Sustainable Development

Women's Rights and Peace through the SDGs!

WILPF is advocating for women's rights and peace through the Sustainable Development Goals in partnership with our coalition, the Women's Major Group. 

To learn about our advocacy strategy and 2020 recommendations (and strengthen the impact of collective action), read the Women's Major Group position paper for the 2021 HLPF!

According to the 1987 Brundtland Commission, sustainable development is development which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainable development is the intersection of three dimensions: environmental protection, social development (including women’s human rights), and economic development.

Sustainable development has been addressed by multiple processes and forums at the United Nations. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched along with the Agenda 2030 in September 2015, following the expiration of the 2000 Millennium Development Goals. The SDGs build on the MDGs and the 1992 and 2012 Rio Conferences on Sustainable Development.

WILPF has engaged in Post-2015 sustainable development discussions, advocating for a conflict prevention approach to development that strengthens gender equality and peace. Within coalitions, including the Post-2015 Women’s Coalition and Women’s Major Group, we mobilise action to demand global development based on disarmament and women’s full and equal socioeconomic and political participation, and human rights.

Please see the dropdown menu for information on sustainable development programmes. Relevant resources, including each Voluntary National Review and inputs from the Women's Major Group and UN Women, are also available below.