Opening
Tuesday, 7 July 2020
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Virtually (held New York time)
Official meeting
Statements
Statements
The theme for the 2020 United Nations high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) and ECOSOC is “Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development” (GA decision 74/508). The decade of action and delivery was launched by Heads of State and Government at the SDG Summit in September 2019 in order to step up progress towards the SDGs and put the world on track to realize their targets by 2030.
In light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the HLPF will examine the severe impacts of the pandemic on the progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will discuss concrete measures to address the impacts of the pandemic and get back on track to accelerate progress towards the SDGs during the decade of action. It will discuss how the SDGs can serve as the guideposts for building back better, leaving no one behind. It will highlight the importance of international solidarity and a multilateral response to the pandemic.
Chair:
- H.E. Ms. Mona Juul, President of Economic and Social Council
Video clip of young people
Opening remarks:
- H.E. Ms. Mona Juul, President of Economic and Social Council (Video, Text)
H.E. Ms. Mona Juul
Seventy-fifth President of the Economic and Social Council
Her Excellency Mona Juul was elected seventy-fifth President of the Economic and Social Council on 25 July 2019. Ambassador Juul is currently the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations in New York.
Ambassador Mona Juul was previously Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2014-2018), Director General for Security Policy and the High North in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2011-2014), Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission to the UN in New York (2005-2010) and Chair of the 1st Committee of the 61 session of the United Nations General Assembly (2006).
She served as Ambassador to Israel (2001-2005), accredited to Cyprus for the same period. State Secretary/Deputy Foreign Minister at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000), Special Advisor/Ambassador/Middle East Coordinator in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997-2000) chairing the AHLC (Ad Hoc Liaison Committee on Assistance to the Palestinians). She was Minister Counsellor at the Norwegian Embassy in Tel Aviv (1994-1997). Her first posting was at the Norwegian Embassy in Cairo (1988-1990).
Mona has been with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1986, during which time she has gained broad diplomatic experience. This includes working in the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1992-1993) and member of the small Norwegian team that facilitated the secret negotiations between Israel and the PLO leading to the Oslo Agreement.
She holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Oslo.
Ambassador Juul was born 10 April 1959 and is married to Mr. Terje Rød-Larsen. They have two children.
