On the 22nd of September, the Pact for the Future with its two annexes, The Global Digital Compact and the Declaration of Future Generations, was adopted by consensus at the opening of the Summit of the Future in the UN General Assembly in New York. It marked the culmination of years of preparations and months of intense negotiations until the very last minute.
Overall, the Pact for the Future can be considered as a victory for human rights defenders. Countdown 2030 Europe partners and our allies have been advocating for substantive and progressive language throughout the negotiations of the Pact and its annexes. Therefore, we are happy that the Pact has explicit references to universal sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SRH+RR), and cross-cutting references to gender equality and human rights, including references to landmark frameworks developed at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing and at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), as well as substantive references to ending sexual- and gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence. The inclusion of a chapter on youth and future generations is significant, recognizing today’s generation of young people as the largest in history and vital agents of change. It emphasizes investing in their social and economic development, ensuring equitable access to essential services, and fostering meaningful participation in decision-making. In addition, the first chapter of the Pact highlights adolescent girls as a unique group, acknowledging their human rights and empowering them to shape a better future for all.
Despite great political polarization and opposition, world leaders reaffirmed their commitments and the adoption showed that the member states and civil society organizations succeeded in maintaining crucial references to SRH+RR and gender equality in the agreement. It offers hope that member states can re-commit to the charter, human rights mechanisms and agree on a framework for the future of the institution in line with the Secretary-General’s aim of reinvigorating global trust. However, it depends on the member states to ensure the full commitment and implementation of the outcome documents.
In his opening speech at the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, highlighted that gender-based violence and discrimination are the most prevalent forms of inequality globally, and stressed that gender equality is indispensable for peace, sustainable development and climate action.
However, in the general debate only a handful of member states explicitly mentioned the importance of gender equality and human rights, and respecting, protecting and fulfilling SRHR. This is deeply regrettable, because gender equality and SRHR are important prerequisites for all the sustainable development goals and fulfilling the Pact’s vision.
The role and rights of civil society
The involvement of civil society leading to the Summit of the Future has been under severe pressure from a small, but consistent, group of countries. While the Pact includes references on the protection of civic space and the role of civil society in peace building, it is unfortunate that there are no references to the diversity of civil society, including a focus on human rights defenders, feminist movements etc. Moreover, civil society organizations from the global majority have faced structural inequalities and underrepresentation in the Summit of the Future and in UN spaces in general. To address this, a more inclusive, equitable, and transparent approach to their involvement in all UN processes is crucial.
It is worrying, because we face escalating challenges with attacks on human rights, gender equality and civic space, coupled with growing opposition to previously agreed-upon language. We live in an increasingly challenging context, where hard-won achievements of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), rights of women and girls in all their diversities, and LGBTIQ+ rights are under severe pressure. This deepens social inequalities, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.
We therefore urge all member states to explicitly support and prioritize urgent action and implementation of the Pact and its annexes, to ensure that the most marginalized and those experiencing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination are not left behind. We also urge member states to actively support an inclusive involvement of civil society organizations across all UN processes to ensure that the implementation of the Pact is committed to ensuring civil society’s rights and role.
Moving forward
Next year, we celebrate the 30 year anniversary of Beijing Platform for Action. This presents a key opportunity to renew and accelerate commitments to gender equality and the rights of women and girls in all their diversity.
The realization of SRHR is not only essential for the well-being and opportunities of people today, but also for securing the futures of generations to come. By integrating a human rights-based approach and gender lens into our collective efforts, we have a unique opportunity to shape a future where all can thrive and exercise bodily autonomy and live free from violence and discrimination. Full and equal access to SRHR to all people is a non-negotiable prerequisite for achieving gender equality and sustainable development. It is indispensable for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, fulfilling the Pact’s vision, and for shaping the future post 2030-agenda. Failure to act is unacceptable – the lives, wellbeing and human rights of women, girls, adolescents and other structurally excluded groups are at stake.
1. After the adoption, Argentina opted out of the Pact as the only member state.
2. Please see the Countdown 2030 Explainer on the Summit of the Future https://www.instagram.com/p/DAGCkW-ix9v/?img_index=1
Written by Zoe Burke (DFPA), Liv i Dali (DFPA), Marlene Weck (DSW), Yvonne Bogaarts (Rutgers), Cosmina Marian (IPPF EN)
Illustration by Bibi Sakata