The 2030 Agenda explicitly states that the Sustainable Development Goals “seek to realize human rights for all and to achieve gender equality”. Further, the Agenda pledges to “leave no one behind”, and to “reach those furthest behind first”.
The 2017 High Level Political Forum will review SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 17 (partnerships), among others. These goals are underpinned by key human rights instruments and international labour standards, and reflect fundamental human rights principles of equality and non-‐discrimination.
The achievement of these SDGs and the realisation of human rights are tied together in a mutually reinforcing way that allows for integrated strategies and approaches to, for example, reducing poverty and ensuring food security, while realising the rights of indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities. Further, human rights principles regarding participation and accountability, as well as instruments such as the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights constitute essential tools for designing the processes and partnerships needed to reach the goals.