Media center

September 26, 2025 - At its 80th anniversary, the UN faces its deepest crisis yet. Deep power imbalances, rooted in colonial legacies, and states' failure to respect human rights have undermined accountability for grave violations like the ongoing genocide in Gaza and other crisis such as in DRC, Sudan and for people on the move. This is compounded by massive funding cuts to the multilateral system, with global wealth shifting towards militarization, which has had devastating consequences for marginalized communities. Despite its flaws, the UN remains a key player where all countries can confront common challenges. For generations, it has been a lifeline for millions, providing food and essential medicines and serving as a shelter of universal standards when rights are violated, particularly providing important humanitarian responses. The UN has also been a catalyst for civil society engagement in global governance.  IPPF recognizes the urgent and long overdue need for UN reform to transform the institution and make it responsive to real-world challenges and to the people it exists to serve, such as women, girls, indigenous peoples, LGBTQI+ and people of African descent. Such changes must strengthen the UN’s ability to uphold its purpose and values, not to dismantle the organization or deviate from those principles. Although reforming the UN Security Council is a complex and politically challenging task, distinct from the current UN80 reform, IPPF notes that without meaningful reform of the UN Security Council, the UN will remain paralyzed in the face of current tensions and wars.   Regarding the UN80 reform, IPPF is commenting on the UN Secretary-General’s report on ‘Workstream 3: Changing Structures and Realigning Programmes’:  Human rights at the center Human rights are one of the three pillars of the UN and our guiding star in a world full of crises, however, the U.N. has spent just 5 percent of its total budget on human rights. The revision of the budget for 2026 will disproportionately affect this underfunded pillar, with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights facing a 15% cut in the funds for next year. In 2025, the UN has already suspended key activities including an investigation on the human rights situation in the DRC. Meanwhile, heavily funded anti-rights and anti-gender actors are undermining international standards.  IPPF strongly supports better integration and coordination of human rights mechanisms across the UN, but increased funding is most critically needed. It’s time for all member states to get serious about funding a UN capable of upholding human rights for all and for the reforms of the UN to be driven by need and a strategic use of resources where the UN can best serve.  Strengthen the work on sexual and reproductive health and rights In the current context, where sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are facing targeted attacks at local, national, regional and global levels, the UN’s work – at both normative and programmatic levels – must remain a priority, rather than diminished. The area of protecting and promoting SRHR should not be lost in any restructuring or merging discussion and should maintain independent service provision and program delivery priorities, including for reproductive health supplies and commodities that are more critically needed than ever.  While a potential merger of UN Women, UNFPA, and parts of DESA is being considered to create a more unified platform for gender equality, IPPF believes it's essential to maintain a strong, coordinated effort specifically focused SRHR. It is also crucial to have a clear mandate to support countries in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action and its provisions on SRHR. We see a risk in the current proposal and emphasize that any restructuring must not dilute the critical work on SRHR. Instead, it should reinforce the UN's capacity to advance gender equality and uphold its key responsibilities in this area. Engagement and leadership of affected communities  The UN Reform should be the opportunity to strengthen meaningful inclusion of civil society organizations and voices of affected communities in the UN bodies. Marginalized communities continue to be largely left out of any UN process and prevented from substantively shaping any decisions impacting them. One prominent exception has been UNAIDS, where otherwise marginalised and criminalised communities and in particular gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people who inject drugs and prisoners and other incarcerated people as well as people living with HIV have systematic visibility and at least nominal power in decision-making.  The proposal to sunset UNAIDS by 2026 poses significant risks to the continued inclusion of these groups and to the global commitment to end AIDS by 2030. Eliminating the central body that ensures a coordinated response will lead to a breakdown in program development and accountability. Recent data has already shown an increase in HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths in the Global South, and HIV-related infections are already rising as a result of global funding cuts — trends that the shutdown of UNAIDS will only exacerbate. Regardless of where the prevention, treatment and response to HIV/AIDS sits, it must remain an integral part of the global health response, prioritize engagement and leadership of affected communities in its governance and leadership structure and programming and integrate crucial human rights and community-led components vital for reaching key populations.  The UNAIDS model of inclusion of affected communities should serve as an inspiration for even stronger engagement of marginalized communities across the UN system as part of the UN80 reform. Moreover, programs addressing the intersectionality and interdependency of human rights must remain central to addressing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.  Localization as core principle for humanitarian action  Every day, IPPF delivers life-saving services to the hardest to reach and the most underserved people, from Gaza to Afghanistan, Sudan and Haiti. In 2024 alone, we reached 67.5 million people, 20 percent of them in humanitarian settings. The UN’s action to deliver a humanitarian response, as suggested in the report, including its proposal to “speak with one voice in humanitarian diplomacy” must be realized with the engagement of local communities and civil society organizations, such as IPPF and many others.   It is untenable to scale back humanitarian operations to a bare minimum when the evidence shows that crises are intensifying in both scale and severity of violations. At this critical moment, the UN must not only expand its operational capacity but also prioritize meaningful partnerships with localized civil society organizations. These actors are not only essential for effective and contextually grounded responses, but they also embody the moral legitimacy of humanitarian action. The UN has a responsibility to ensure their protection and enable their leadership, in full adherence to International Humanitarian Law and the humanitarian principles.  The UN is in urgent need of transformative reforms that are rigorously anchored in the promotion and protection of human rights and conducted with transparency and accountability. The reform must ensure the full, meaningful and transparent engagement of civil society at every stage. Feminist, youth-led, and grassroots movements have been at the forefront of advancing the UN’s normative gains. Any vision for a revitalized United Nations must place their leadership, expertise, and living realities at the center of decision-making, as co-creators of multilateral solutions.  For more information or to interview one of our staff, please contact media@ippf.org or +66628683089. About the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, and includes services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, HIV, obstetrics and gynecology, fertility support, sexual and gender-based violence, comprehensive sex education, and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and, crucially, no matter how remote. 

(Geneva, 7 July 2025) - The Human Rights Council has renewed the mandate of the only human rights expert within the United Nations system that is specifically dedicated to addressing violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (LGBT) and gender diverse persons.Following a campaign by 1,259 non-governmental organisations from 157 States and territories, the UN human rights body adopted the resolution by a vote of 29 in favour, with 15 voting against and 3 abstaining. Thanks to this vote, the Human Rights Council reaffirmed its commitment to combating discrimination and violence against everyone, reminding all States of their obligations towards people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.The Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) will now be able to continue the work for three more years. The mandate is currently held by South African scholar Graeme Reid."IPPF warmly welcome the renewal of the UN Independent Expert on SOGI. This role is vital at a time when LGBTQI+ communities around the world are facing growing attacks on their rights and freedoms. As one of the world’s largest providers of sexual and reproductive health services to marginalized communities, we know that bodily autonomy and access to care cannot be taken for granted. We look forward to continuing the work alongside the Independent Expert to ensure that LGBTQI+ people everywhere can live with dignity, make informed choices about their bodies, and access the care they need without fear, violence or discrimination." - Micah Grzywnowicz, Regional Director of IPPF European NetworkCreated in 2016, and renewed in 2019 and 2022, the mandate of the Independent Expert on SOGI has been supported by a growing number of States from all regions. The current resolution to renew the mandate was presented by a Core Group of six Latin American countries – Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay -  and was co-sponsored by 50 countries from all regions. The Independent Expert is tasked with assessing the implementation of international human rights law, investigating violence and discrimination against LGBT and gender diverse persons, and helping States, UN agencies, other mandates and bodies in the international and regional systems to address them. Since the post was established, three successive mandate holders have conducted official visits to 11 countries, produced 17 reports documenting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity - including the impact of the criminalisation of same-sex relations between consenting adults, the need to legally recognise a person’s gender, and the situation of LGBT persons who are forcibly displaced, among others - and sent communications documenting allegations of human rights violations to 171 States across all regions.Having secured a renewal for three more years, this mandate will now continue to support initiatives ensuring that LGBT and gender diverse people can live free of discrimination in countries around the world, and to amplify their voices and testimonies in international human rights fora. Civil society worldwide urges all governments to cooperate fully with the Independent Expert in this important work to bring about a world free from violence and discrimination for everyone.

Every day, over 700 women and girls die - one every two minutes, from preventable causes related to childbirth and pregnancy. Despite this stark reality, this week, a small minority of states tried to sabotage UN negotiations to push an anti-rights and anti-health agenda on the world. From April 7th to 11th 2025, the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) took place with  the theme of “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”. Governments from all over the world came together in a moment of global health crises to address persistent and continued threats that jeopardize the health and wellbeing of all women and girls worldwide.  This UN process is a critical space where governments, UN agencies, civil society and young people come together to discuss priorities and make shared commitments on sexual and reproductive health and rights. For over 30 years, governments have agreed on standards for access to health services for women and girls.  A very small minority of vested interests are determined to use this convening to attack the Sustainable Development Agenda. We refuse to allow the malicious undermining of hard won gains that impact the lives of millions of women and girls around the world.As recently as last year, governments from all regions of the world reached an agreement to reaffirm these shared goals and commitments. This week, in the face of efforts to sabotage the discussions and negotiations, a vast majority of countries have stepped up to hold the line on the right to health, especially of all women and girls. This disruptive behaviour from a very small minority of extremist anti-rights administrations, is not just a threat to the agenda being discussed today, but also for international cooperation on human rights and sustainable development at large. They are preventing the international community from moving forward and making progress for people’s health, rights and well-being.

IPPF welcomes the political declaration adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). As we are marking 30 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, UN Member States need to urgently accelerate the work to achieve their commitments to advancing the rights of all women and girls, especially in light of the current global pushback against fundamental human rights.   IPPF welcomes the adoption of the Political Declaration on the occasion of thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, in which Governments reaffirm their commitment to accelerate action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. IPPF actively engaged in the process by providing technical inputs to Member States and raising awareness of the situations of women, girls and the most marginalized communities and bringing their real-life experiences into the conversation.     The geopolitical backdrop to this year’s negotiations was extremely divided, with key issues such sexual and reproductive health and rights, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and even the most basic agreed terms around gender equality being challenged.    Following the extensive and challenging political negotiations, the consensus adoption of this political declaration underscores strong cross-regional support for the human rights of all women and girls, the Commission’s mandate, the priority theme and the multilateral system.   The true impact of this political declaration will be measured by its implementation at the national level. As a locally rooted yet globally connected Federation, IPPF and its Member Associations are uniquely positioned to drive the implementation of the political declaration across national, regional, and global spheres. By doing so, we can ensure meaningful change in the lives of women, adolescents, girls, and other marginalized communities where it matters most.  As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Programme of Action and find ourselves only 5 years away from the 2030 deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), no States are on track to achieve gender equality. Women, girls and marginalized communities continue to suffer disproportionally from lack of equality and have their fundamental human rights undermined every day, with grave consequences. In this current political moment, where governments are cutting funding and scale back support for basic lifesaving assistance for the most vulnerable, the renewed political commitment of governments with the adoption of the Political Declaration to accelerate the fulfilment of rights of all women and girls is an important step. It is now crucial to collectively hold governments accountable for their commitments.    IPPF particularly welcomes the inclusion of:  strong references to human rights of all women and girls, reflecting Member States’ unwavering commitment to strengthen their collective efforts toward the full, effective, and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Agenda, including ensuring the full enjoyment of women’s and girls’ human rights.  The reaffirmation of the need for gender-responsive budgeting and gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which is crucial for addressing structural inequalities.  The reference to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination in the text, since women, adolescents, girls, and marginalized groups who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, are more likely to be structurally excluded. It is therefore important that the text recognizes the challenges in achieving gender equality for these groups.  A strong paragraph on the right to health for women and girls throughout their life course, including a reference to Universal Health Coverage:  The commitment to ensure that victims of and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and sexual violence in conflict have prompt and universal access to quality social and health care services and access to justice.   The commitment to addressing the risks and challenges emerging from the use of technologies, with full respect for the human rights of all women and girls, both online and offline, and that   gender-perspective should be mainstreamed in policy decisions and frameworks that guide the development of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence  The strong recognition of the role of women and girls in the resolution of armed conflicts, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction.   We are pleased that the important contributions of civil society are acknowledged, however, we regret that the Declaration does not explicitly reference Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), whose work is fundamental in advancing gender equality and human rights.    However, IPPF is disappointed that language on the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as a fundamental component for achieving gender equality was ultimately not included in the Political Declaration, which significantly weakens the text’s scope, as SRHR is fundamental to the lives of women, adolescents, and girls. Furthermore, despite overwhelming data and research demonstrating the benefits of investing in adolescent girls, this critical group remains underrepresented in the Political Declaration.     IPPF urges all governments to unite behind this crucial call to action. Three decades after the Beijing Conference and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action, the world faces new and complex challenges to achieving the most fundamental human rights for all, which is further exacerbated by persistent structural inequalities.  It is imperative that we act with ambition, courage, and determination to uphold the legacy of Beijing. Looking ahead, we call on the global community to embrace a bold and transformative agenda that secures the rights and well-being of all women, adolescents, and girls and the most marginalized communities—not only for today but for the generations to come.    For more information, please contact media@ippf.org - +44 7918 845944  About the International Planned Parenthood Federation   IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.   Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote.    Photo credits: IPPF/Hannah Maule-ffinch/Indonesia