Sittings · Document

OPINION (2025/2014(INI)) 2025-05-20

On the implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals in view of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality · Rapporteur: Lina Gálvez

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AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality submits the following to the Committee on Development and the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, as the committee responsible :

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 24 June 2021 on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health1a,

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1a OJ C 81, 18.2.2022, p. 43.

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 11 April 2024 on including the right to abortion in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter1a,

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1a OJ C, C/2025/1279, 13.3.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/1279/oj.

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Commission’s EU Roadmap for Women’s Rights,

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, its programme of action and the outcomes of its review conferences,

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the 2015 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of its review conferences,

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the report by Equal Measures 2030 entitled ‘Findings from the 2024 SDG Gender Index – A gender equal future in crisis?’,

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

Citation 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the 2024 joint report by UN Women, the UN Development Programme, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF and the World Food Programme entitled ‘Are we getting there? A synthesis of the UN evaluations of SDG 5’,

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

Citation 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s 2015 Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, including Chapter 8 thereof on gender equality and equity,

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

Citation 31 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard its recommendation of 19 December 2024 to the Council concerning the EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women1a,

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1a OJ C, C/2025/1971, 11.4.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/1971/oj.

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

Citation 55 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Commission’s report of March 2024 entitled ‘Ninth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion’,

Amendment 11

Motion for a resolution

Citation 55 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the report of the European Institute for Gender Equality entitled ‘Gender Equality Index 2023 – Towards a green transition in transport and energy’,

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ba. whereas according to the Global Peace Index 2024, the average level of global peacefulness has declined by 0.56 %, marking the fifth consecutive year of deterioration; whereas in light of this trend, SDG 16 should be included in an in-depth review to address the growing challenges to peace and security worldwide;

Amendment 13

Motion for a resolution

Recital B b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Bb. whereas the increasing prevalence of human trafficking remains a critical threat to global peace and security; whereas strengthening international cooperation and enforcement mechanisms under SDG 16 is essential to combat trafficking networks, protect victims and uphold human rights;

Amendment 14

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas there is currently a USD 4 trillion annual SDG investment gap; whereas high debt levels of low- and middle-income countries constitute an obstacle to the investments required for the achievement of the SDGs;

C. whereas there is currently a USD 4 trillion annual SDG investment gap; whereas high debt levels of low- and middle-income countries, facilitated by some financial institutions’ programmes, constitute an obstacle to the investments required for the achievement of the SDGs; whereas this is also linked to rising poverty rates; whereas women and girls worldwide are disproportionately affected by poverty, humanitarian crises, climate change, conflicts, extremism, terrorism, wars and food shortages; whereas this also makes children more vulnerable; whereas the gender poverty gap is expected to increase by 2030 as women will still make up the majority of the world’s extreme poor;

Amendment 15

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C a. whereas the lack of financing for gender equality is a major barrier to achieving gender equality outcomes; whereas gender equality is fundamental to delivering on the promises of sustainability, prosperity, social justice, peace and human progress; whereas meaningful and sustained financial commitments and strengthened budgeting processes are fundamental to support the implementation of legislation, policies and gender responsive services to advance gender equality across all SDG 5 targets 1a;

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1a Equal Measures 2030, ‘Findings from the 2024 SDG Gender Index – A gender equal future in crisis?’, https://equalmeasures2030.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EM2030_2024_SDG_Gender_Index_EN_digital.pdf.

Amendment 16

Motion for a resolution

Recital C b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C b. whereas violence against women in all its forms (physical, sexual, psychological, economic or cyber) is a violation of human rights, an extreme form of discrimination against women and one of the biggest obstacles to achieving gender equality; whereas gender-based violence is rooted in the unequal distribution of power between genders, patriarchal structures and gender stereotypes, which has led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and can differ in appearance, intensity and form; whereas a society free from gender-based violence must be acknowledged as an absolute prerequisite for gender equality;

Amendment 17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Reaffirms its strong commitment to the timely and full delivery of all the SDGs;

1. Reaffirms its strong commitment to the timely and full delivery of all the SDGs, across all Member States and globally through the EU’s external action;

Amendment 18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(a) Underlines that the EU made moderate progress on SDG 1 but that women remain at higher risk of poverty and social exclusion;

Amendment 19

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(b) Expresses its concerns SDG 2 in the EU, as the growing obesity rate in women and children is a sign of malnutrition;

Amendment 20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(c) Is extremely concerned by the situation of women in the EU in relation to SDG 7 as women are more likely to face energy poverty due to lower incomes; 9.8 % of women 8.7 % of men could not adequately heat their homes in 2022, which was worsened by the energy crisis; welcomes the Commission communication on affordable energy1a; invites the Commission and the co-legislators to speed up the process to ensure prompt access to affordable energy;

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1a Action Plan for Affordable Energy Unlocking the true value of our Energy Union to secure affordable, efficient and clean energy for all Europeans (COM(2025)0079).

Amendment 21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(d) Underlines that SDG 11 remains unachieved in the EU as women are more likely to experience housing deprivation (4.6 % vs. 4.0 % for men in 2022) and rely more on public transport, where safety concerns persist;

Amendment 22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Regrets that the global community is severely off track with regard to realising the 2030 Agenda and achieving SDG targets;

2. Regrets that the global community is severely off track with regard to realising the 2030 Agenda and achieving SDG targets and that progress toward achieving certain SDGs has regressed; highlights the differences between and within countries and regions on various issues, such as gender disparities; regrets the withdrawal of funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and recognises the devastating impact on the global community’s aim of achieving the SDG targets, especially SDG 5;

Amendment 23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Calls for the EU to live up to its commitment to apply gender mainstreaming and an intersectional perspective to all EU policies and funding; regrets that countries around the world still lack 44 % of data needed to track the SGD 5 and over 80 % of countries are missing data on at least one SDG 5 target1a; stresses, therefore, the need to strengthen national statistical offices and improve their global coordination and cooperation, and to ensure informed policymaking and close the remaining gender data gaps;

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Amendment 24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 b. Emphasises the importance of data to enable the SDGs to be monitored, underlining that despite commendable increases in data, as well as its openness, accessibility and effective use, critical gaps persist; stresses, therefore, the importance of the role of national statistical offices and the need to strengthen partnerships, which are key to achieving more inclusive data, such as gender desegregated data;

Amendment 25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Stresses that international cooperation and decisive transformative action are urgently needed to place our societies and economies firmly on course to achieve the SDGs and address the triple planetary crisis;

3. Stresses that international cooperation, decisive transformative action and an increase in global development aid spending are urgently needed to place our societies and economies firmly on course to achieve the SDGs and address the triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss;

Amendment 26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Highlights that EU leadership in the global implementation of the SDGs remains crucial, especially in light of the multiple geopolitical challenges and ongoing crises;

4. Highlights that EU leadership in the global implementation of the SDGs remains crucial, especially in light of the multiple geopolitical challenges and ongoing crises, including the growing opposition towards the SDGs and the backlash against gender equality and the international human rights framework that sets out to protect groups in vulnerable or marginalised situations across the world, including women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people;

Amendment 27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4a. Recognises the European Union’s ongoing efforts and significant progress, particularly in advancing SDG 8, while also acknowledging the need for further improvements in achieving SDG 5;

Amendment 28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 b. Underlines that the EU should prioritise policies that support women, girls and families, ensuring that their economic and social well-being is seen as being key to achieving SDGs such as poverty reduction, quality education and gender equality;

Amendment 29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Regrets the marginal or moderate progress in most SDG 3 targets and the slowing pace since 2015 in multiple key areas; notes with concern that less than 10 % of SDG 3 targets are on track and less than one third are likely to be met by 2030; recalls that in the EU large gender inequalities exist and that very limited progress has been made since 2010 in addressing these inequalities;

Amendment 30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Expresses its concern about the persistence of the practice of female genital mutilation and its sympathy for the victims; highlights that in March 2024, UNICEF revised the figure of the number of victims to over 230 million, representing a 15 % increase (approximately 30 million more) from 2016, despite the drop seen in some countries;

Amendment 31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5b. Recognises that recent USAID funding cuts will further hinder progress on SDG 3, particularly impacting women’s and girls’ access to reproductive and maternal healthcare services;

Amendment 32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Stresses that multiple and interlocking crises, weak healthcare infrastructure, economic instability, poverty, persistent inequalities, especially among vulnerable populations and regions, and increasingly constrained resources threaten to further derail progress towards SDG 3 targets;

6. Stresses that multiple, interlocking and growing crises, such as weak healthcare infrastructure, economic instability, rising geopolitical tensions, poverty and persistent inequalities, including gender inequalities, especially among vulnerable populations and regions, as well as increasingly constrained resources and the lack of gender-sensitive medical research, threaten to further derail progress towards SDG 3 targets;

Amendment 33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Notes with concern the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the total freeze of its Official Development Assistance (ODA); underlines that, considering the role played by USAID in strengthening global health, this will have an enormous effect on people’s lives and access to health services globally, including for millions of women and girls; further highlights that the re-establishment of the Global Gag Rule particularly impacts sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the gaps left by the US, including by stepping up the EU’s contribution to key initiatives for SRHR such as the UNFPA Supplies Partnership and the Team Europe Initiative on SRHR in sub-Saharan Africa;

Amendment 34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 b. Regrets the global rollback of development aid, which mainly affects accessibility of healthcare in the poorest regions and for the most marginalised people, such as women and girls; considers that the crumbling of fragile healthcare systems poses a potential health risk for the global population; calls for decisive action across the Member States and as part of the EU’s external policies to make substantial progress towards the 2030 goal to reduce maternal mortality and ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including for family planning and safe and legal abortions, maternal healthcare and the achievement of universal health coverage, including access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines for all; calls for the EU to, as a priority, ensure access to the safe and effective contraception method of one’s choice and to safe and legal abortion services across the Member States;

Amendment 35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 d. Calls for the EU and its Member States to prioritise ensuring access to mandatory evidence-based age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality and relationship education for boys and girls and information about family planning in view of the 164 million women considered to have an unmet need in this area1a, while also contributing to these efforts through external policies;

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1a UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, ‘World Family Planning 2022’, https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/files/documents/2023/Feb/undesa_pd_2022_world-family-planning.pdf.

Amendment 36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 e. Calls for the EU to fulfil the plans included in the mental health strategy and implement more decisive actions for ensuring good mental health conditions for all, especially taking into account the gender perspective and how women and LGBTIQ+ people are more seriously affected by their mental health;

Amendment 37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 f. Recalls that fully realising SRHR and upholding women’s and girls’ bodily autonomy is critical to achieving gender equality; highlights that SRHR are an integral part of universal health coverage and are critical to achieving SDG 3, particularly target 3.7; calls on the Commission to ensure that SRHR are included in EU initiatives and programmes on universal health coverage;

Amendment 38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 g (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 g Warns that targets set by SDGs 3 and 5 will not be achieved if universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights is not guaranteed in the EU and globally; recalls that access to essential health services and necessary medicines, the safe and effective contraception method of one’s choice and to legal abortion services are a fundamental aspect of sexual and reproductive healthcare;

Amendment 39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 h (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 h. Recalls that unintended pregnancies can have significant physical, emotional and financial implications for individuals and families, and cause particularly significant harm to minors in cases of adolescent pregnancy; underlines that legal abortion care is life-saving care during miscarriages and other life-threatening obstetric emergencies and that legal and effective access to safe abortions can help address major complications and avoid high-risk pregnancies that can lead to maternal and infant mortality;

Amendment 40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 i (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 i. Further underlines that abortion medication provides a safe and less invasive alternative to surgical abortions and makes abortion and miscarriage care more accessible to individuals who live in areas where surgical abortion care is difficult to access due to geographic or other barriers, and that timely access to safe abortion medication may also allow patients to self-manage abortion and miscarriage care in whole or in part, preventing delays in care, which can lead to additional health risks;

Amendment 41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 j (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 j. Calls for the EU to swiftly adopt the Critical Medicines Act1a and ensure that it guarantees the accessibility and availability of essential sexual and reproductive health medicines on the WHO’s list of essential medicines at all times throughout the EU; calls on the European Medicines Agency to update the EU’s list of critical medicines to include the full list of essential sexual and reproductive health medicines included in the WHO’s list of essential medicines, such as contraception and abortion medication; calls for the EU to ensure essential sexual and reproductive health medicines are systematically included as part of humanitarian aid to non-EU countries;

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1a COM(2025)0102.

Amendment 42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Calls for enhanced coordinated action and substantial investment to achieve universal health coverage, strengthen health systems, ensure equitable access to medicines and vaccines, promote disease prevention and treatment, tackle aggravating environmental factors, address disparities in access to quality care and services, especially for people in vulnerable situations, vulnerable populations and regions, including minorities, women and girls, and persons with disabilities; underlines the importance of guaranteeing access to health for all as a fundamental right; stresses the need to support access to healthcare and education for girls in emergency situations, migrant, internally displaced and refugee girls and those in humanitarian crises and conflict situations;

Amendment 43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7a. Calls for enhanced coordinated action and substantial investment to achieve universal health coverage, strengthen health systems, ensure equitable access to medicines and vaccines, promote disease prevention and treatment, tackle aggravating environmental factors, address mental health challenges and reduce disparities in access to quality care and services, especially for vulnerable populations and regions;

Amendment 44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Calls for the universal right to a healthy environment to be added to the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and for a legally binding framework to be put in place;

8. Considers that a healthy environment is a critical factor in improving health;

Amendment 45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 a. Regrets that not one country is on track to achieve gender equality by 2030 and that nearly 40 % of countries have stagnated or even declined on gender equality between 2019 and 2022; notes that this backlash coincides with the rise of conservative, reactionary and misogynistic trends working against women’s rights around the world; warns that if current trends towards backlashing and stagnating on gender equality gather pace, gender global inequalities could be worse in 2030 than when the SDGs were agreed on in 20151a;

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Amendment 46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 b. Stresses the cross-cutting nature of SDG 5 and its importance in realising the 2030 Agenda; highlights that achieving gender equality directly compliments all other SDGs and realising these goals cannot be achieved without advancing women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality;

Amendment 47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Calls for accelerated, targeted action to end all forms of violence and harassment against women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people, including sexual and gender-based violence, and to end harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation;

9. Reiterates that society without gender-based violence is an indispensable prerequisite for achieving gender equality; calls for accelerated, targeted action to end all forms of violence and harassment against women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people, including sexual and gender-based violence, to end harmful practices such as child and forced marriage, to which 12 million girls are subjected every year1a, female genital mutilation, sex-selective abortion and to combat the use of gender-based violence as a weapon of war; considers that civic engagement and local grassroots women’s organisations are essential in achieving this aim; expresses concern about the global increase in the prosecution of human rights defenders, specifically when it comes to those that defend the rights of women and minorities; expresses concern about the high maternal mortality rate in low and lower middle-income countries;

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1a UNICEF, ‘Fast Facts: 10 facts illustrating why we must #EndChildMarriage10 February 2019’, https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/fast-facts-10-facts-illustrating-why-we-must-endchildmarriage.

Amendment 48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Stresses that rape remains one of the most widespread human rights violations and urges the establishment of a common definition of rape on the basis of lack of consent;

Amendment 49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 b. Regrets the global pushback against women’s rights and condemns any actor undertaking actions to undermine global gender equality achievements; calls for the EU and Member States to step up the fight for gender equality now that the US is defunding organisations that advocate for human rights;

Amendment 50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 c. Calls for more decisive action to combat the rise of anti-gender hate speech online and the increased threats faced by women in political positions, resulting in fewer women taking office and women often being forced to leave;

Amendment 51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Calls for the continuation of funding for programmes focusing on promoting female empowerment and fighting against all forms of gender-based violence; calls on the Commission to ensure that 85 % of all new external actions incorporate gender as a significant or principal objective and that 20 % of official development aid in each country is allocated to programmes having gender equality as one of their principal objectives;

10. Calls for increased funding for programmes focusing on promoting gender equality, and fighting against all forms of gender-based violence; calls on the Commission to ensure that all EU-funded actions integrate the gender dimension and that 85 % of ODA goes to projects that incorporate gender as a significant or principal objective and that 20 % of official development aid in each country is allocated to programmes having gender equality as one of their principal objectives; calls on the Commission to include these two targets in the next MFF and to ensure that gender mainstreaming and a gender budgeting approach are incorporated into all EU policies, programmes and budgets;

Amendment 52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Is alarmed that SDG 5 is one of the least financed of the SDGs; denounces the increasing de-prioritisation of women rights funding and the fact that feminist grassroots movements and women’s rights organisations continue to be systemically underfunded, receiving less than 1 % of the global ODA1a; calls on the Commission to ensure regular, adequate and sustainable funding for European programmes and organisations working for gender equality and women’s rights;

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1a ODI policy brief, ‘Where next for feminist foreign policy on funding feminist movements?’, https://media.odi.org/documents/ODI-ET-FundingMovements-PB-EN-May24-Final.pdf.

Amendment 53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 b. Expresses grave concern about the gender apartheid currently being perpetrated in Afghanistan; highlights that 2.2 million girls have already been denied access to education in Afghanistan, with this number set to increase to 4 million; calls on the global community to strongly condemn gender apartheid in Afghanistan, and take all necessary action to end gender apartheid and bring those responsible to justice;

Amendment 54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 c. Regrets that since the launch of the gender action plan III, only 3.8 % of all gender-responsive/targeted actions have had gender equality as a principal objective, falling behind the 5 % target outlined in the NDICI Regulation1a: calls on the Member States and the Commission to substantially increase the number of EU actions having the promotion of gender equality as the principal objective and to reach the 5 % target; calls for the EU to increase the funding of multilateral funds for gender equality, such as UN Women, and sexual and reproductive health, such as as UNFPA and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria;

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1a Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 June 2021 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, amending and repealing Decision No 466/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) 2017/1601 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009 (OJ L 209, 14.6.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/947/oj).

Amendment 55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Calls for accelerated efforts to close the gender pay gap, including in the care economy, and to ensure equal participation and leadership opportunities in the public and private sectors;

11. Calls for accelerated efforts to close the gender employment gap and the gender pay and pension gap and to increase investments in public services and social infrastructure and calls for a commitment to advance towards care societies; calls for fairer valuation and remuneration of work in female-dominated sectors, pay transparency, social protection reforms and the promotion of quality jobs free from sexual harassment and gender-based violence; calls for efforts to ensure equal participation and leadership opportunities in the public and private sectors by promoting gender-balanced representation in positions of responsibility and decision-making and by combating sexism in public and privates spheres;

Amendment 56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Stresses the need to promote equal access to education and financial literacy for women and girls, in particular for those from marginalised groups and affected by discrimination; highlights that these policies must aim to foster equal opportunities, and increase women’s and girls’ chances of obtaining stable, well-paid and rewarding employment that guarantees their financial independence; calls for women and girls to be given better access to digital tools and training and to incentivise programmes and funding for women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and entrepreneurial studies and activities;

Amendment 57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 b. Stresses the importance of the Commission’s roadmap for women’s rights in reaffirming the EU’s commitment to gender equality and in shaping the new gender equality strategy, which will be published in 2026; calls for stronger Member State involvement and for a comprehensive approach addressing sexual and reproductive services, intersectional discrimination and the protection of vulnerable women;

Amendment 58

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 c. Calls for the universal right to access safe and legal abortion to be added to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and for a legally binding framework to be put in place;

Amendment 59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 d. Reiterates that SRHR are fundamental human rights, and their realisation is a fundamental aspect of human dignity and a prerequisite for achieving gender equality; recalls the EU’s commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every individual to have full control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality and sexual and reproductive rights, free from discrimination, coercion and violence;

Amendment 60

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 e. Highlights the importance of having access to reliable data built on strong statistical foundations and of citizens' engagement as a tool for ensuring no one is left behind; considers that this is crucial for identifying disparities between countries and regions, formulating policies and assessing the progress of global gender equality initiatives;

Amendment 61

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 f. Calls for stronger encouragement of the right of every woman to balance her professional and private life by promoting joint responsibility and working conditions that facilitate the reconciliation of private, family and working lives;

Amendment 62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 g (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 g. Is alarmed by the continuous rolling back of SRHR and attacks against SRHR defenders in Europe and globally; calls for a strong European effort to protect our fundamental values such as equal rights to bodily autonomy and for stronger policies to guarantee universal access for all women and girls to sexual and reproductive health services, including information about family planning, affordable contraception, free, safe and legal abortion, and maternal healthcare;

Amendment 63

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 h (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 h. Calls for stronger policies and actions to promote access to land, credit, entrepreneurship and education, as well as employment and health, especially for women and girls in circumstances of vulnerability, women with disabilities, pregnant women and women in rural and island areas and outermost regions;

Amendment 64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 i (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 i. Calls on the Member States to ensure the provision of mandatory evidence-based comprehensive sexuality and relationship education in primary and secondary schools, in order to fight gender-based violence and gender stereotyping; underlines that investing in girls’ education yields great returns for generations to come, directly contributing to the realisation of their fundamental rights and protection from all forms of violence, but also contributing to better well-being for whole societies; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to put forward EU guidelines on comprehensive and evidence-based sexuality education, based on the WHO standards and to promote the sharing of good practices between the Member States in this area;

Amendment 65

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 j (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 j. Urges the Commission to stop funding movements in and outside the EU that contribute to any form of oppression of women, including campaigning against fundamental rights, including women’s rights and SRHR;

Amendment 66

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 k (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 k. Regrets the regression of LGBTIQ+ rights and the transphobia that threatens gender equality; denounces the fact that, between 2021 and 2022, just three anti-LGBTIQ+ organisations reported USD 1 billion in income compared to 8 000 global LGBTIQ+ grantees receiving USD 905 million between them1a; warns of the worrying increase in anti-gender financing that aims to counteract the progressive achievements of women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights in the past decades;

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1a ODI policy brief, ‘Where next for feminist foreign policy on funding feminist movements?’, https://media.odi.org/documents/ODI-ET-FundingMovements-PB-EN-May24-Final.pdf.

Amendment 67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 l (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 l. Calls for the EU to ban conversion centres in the Member States and to do anything possible to prevent this practice everywhere;

Amendment 68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 m (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 m. Calls for the EU to establish a specific funding target to support women’s rights and LGBTIQ+ organisations, feminist movements and human rights defenders in Europe and globally; stresses the need for the establishment of a protection mechanism for human rights defenders in the EU, focusing particularly on women, LGBTIQ+ people and SRHR human rights defenders;

Amendment 69

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12 a. Notes how efforts to achieve the SDGs should highlight policies that foster innovation, entrepreneurship and the creation of green jobs, which will ultimately drive the broader achievement of the SDGs and gender equality;

Amendment 70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Calls for stronger policies and bold actions to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development; urges the EU and global partners to use instruments such as Global Gateway to create decent jobs that will reduce income inequality and ensure that no one is left behind; calls for efforts to ensure that the voices of those more likely to be left behind are listened to and for the fight against poverty and precarious work conditions to be prioritised, with particular focus on women facing intersectional forms of discrimination;

Amendment 71

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Stresses that the majority of unpaid care work is still only a burden for women and this has negative consequences on the occupational gender gap, economic independence and societal well-being; calls for the EU to develop specific measures to recognise care work and provide adequate public welfare services to support it;

Amendment 72

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Expresses concern that economic growth in many developing countries remains slow and uneven, often hindered by structural weaknesses, economic inequalities, political instability and external shocks;

14. Expresses concern that economic growth in many developing countries remains slow and uneven, often hindered by structural weaknesses, economic, social and gender inequalities, political instability, external shocks and foreign interference;

Amendment 73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14 a. Expresses concern that in the EU gender inequalities continue to increase in relation to the labour market; recalls the need to uphold and strengthen gender mainstreaming and budgeting in the EU’s cohesion policy to address the gender employment gap;

Amendment 74

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Recommends increased public and private investment in research, education and skills development;

15. Recommends increased public and private investment in research, education and skills development; calls for the EU to boost training and quality employment for the just transition, with specific regard to groups systematically excluded and disadvantaged, including women and the LGBTIQ+ community;

Amendment 75

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16. Emphasises that initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth cannot come at the expense of social justice, labour rights or environmental protection;

16. Emphasises that initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth cannot come at the expense of social justice, gender equality, labour rights or environmental protection, especially since women and people from minority groups are the most likely to be the first to suffer inequalities generated by economic growth;

Amendment 76

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16 a. Stresses that gaps in global unemployment persist for women and young people, and that, globally, young women are more than twice as likely than young men to be NEET (not in employment, education or training); recognises that promoting gender equality in education, training, the labour market and work-life balance policies can increase prosperity and enhance economic competitiveness, while avoiding the underutilisation of assets and talent;

Amendment 77

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16 b. Recalls that it is vital to create incentives for businesses to align their operations with the SDGs, while ensuring that the market remains competitive and capable of driving innovation in sustainable development for women and girls;

Amendment 78

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17 a. Stresses the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation, specifically plastic pollution, on women and girls; calls for increased resources for research on the effects of (micro) plastic pollution on the female hormonal system and the potential impact on fertility;

Amendment 79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Believes that binding global measures are urgently needed to address shortcomings, accelerate action and ensure the long-term sustainability of the oceans, including through sustainable fishing practices, combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, enhancing marine conservation efforts through the effective protection of marine protected areas, adopting a global treaty on plastic pollution and protecting small-scale fishers’ rights and access to fishing resources and markets, making sure that women and men in artisanal fisheries participate equally and effectively in the decisions that affect them;

Amendment 80

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 a. Stresses the need, more specifically, to recognise the work and the contribution of women in the small-scale fisheries value chain and to improve their working conditions;

Amendment 81

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 b. Emphasises the need to enhance gender equality in ocean governance, economic activities (such as tourism, maritime transport or fisheries) and in ocean science1a;

_________________

1a UNESCO, ‘Gender Equality for Ocean Sustainability’, https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/gender-equality-ocean-sustainability.

Amendment 82

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Calls on the EU to continue advocating for multilateralism and provide global leadership in advancing the implementation of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda; emphasises that a vocal re-commitment to the SDGs, will send a clear signal to partners around the world and support the EU’s global action; stresses that a vocal recommitment must be accompanied by concrete measures from the EU and that it must ensure that gender equality is an integral part of political dialogues with partner countries at bilateral and multilateral levels;

Amendment 83

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Reaffirms that Official Development Assistance (ODA) remains a crucial source of public financing; calls, therefore, on all EU Member States and global partners to ensure that sufficient financing is dedicated to fulfilling the commitment to spend 0.7 % of gross national income on ODA;

21. Reaffirms that the SDGs will only be achieved if they are funded in a sufficient and sustainable manner and that Official Development Assistance (ODA) remains a crucial source of public financing; calls, therefore, on all EU Member States and global partners to ensure that sufficient financing is dedicated to fulfilling the commitment to spend 0.7 % of gross national income on ODA, while only 4 out of 21 Member States that are members of the Development Assistance Committee comply with this international commitment;

Amendment 84

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Emphasises the crucial role of multi-stakeholder partnerships and the involvement of local governments, civil society and youth representatives;

22. Emphasises the crucial role of multi-stakeholder partnerships and the involvement of local governments, civil society and youth representatives; reiterates that civil society organisations (CSOs) are key actors in vibrant democracies and highlights that SDGs, especially SDG 5, cannot be achieved without the partnership of CSOs, including grassroots women and LGBTIQ+ organisations; deplores, in this respect, the increasing unjustified attacks against civil society organisations and the closing of civic spaces, both in Europe and worldwide; stresses, in this regard, the need to ensure regular, adequate and sustainable funding for civil society organisations and to maintain an open, transparent and structured dialogue with civil society organisations;

Amendment 85

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Calls for debt relief and debt restructuring for developing countries and for reforms of global financial institutions, including multilateral development banks, to make them fit for the implementation of the SDGs and to reduce economic, social and gender inequalities; calls for a stronger gender perspective to be included in the outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development;

Amendment 86

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Reiterates that the SDGs are the only globally agreed and comprehensive set of goals on the major challenges faced by both developed and developing countries and are the best tool for tackling their root causes; urges the Commission and the Member States to work towards the full implementation of the SDGs, both within and outside the EU, as a universal framework;

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted

20.5.2025

Result of final vote

+ : 17

- : 11

0 : 8

Members present for the final vote

Mathilde Androuët, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Irmhild Boßdorf, Mélissa Camara, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Valérie Devaux, Elisabeth Dieringer, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Viktória Ferenc, Heléne Fritzon, Lina Gálvez, Chiara Gemma, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Arba Kokalari, Sebastian Kruis, Judita Laššáková, Eleonora Meleti, Irene Montero, Maria Noichl, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Giusi Princi, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Benedetta Scuderi, Laurence Trochu, Marko Vešligaj, Dainius Žalimas

Substitutes present for the final vote

Loucas Fourlas, Kathleen Funchion, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Hanna Gedin, Katrin Langensiepen, Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak, Beatrice Timgren, Jana Toom

Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

Georgios Aftias, Niels Geuking

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

PPE

Kokalari Arba, Pietikäinen Sirpa

Renew

Devaux Valérie, García Hermida-Van Der Walle Raquel, Toom Jana, Zalimas Dainius

S&D

Fritzon Heléne, Gálvez Lina, Noichl Maria, Scheuring-Wielgus Joanna, Vesligaj Marko

The Left

Funchion Kathleen, Gedin Hanna, Montero Irene

Verts/ALE

Camara Mélissa, Langensiepen Katrin, Scuderi Benedetta

ECR

Gemma Chiara, Timgren Beatrice, Trochu Laurence

ESN

Boßdorf Irmhild

Lassáková Judita

PfE

Androuët Mathilde, Borrás Pabón Mireia, Dieringer Elisabeth, Ferenc Viktória, Kruis Sebastian, de la Pisa Carrión Margarita

PPE

Aftias Georgios, Estaràs Ferragut Rosa, Fourlas Loucas, Gerzsenyi Gabriella, Geuking Niels, Marczulajtis-Walczak Jagna, Meleti Eleonora, Princi Giusi

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions