Press release on the opening of the HL/Ministerial segment of the 2019 HLPF and other related events in New York

 Press Release

Hon. Prof. Dr. Puspa Raj Kadel, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, attended the Opening of the three-day High-Level/Ministerial Segment of the 2019 High-Level Political Forum in New York today.

Speaking in the Opening Session, Ms. Inga Rhonda King, President of ECOSOC; Mr. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General; and Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the General Assembly highlighted the importance of the Forum in implementing, monitoring and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Session also featured Ms. Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders; Mr. Richard Curtis, Screenwriter, Producer and Film Director, UK; and Mr. Hoesung Lee, Chair of IPCC. The speakers highlighted the importance of achieving SDGs for the planet and people. They also highlighted the need to effectively fight climate change.

Hon. Giriraj Mani Pokharel, Minister for Education, Science and Technology participated as a panelist in a high-level side event, “SDG 4.5: Gender Parity, Equality and Inclusion” organized on the sidelines of the Forum today. The Hon. Minister highlighted the progress that the Government of Nepal has achieved in realizing Goal 4, including the targets of gender parity, equality and inclusion. He also highlighted Nepal’s commitment for legal and programmatic interventions to ensure the gender parity, equity, equality and inclusion in education, including through The Consolidated Equity Strategy. Minister Pokharel underlined Nepal’s achievement in gender parity in basic education. Furthermore, he summed up the Government’s plans and policies to do more in this important area.

The Hon. Vice-Chairman is scheduled to deliver Nepal’s national statement tomorrow. He is also scheduled to speak as a panelist at an event on “Accelerating action to end forced labour, human trafficking, modern slavery and child labour” tomorrow.

***

__________

New York
16 July 2019