Joint Statement on Gender-Based Violence and Gender Equality Pushback: Protecting the Space for Women and Girls – ReliefWeb

Report on the Global Regression of Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Response in Humanitarian Contexts

Introduction

This report addresses the escalating global pushback against women’s rights, gender equality, and the critical services for preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV). Amidst rising humanitarian needs and an unprecedented funding crisis, this issue constitutes a fundamental protection crisis that directly threatens the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data from the Global Protection Cluster’s October 2025 update indicates that 395 million people in 23 countries are exposed to protection risks, with GBV being a primary concern.

Analysis of the Current Crisis

Disproportionate Impact on Life-Saving Services

The current humanitarian funding shortages have disproportionately affected life-saving services for women and girls. Across multiple regions, there is a clear trend of defunding and closing essential facilities, including:

• Women and Girls Safe Spaces
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV) support services
• Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services

This trend has a particularly severe impact on Women-Led and Women’s Rights Organizations (WLOs and WROs). The rollback of protective policies further undermines the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance, reversing progress on gender equality and signaling a retreat from collective commitments to a survivor-centered response.

Reversal of Progress and Shrinking Civic Space

The current environment represents more than a backlash against women’s rights; it signifies a shrinking of civic space and the sidelining of feminist movements. This threatens to undo decades of progress established since foundational international agreements such as the World Conference on Human Rights (1993), the International Conference on Population and Development (1994), and the Beijing Platform for Action (1995).

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Undermining SDG 5: Gender Equality

The closure of GBV services and the defunding of WROs are direct assaults on the core principles of SDG 5 (Gender Equality). These actions impede progress towards eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (Target 5.2) and ensuring women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership (Target 5.5).

Threatening SDG 3 and SDG 16

The crisis also jeopardizes other interconnected goals. The reduction in SRH services directly contravenes SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), particularly Target 3.7 concerning universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services. Furthermore, the sidelining of feminist movements and the erosion of protective frameworks weaken institutional integrity, undermining SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by failing to protect fundamental freedoms and ensure responsive, inclusive, and representative decision-making.

Urgent Recommendations for Action

A Call for Recommitment to Global Goals

To counteract this regression and uphold commitments to the SDGs, urgent and united action is required. The following measures are proposed as non-negotiable priorities for all humanitarian actors, governments, donors, and partners:

1. Reaffirm Commitments: Reaffirm global and national commitments to gender equality, GBV prevention and response, and SRHR as essential priorities in all humanitarian planning, directly supporting SDG 3 and SDG 5.
2. Protect Core Services: Protect and sustain dedicated services for women and girls, including safe spaces, as a core and non-negotiable component of the humanitarian architecture.
3. Safeguard Funding: Safeguard and expand dedicated funding for specialized GBV services, ensuring that financial allocations are aligned with the priorities and standards identified by frontline GBV actors.
4. Support Women’s Leadership: Enhance support for women’s leadership by ensuring local and women-led organizations receive direct, predictable, and flexible funding, in line with the principles of localization and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
5. Ensure Inclusive Decision-Making: Stand in solidarity with women and girls by ensuring their voices, especially those of local responders and feminist movements, are central to all decision-making processes.

Conclusion

At this critical juncture, the international community must reaffirm its shared commitment to a humanitarian and development system that upholds life, dignity, and rights. It is imperative to protect proven, life-saving interventions and strengthen partnerships with women-led organizations.

• Governments, donors, and humanitarian leadership must act decisively.
• Gender equality and the protection of women and girls must remain at the heart of global response efforts.
• Collective action is needed to push forward against the pushback and safeguard progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The entire article is centered on this goal, addressing the “escalating pushback against women’s rights, gender equality, and the prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV).” It calls for reaffirming commitments to gender equality, supporting women’s leadership, and protecting services specifically for women and girls.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article frames the issue as a “fundamental protection crisis,” citing that “395 million people across 23 countries are exposed to protection risks, and GBV is among the main protection risks.” This connects to SDG 16’s aim to reduce violence and promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies. The call for a “principled, survivor-centred, and accountable response” also aligns with this goal.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article explicitly mentions the “defunding and closure of… sexual and reproductive health services.” The call to action includes reaffirming commitments to “SRHR as non-negotiable priorities,” directly linking the issues to the health and well-being of women and girls.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article is an appeal to “humanitarian actors and decision makers, governments, donors, and partners.” It calls for “urgent and united action,” “direct, predictable, and flexible support” for local organizations, and strengthening “women-led partnerships.” This highlights the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships and financial mobilization to achieve the goals, which is the core of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls…” The article’s primary focus is on the prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV), which is a direct reflection of this target.
   • Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership…” This is addressed in the call to “Support women’s leadership and ensuring local and women-led organizations receive… support” and that their voices “remain central to decision-making processes.”
   • Target 5.6: “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights…” The article expresses deep concern over the “defunding and closure of… sexual and reproductive health services” and calls for SRHR to be a “non-negotiable” priority.
   • Target 5.c: “Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality…” The article warns of a “rollback of policies that once safeguarded access to life-saving service,” indicating a direct challenge to this target.
2. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The article identifies GBV as one of the “main protection risks” in humanitarian crises, directly connecting to the goal of reducing violence.
   • Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The concern about the “shrinking of civic space and sidelining feminist movements” and the call to ensure women’s voices are “central to decision-making” directly relates to this target.
3. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.7: “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services…” The article’s focus on the closure of these services due to funding shortages directly pertains to the challenge of achieving this target in humanitarian contexts.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.3: “Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources.” The article highlights an “unprecedented humanitarian funding crisis” and calls to “safeguard and expand dedicated funding for GBV specialized services,” which is a direct plea to fulfill the spirit of this financial mobilization target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Explicit Indicator:
   • The article cites a specific data point from the “Global Protection Update published in October 2025 by the Global Protection Cluster,” stating that “395 million people across 23 countries are exposed to protection risks.” This serves as a high-level indicator of the scale of humanitarian need and protection challenges.
2. Implied Indicators:
   • Prevalence of GBV: The statement that “GBV is among the main protection risks reported” implies that the number and proportion of reported GBV incidents are used as a key indicator to measure the scale of violence (relevant to Target 5.2).
   • Funding for GBV and SRH Services: The article’s focus on the “unprecedented humanitarian funding crisis” and the call to “safeguard and expand dedicated funding” implies that the amount of financial resources allocated to GBV and SRH services is a critical indicator of commitment and progress (relevant to Targets 5.6, 3.7, and 17.3).
   • Availability of Services for Women and Girls: The mention of the “defunding and closure of Women and Girls Safe Spaces and other GBV and sexual and reproductive health services” suggests that the number of operational safe spaces and service delivery points is a direct indicator of access to care (relevant to Targets 5.2 and 5.6).
   • Funding for Local Women’s Organizations: The call for “local and women-led organizations [to] receive direct, predictable, and flexible support” implies that the proportion of humanitarian aid channeled directly to these organizations is a key indicator of support for women’s leadership and local action (relevant to Target 5.5).
   • Inclusion in Decision-Making: The call to ensure women’s voices “remain central to decision-making processes” implies that the level of participation of women, WLOs, and feminist movements in humanitarian planning and response is a measurable indicator of progress (relevant to Targets 5.5 and 16.7).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: reliefweb.int