Based on advocacy research by feminist scholars and practitioners, this presentation calls for prioritising gender equality as a critical lever to unlock progress across all dimensions of sustainable development.
As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approaches, , it is evident that many global targets, including Goal 5—Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls—are significantly off track. Progress towards gender equality, essential for sustainable development, has stalled and even regressed in some areas, exacerbated by global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and conflicts.
This presentation critically assesses the achievements and setbacks in advancing gender equality within the current SDG framework. Drawing on recent SDG data and projections, it explores the status of gender equality across the five pillars of the SDGs—People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership—while offering future scenarios for 2030 and 2050 and policy recommendations. Special attention is given to gaps in the SDG 5 indicator framework, particularly in addressing the needs of marginalised groups, and advocates for a more inclusive, intersectional approach post-2030.
Key reforms proposed include integrating gender-focused investments, improving the global indicator framework to better capture intersectional data, and strengthening institutional accountability mechanisms. By placing gender equality at the core of sustainability governance, the presentation calls for bold, transformative changes to ensure the future viability of the SDGs and the empowerment of all women and girls.
This analysis underscores that achieving gender equality is not only a moral and human rights imperative, but a strategic necessity for driving global development beyond 2030.