UN extends support to India’s Voluntary National Review consultations

NEW DELHI (ILO News): The Government of India will be presenting the third Voluntary National Report (VNR) at the High-Level Political Forum at the United Nations in New York in 2025. NITI Aayog on behalf of the Government of India is leading the preparation of this VNR. As part of the efforts, civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector are working with NITI Aayog to capture India’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals comprehensively through stakeholder consultations, and the United Nations is supporting the process.

The VNRs are intended to track progress in implementing the SDGs and targets, in a manner that respects their universal and integrated nature and all dimensions of sustainable development.

• Consultation on Forced Labour and Human Trafficking:

A dedicated consultation on forced labour and human trafficking, focusing on the vulnerable or ‘Leave No One Behind’ groups with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was organized by the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA). This hybrid consultation brought together over 140 CSOs from 15 states to discuss challenges and propose solutions, with ILO, IOM, UNHCR, and UNODC from the UN ecosystem helping facilitate discussions given their engagement with the represented population groups. A combination of written survey responses, to which over 50 CSOs contributed, and hybrid discussions ensured that grassroots perspectives were well-represented. The findings from this consultation will contribute to India’s VNR report for the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July 2025 and will also inform a stand-alone CSO report for broader policy advocacy.

• Consultation on the Role of the Private Sector in Accelerating SDG Achievement:

Recognizing the private sector’s pivotal role in driving sustainable development, NITI Aayog convened the consultation on private sector engagement in achieving the SDGs and the vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. The discussion explored social impact spending, the CSR ecosystem, responsible business practices, philanthropy, and start-up innovations. The session ‘Driving the 2030 Agenda through Responsible Business Conduct and Action’, was guided by India’s national legislations and the UN’s and ILO’s business-related frameworks. ILO, UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, IOM, UNIDO, and WHO helped facilitate the session that discussed the integrated manner in which pooling financial resources, knowledge and expertise can make progress towards the SDGs. The recommendations from this dialogue will be reflected in India’s VNR report, highlighting how responsible business conduct can enhance sustainability, resilience, and innovation within the private sector.

Through these consultations, the ILO reaffirms its commitment to advancing decent work, inclusive growth, and responsible business conduct as integral components of India's SDG progress.