'Govts must walk the talk on gender equality, right to health, human rights to deliver SDGs by 2030'

By A Representative

With just 64 months left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global health and rights advocates have called upon governments to honour their commitments on gender equality and the human right to health. Speaking ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), experts warned that rising anti-rights and anti-gender pushes are threatening hard-won progress on SDG-3 (health and wellbeing) and SDG-5 (gender equality).

“Would world leaders honour their commitment to deliver on SDG-3 and SDG-5? Would they be held accountable for the lack of progress? That is yet to be seen. But what we do find today is that anti-rights pushes and anti-gender pushes are rising and threatening whatever little progress was made,” said Shobha Shukla, Founder Executive Director of CNS and SHE & Rights coordinator, who served as SDG-3 Lead Discussant at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025.

Kenyan lawyer and activist Kavutha Mutua also raised alarm over punitive laws such as the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act and similar proposals in Ghana and Kenya. She said these regressive measures, along with policy rollbacks like Kenya’s withdrawal from commitments on comprehensive sexuality education and safe abortion rights, severely undermine sexual and reproductive health and rights. “We must defend progress made in laws and courts where possible,” she stressed.

Nepal was highlighted as a country demonstrating leadership on SDGs. Dr Bikash Devkota, Secretary at Nepal’s Department of Health and Population, pointed to the country’s extraordinary public health gains, including a three-fold rise in life expectancy since the 1950s, a 70 percent reduction in maternal mortality, and the World Health Organization’s recent declaration of Nepal as rubella-free. “These are not merely statistics, but reflect lives saved and futures secured,” he said. Nepal has also reduced new HIV infections by over 75 percent since 2010, a landmark achievement in Asia-Pacific.

From Africa, Benedicta Oyedayo Oyewole of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) urged governments to prioritize investments in primary healthcare, enforce laws against gender-based violence, end child marriage, and fund women’s rights and community-led organizations. “We are not asking for charity, but justice. The time for political rhetoric is over. What we need now is courage, financing and political will,” she said.

In Asia-Pacific, feminist advocate Anjali Shenoi of ARROW warned that one-third of countries in the region are not on track to reduce maternal mortality and that unsafe abortions remain a major source of preventable deaths. She highlighted the increase in child marriages in Bangladesh since the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed the need for inclusive, rights-based health systems and removal of legal and social barriers to services.

Thailand’s recent legalization of marriage equality was hailed as a landmark victory. “The Marriage Equality Act ensures equal rights for all couples regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It brings life-changing benefits to LGBTIQ+ individuals, couples, and families,” said Matcha Phorn-In, founder of Sangsan Anakot Yaowachon. But she cautioned that across Southeast Asia, LGBTQIA+ communities continue to face criminalization and marginalization. She also stressed that conflicts, invasions, and violations of indigenous rights remain major barriers to advancing the right to health.

The SHE & Rights session also showcased the SWEET (Street Women Engaged and Empowered to End TB) project of Humana People to People India, which supports urban poor women affected by TB and HIV. “By engaging street women as peer educators, SWEET not only improves health outcomes but also combats stigma and discrimination,” said Lisbeth Aarup, Head of Programme Development.

The session was co-organized by Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI), International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) 2025, Family Planning News Network (FPNN), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), Asia Pacific Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and CNS.

The recording of the discussion is available online, and applications for the SHE & Rights Media Awards 2025 are open until 15 September. Registration is also underway for the next session on 5 September, titled “Abortion Rights are Human Rights,” scheduled ahead of UNGA, World Contraception Day, and International Safe Abortion Day.

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