The Political Declaration of the SDG Summit 2023, adopted in September 2023 at the halfway mark at the 2030 Agenda, represents a global commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The second iteration of the Political Declaration is of utmost importance. It serves as the foundation for decision-making during the High Level Segment of the SDG Summit in September 2023. This document carries significant weight as it plays a crucial role in implementing necessary measures to address both recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Notwithstanding its efforts to be action-oriented, daring, and transformative, particularly during this decade of action and delivery, the Declaration has fallen short in issues related to gender equality.
But first…what went well? The Declaration vows to take focused and expedited measures to remove any obstacles, whether legal, societal, or economic, that hinder the attainment of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, including those with disabilities. It commits to ensuring their full, equal, and meaningful involvement in every decision-making process, as well as the realization and enjoyment of their human rights. The declaration also pledges to eradicate, prevent, and address all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, whether in public or private spaces. Furthermore, it promises to tackle barriers to girls’ education, bridge gender and disability gaps, and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through education. This includes creating safe, healthy, and stimulating learning environments that enable all students to realize their maximum potential.
In Paragraph 15, the declaration acknowledges the essential role of gender equality in achieving a just and sustainable future for everyone. It underscores the commitment to ensuring that all women and girls can fully enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms, while also emphasizing the importance of eradicating violence against them.
Paragraph 27 of the declaration recognizes the far-reaching effects of global crises on gender equality outcomes in various socio-economic and political realms. However, it does not address concerns such as the gender pay gap or the disproportionate impact of economic downturns caused by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls. Additionally, the declaration lacks concrete policy actions to address deep-seated patriarchal systems, relying primarily on verbal commitments.
The Declaration’s neglect of intersectionality and multiple forms of discrimination is deeply concerning. It fails to recognize that gender inequality intersects with other dimensions of marginalization, such as race, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic status. Addressing multiple forms of discrimination is crucial for creating inclusive and equitable societies. By overlooking this aspect, the declaration disregards the intersecting experiences and needs of individuals who face compounded barriers to achieving their human rights and full potential.
The Political Declaration SDG Summit 2023 lacks a strong emphasis on gender mainstreaming, which is essential for effectively integrating gender equality into every aspect of the SDGs. Gender mainstreaming entails considering the different needs, priorities, and experiences of women and men in all policies, plans, and programs. By not explicitly highlighting gender mainstreaming, the declaration misses an opportunity to ensure that gender equality is a cross-cutting concern across all SDG-related initiatives
By neglecting to allocate resources specifically towards supporting women-led initiatives, the declaration fails to harness the potential of women and girls as key drivers of social, economic, and environmental transformation.
The Political Declaration SDG Summit 2023 is a missed opportunity to prioritize gender equality in the pursuit of the SDGs. By neglecting these vital components, the declaration fails to address the structural barriers that perpetuate gender disparities and hampers the full potential of women and girls as catalysts for change. To truly achieve sustainable development, it is essential to rectify these gaps and ensure that gender equality is prominently integrated into future global agendas. The declaration should prioritize the importance of political will, fair allocation of finances, tangible affirmative actions, and robust accountability mechanisms to effectively promote gender equality vis a vis non-discriminatory and all-inclusive processes, quintessentially leaving no one behind. Especially as we head to the 2024 Summit of the Future, Member States must commit to these principles to create a more inclusive and equitable world, where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to a sustainable future.
The UN’s Gender Backslide
By Rameen Siddiqui
International & Regional Organizations
The Political Declaration of the SDG Summit 2023, adopted in September 2023 at the halfway mark at the 2030 Agenda, represents a global commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The second iteration of the Political Declaration is of utmost importance. It serves as the foundation for decision-making during the High Level Segment of the SDG Summit in September 2023. This document carries significant weight as it plays a crucial role in implementing necessary measures to address both recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Notwithstanding its efforts to be action-oriented, daring, and transformative, particularly during this decade of action and delivery, the Declaration has fallen short in issues related to gender equality.
But first…what went well? The Declaration vows to take focused and expedited measures to remove any obstacles, whether legal, societal, or economic, that hinder the attainment of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, including those with disabilities. It commits to ensuring their full, equal, and meaningful involvement in every decision-making process, as well as the realization and enjoyment of their human rights. The declaration also pledges to eradicate, prevent, and address all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, whether in public or private spaces. Furthermore, it promises to tackle barriers to girls’ education, bridge gender and disability gaps, and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through education. This includes creating safe, healthy, and stimulating learning environments that enable all students to realize their maximum potential.
In Paragraph 15, the declaration acknowledges the essential role of gender equality in achieving a just and sustainable future for everyone. It underscores the commitment to ensuring that all women and girls can fully enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms, while also emphasizing the importance of eradicating violence against them.
Paragraph 27 of the declaration recognizes the far-reaching effects of global crises on gender equality outcomes in various socio-economic and political realms. However, it does not address concerns such as the gender pay gap or the disproportionate impact of economic downturns caused by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls. Additionally, the declaration lacks concrete policy actions to address deep-seated patriarchal systems, relying primarily on verbal commitments.
The Declaration’s neglect of intersectionality and multiple forms of discrimination is deeply concerning. It fails to recognize that gender inequality intersects with other dimensions of marginalization, such as race, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic status. Addressing multiple forms of discrimination is crucial for creating inclusive and equitable societies. By overlooking this aspect, the declaration disregards the intersecting experiences and needs of individuals who face compounded barriers to achieving their human rights and full potential.
The Political Declaration SDG Summit 2023 lacks a strong emphasis on gender mainstreaming, which is essential for effectively integrating gender equality into every aspect of the SDGs. Gender mainstreaming entails considering the different needs, priorities, and experiences of women and men in all policies, plans, and programs. By not explicitly highlighting gender mainstreaming, the declaration misses an opportunity to ensure that gender equality is a cross-cutting concern across all SDG-related initiatives
By neglecting to allocate resources specifically towards supporting women-led initiatives, the declaration fails to harness the potential of women and girls as key drivers of social, economic, and environmental transformation.
The Political Declaration SDG Summit 2023 is a missed opportunity to prioritize gender equality in the pursuit of the SDGs. By neglecting these vital components, the declaration fails to address the structural barriers that perpetuate gender disparities and hampers the full potential of women and girls as catalysts for change. To truly achieve sustainable development, it is essential to rectify these gaps and ensure that gender equality is prominently integrated into future global agendas. The declaration should prioritize the importance of political will, fair allocation of finances, tangible affirmative actions, and robust accountability mechanisms to effectively promote gender equality vis a vis non-discriminatory and all-inclusive processes, quintessentially leaving no one behind. Especially as we head to the 2024 Summit of the Future, Member States must commit to these principles to create a more inclusive and equitable world, where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to a sustainable future.
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