Side events in the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2025

The Mary Ward Centre organized two virtual side events during the HLPF in collaboration with the IBVM-Loreto Generalate NGO to the UN and many other organizations. Recordings of the events are available on The Mary Ward Centre YouTube page.

Beyond Default: The Liberating Power of Debt Reform (SDG 17)

Watch the recording on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4oWKPbTmtE&t=1s

A wide range of experts engaged in conversation exploring the realities, obstacles, and opportunities for developing countries to attain long-term debt sustainability and the ethical obligations of wealthy industrialized countries (i.e., ecological debt/climate debt). Speakers offered solutions aimed at debt cancellation and reform of the global financial system, especially a debt resolution framework at the United Nations. This virtual event was part of the Jubilee Year campaign for debt relief. Together, let’s engage in the call to transform debt into hope!

Gender Equality: The Key Ingredient for SDG2030

Watch the recording on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXyNKgyRMgs&t=2344s

A diverse panel of young women and girls from Canada, Germany, South Africa, and Mexico shared their personal experiences of gender equality and the solutions they view are necessary to create change. They shared inspiring messages for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, particularly related to good health and wellbeing (SDG 3), decent work (SDG 8), and global partnerships (SDG 17). 

New Gender Equality report

In case you missed it!

On July 15th, the Mary Ward Centre launched a new report entitled “Breaking Barriers: The Urgent Need to Accelerate Gender Equality for Young Women and Girls”. This report examines current research and lived experience of young women and girls (aged 15 - 24 years) in relation to gender equality and access to decent work in Canada.

This report responds to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and looks at progress made in Canada on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and others.

Read the report here: https://www.marywardcentre.ca/post/breaking-barriers-the-urgent-need-to-accelerate-gender-equality-for-young-women-and-girls-report