Expert Group Meeting
The UN Women and partners convened an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) in New York (21-22 January 2025) to review progress on SDG 5 – Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering All Women and Girls. The meeting was a crucial step in preparation for the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), which focused on:
“Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs – leaving no one behind.”
The 2025 HLPF will conduct in-depth reviews of several critical SDGs:
✔ SDG 3 – Health & Well-being for all
✔ SDG 5 – Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment
✔ SDG 8 – Economic Growth & Decent Work
✔ SDG 14 – Ocean & Marine Conservation
✔ SDG 17 – Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development
At the SDG 5 Review Meeting, discussions centered on:
(i) Assessing progress on SDG 5 and implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA)
(ii) Breaking barriers and scaling success – lessons learned & strategies for accelerating gender equality.
(iii) Closing the Gap – financing for gender equality to drive systemic change
Gender equality is foundational to sustainable development—without it, achieving the 2030 Agenda remains out of reach. As we enter the final five years of the SDG timeline, urgent transformative actions and strong partnerships are needed to accelerate progress. The time for bold action is now! Let’s continue working together to break barriers, close gaps, and drive lasting change for women and girls worldwide.