Summit of the Future: Progress or More Empty Promises?
The Summit of the Future (SOTF) was touted as a transformative moment to strengthen global governance and “turbocharge” the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But it failed to deliver the bold change that feminist movements and gender equality advocates from all corners of the globe had hoped for. At this point, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise. While SOTF outcome documents like the Pact for the Future, Declaration on Future Generations, and Global Digital Compact were celebrated as symbolic victories for the United Nations (UN), the actual substance of these agreements — and how they were developed — left much to be desired.
Challenges to Multilateralism and Gender Equality
These documents, particularly the Pact for the Future, exposed the fragility of multilateralism — the very system it was meant to reinforce. From the outset, civil society organizations (CSOs), especially feminist and youth groups, were sidelined. Despite promises of inclusivity, there was little transparency on how civil society inputs shaped the final documents, highlighting the shrinking of civic space in global governance. Anti-rights actors, such as the Russian Federation and like-minded states, actively stalled progress. They worked to water down any new commitments on gender equality, human rights, and youth engagement. Global North countries resisted financial reforms and climate action, protecting their own interests while leaving behind those most affected by the climate crisis — including girls and women from the global majority.
This deliberate sabotage, steeped in colonial power dynamics, raises a critical question: will the Summit of the Future actually deliver change, or is it just another set of hollow promises in a system that’s rigged to fail?
While multilateralism remains crucial, the Summit made it painfully clear that the system itself is deeply flawed. Geopolitical divisions exacerbated by the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the erosion of adherence to international law, and outdated systems keep power concentrated in the hands of few. If we want to solve today’s crises, global governance and the global spaces in which it operates must evolve, particularly when it comes to protecting and advancing the rights of girls, women, and gender-diverse people.
Symbolic commitments have never been enough. Progress depends on fundamentally shifting who holds power and how it’s used. Without this shift, we’re in for more of the same: empty promises and stalled or declining progress on gender equality.
Key Shortcomings of the SOTF
Several key shortcomings hindered the Summit’s ability to push transformative agendas forward:
· Outdated SRHR language: While the Pact and Declaration mention sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SRH+RR), they regretfully rely on outdated language from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and Beijing Platform for Action agreements made over 30 years ago and carried into the SDGs almost a decade ago — falling well short of the most recent human rights standards for comprehensive SRHR. This weaker language allows Member States to sidestep accountability and undermines progress on bodily autonomy and gender equality.
· Watered-down commitments: The Pact is full of vague language that lets Member States dodge responsibility — and accountability — on issues impacting gender equality and human rights, falling far short of the bold commitments needed to drive real change.
· Weak climate language: The Pact acknowledges the need to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees and mentions funding, but it lacks concrete commitments from Global North countries — letting them sidestep accountability and leaving Global South nations to bear the brunt of a crisis they didn’t create.
But It’s Not All Bad News
We can’t build the future while clinging to systems designed to preserve the past. SOTF has shown us, once again, that bold, disruptive action isn’t just needed — it’s vital. At SOTF, the global feminist movement embodied this urgency, pushing for transformative change in the face of the many shortcomings of the process. Through collective action, we worked to shift power to adolescent girls and women, elevating bold, visionary narratives that didn’t just challenge the status quo but sought to dismantle it entirely. The diversity and strength of our movement, including that of young feminists, was powerfully evident — despite being largely confined to the sidelines due to unjust restrictions on access to UN spaces. Together, we demanded fundamental rights — safety, dignity, and control over our bodies and lives — rights that remain out of reach for the majority of the world’s girls and women.
Recognizing these gaps and growing threats to girls’ and women’s rights, particularly around SRHR and bodily autonomy, Women Deliver and its allies worked collectively to stop further backsliding in SOTF outcome documents. Working with the Women’s Major Group and other feminist coalitions, we successfully advocated for an emphasis on SRHR as a key driver for achieving the SDGs, advancing gender equality, and building a more just and equitable world. We also protected SRHR language and provisions related to SDG 5.6 and adolescent girls’ SRHR, securing several key wins that are the basis for continuing to progress on human rights:
· There was no regression on SRHR language linked to ensuring universal access as outlined in SDG 5.6, along with references to ICPD and the Beijing Platform for Action, despite significant pushback from anti-rights actors.
· Linking SRHR to youth and efforts to achieve universal health coverage (UHC).
· Ensuring language on adolescent girls was included, securing their SRHR and access to opportunities.
Emerging Narratives: The Future of the SDGs and Beyond 2030
SOTF made it clear that while multilateralism remains a necessary path forward, it is struggling to handle the scale of today’s crises — particularly when it comes to gender equality and the rights of current and future generations. With the SDGs already off track, the current multilateral framework is at risk of failing, evident in shrinking investment in gender equality, the erosion of democracy across many countries, and increasing insecurity for girls, women, and gender-diverse people.
To push back against these challenges, we’re bringing the feminist movement together around a key narrative to advance equitable youth engagement and co-leadership. Adolescent girls have bold, bright solutions for the future and made a strong call for financial and political support throughout the week. Feminist coalitions and partnerships like the Girls Deliver community are working to shift power to adolescent girls in global spaces. Yet, with shrinking civic space and limited real opportunities to lead, their presence at SOTF felt more like tokenism than true participation — showing just how far we still have to go to ensure their voices are genuinely heard and valued.
The path forward requires nothing less than a radical reimagining of global governance.
This reimagining must dismantle systemic barriers, center feminist civil society, and shift power to adolescent girls, women, and gender-diverse people from the global majority. Achieving this will require overhauling existing systems to prioritize inclusivity, transparency, and bold, collective action. Without these changes, we risk continuing the cycle of empty promises and missed opportunities for meaningful progress on gender equality. As we approach the end of the SDGs and look toward the Post-2030 Agenda, the choice is clear: maintain the status quo and allow progress to stagnate or backslide, or unite to drive transformative action that elevates the voices and rights of those most affected by inequality.
