Opening statement at HLPF 2025 - Women's Major Group

High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
New York, 14 July
Session: Unlocking means of implementation: Mobilizing financing and STI for the SDGs

My name is Veronica Brown and I deliver this statement on behalf of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders and the Women’s Major Group.

This High Level Political Forum comes at a pivotal moment to deliver on the promises of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and leave no one behind. Its Ministerial Declaration is an opportunity to catalyse renewed ambition and accelerated action, to double down on our efforts to achieve gender equality, amid the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Yet, we deeply regret that the Ministerial Declaration, as currently drafted, and in particular in its review of SDGs 3 and 5, represents a significant weakening of our shared commitments, and risks significant regression in global consensus on the vital importance of SDGs 3 and 5 to the achievement of the entire 2030 Agenda.

This will mean the erosion of decades of progress on the fundamental role of gender equality and health as central pillars of sustainable development.

Let us be clear, any erosion of agreed SDG language is not a neutral act. It is a rollback. It is a step backward for human rights, for development, for justice. It is a threat to the lives and wellbeing of millions.

In diligently concluding the Ministerial Declaration, we strongly urge all Member States to rise to the urgency of the times; strengthen their commitments and double down on the ambition required for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for all, with gender equality as an integral and cross-cutting prerequisite.

SDG 17 is premised on the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement and meaningful partnerships, including with civil society. As civil society, we have a right to a permanent seat at the table and remain steadfast in our commitment to monitoring and defending the 2030 Agenda for all.

Let’s honor and protect the 2030 Agenda by having the courage to invigorate it, now more than ever, working together in solidarity.

Today feminists are wearing green, to demand universal health coverage and sexual and reproductive health and rights for all! and Feminists will be here all week wearing red, raising the red flag to say gender equality is under attack, we resist and we will be holding the line and we hope member states will join us.

Thank you.