum, and the Economic and Social Council would make good use of it. She reiterated the importance of building on and strengthening existing collaboration between the Economic and Social Council and the Human Rights Council, and she committed to working with all Member States to map out a decade of action that would ensure success. 2 3 4 See www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/2030Agenda/SecondSession/ ConceptNote.pdf. See www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/2030Agenda/SecondSession/Statements/ Coly_Seck_President_HRC.pdf. See www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/2030Agenda/SecondSession/Statements/ Mona_Juul.pdf. 3