REPORT HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES, SDG 5: ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS
Introduction
In the lead-up to the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls took center stage as a critical priority. The review of SDG 5 provided a timely opportunity to accelerate efforts to address deeply entrenched structural inequalities and to highlight the urgency of ensuring inclusive leadership worldwide.
With particular attention to target 5.5, which calls for women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making, the webinars underscored both progress and persistent gaps.
Despite notable advances, women remained underrepresented in political leadership, executive positions, and decision-making bodies globally. Discussions emphasized that achieving gender parity required integrated, evidence-based policies to dismantle legal, institutional, and cultural barriers, supported by governance and accountability mechanisms that move commitments from symbolic gestures to structural realities.
To engage diverse audiences and broaden perspectives, a series of three webinars were organized. One in Arabic, one in English and one in Spanish. Each session explored the following key questions:
-
What is the High-Level Political Forum, and what was on the agenda for 2025?
-
How might the outcomes impact the future of the global gender equality agenda?
-
What are the trends in SDG 5, particularly with reference to target 5.5 on leadership and decision-making?
-
What lessons have been learned since the adoption of the SDGs?
-
How can more diverse voices be brought into global forums?
-
How can reporting on indicators be improved at the national level?
-
How can policy reflect a holistic and grounded approach to addressing the SDG 5 agenda?
The webinar in English was held on 11/07/2025
Introduction
In the lead-up to the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls took center stage as a critical priority. The review of SDG 5 provided a timely opportunity to accelerate efforts to address deeply entrenched structural inequalities and to highlight the urgency of ensuring inclusive leadership worldwide.
With particular attention to target 5.5, which calls for women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making, the webinars underscored both progress and persistent gaps.
Despite notable advances, women remained underrepresented in political leadership, executive positions, and decision-making bodies globally. Discussions emphasized that achieving gender parity required integrated, evidence-based policies to dismantle legal, institutional, and cultural barriers, supported by governance and accountability mechanisms that move commitments from symbolic gestures to structural realities.
To engage diverse audiences and broaden perspectives, a series of three webinars were organized. One in Arabic, one in English and one in Spanish. Each session explored the following key questions:
-
What is the High-Level Political Forum, and what was on the agenda for 2025?
-
How might the outcomes impact the future of the global gender equality agenda?
-
What are the trends in SDG 5, particularly with reference to target 5.5 on leadership and decision-making?
-
What lessons have been learned since the adoption of the SDGs?
-
How can more diverse voices be brought into global forums?
-
How can reporting on indicators be improved at the national level?
-
How can policy reflect a holistic and grounded approach to addressing the SDG 5 agenda?
The webinar in English was held on 11/07/2025