At this year’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, UN Women played a pivotal role in emphasizing the urgent need to advance gender equality and empower women and girls worldwide. With the 2030 deadline for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approaching, the forum’s spotlight was firmly on SDG 5 — gender equality — and its crucial connection to all other development goals.
UN Women’s leadership called attention to the alarming $420 billion annual financing gap that limits investments in gender-responsive policies, care infrastructures, and institutions supporting marginalized women globally. Addressing this gap is essential to accelerate progress and ensure no woman or girl is left behind.
Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, underscored during her keynote remarks that gender equality is integral to the success of the entire 2030 Agenda. She urged governments, private sectors, and global partners to increase funding and political will to close this gap and promote sustainable, inclusive growth.
The forum also commemorated the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Platform for Action, with UN Women co-hosting a multistakeholder hearing alongside the President of the UN General Assembly. This gathering united feminist advocates, policymakers, and international leaders who reiterated the need for bold reforms, inclusive leadership, and strategic investment to uphold women’s rights and leadership worldwide.
A significant announcement at the forum was the launch of a global alliance representing women from communities facing deep-rooted work- and descent-based discrimination. This coalition, bringing together grassroots leaders from diverse regions including South Asia, Africa, and Europe, aims to push for legal recognition and protections to combat long-standing exclusion.
Throughout the event, grassroots women leaders shared firsthand experiences addressing land rights, food security, climate resilience, and social justice, highlighting the vital role of community-driven solutions in advancing feminist economic empowerment.
Additionally, UN Women partnered with the European Union and key stakeholders in a high-profile session to intensify efforts to end violence against women and girls. A new series of policy papers was introduced to support governments in transforming commitments into actionable national strategies, including prevention, data collection, and survivor support systems.
Further broadening the forum’s scope, a special session explored how sports initiatives empower young girls and women, linking gender equality goals with partnerships that foster social impact and youth development.
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