Cape Town, South Africa — 5&6 May 2025. Cape Town hosted the G20 Parliamentary Conference on "The Economic Benefits of Investing in Women’s Health" organised by the Global Alliance for Health, Rights and Development (GPA), an initiative of the European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF), in collaboration with the Southern and East African Parliamentary Caucus on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ESAParC), and Ipas, with the support of UNFPA South Africa. This high-level event convened more than 40 Members of Parliament from G20 nations, alongside representatives from Africa, OECD-DAC countries, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
"Now we have a shared mandate. Let us not allow this conference to be remembered as a gathering of good intentions. let it be remembered as a catalyst for a legacy. A legacy with South Africa and the Western Cape stood boldly in the face of inequality, lifted the voices of women and girls and inspired action around the world." (Hon. Daylin Mitchell, Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, South Africa)
The conference highlighted the transformative economic and social impacts of investing in women’s health, particularly sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), as a key strategy to advance global development and gender equality. At the close of the two-day conference, parliamentarians signed a bold and united Statement of Commitment on Women’s Health to present to the presidency of G20 as a reflection of their collective resolve. They shared responsibility to advance women's and girls’ health for the benefit of present and future generations. The statement outlines a comprehensive set of actions, including:
- Affirming Global Frameworks: Reaffirming international agreements such as the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the ICPD Programme of Action, the Beijing Programme of Action, the Maputo Plan of Action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other relevant agreements.
- Investing in Women’s Health: Recognising the profound economic benefits of investing in women and girls’ health, we commit to prioritising investments in sexual and reproductive health, including maternal health, family planning, menstrual health, adolescent and mental health.
- Investing in Women and Girls in STEM to Strengthen Health Systems: We promote access to STEM education and training for women and girls to strengthen their role across all levels of health systems—from community health providers, researchers and doctors to decision-makers and patients.
- Closing Funding Gaps: As the ongoing global funding crisis threatens to undermine progress in women and girls' health, it is pivotal to advocate to uphold Official Development Assistance (ODA) for sexual and reproductive health and rights, exploring innovative financing mechanisms, and strengthening domestic resource mobilisation.
- Countering Anti-Gender Politics: Resisting the rise of anti-gender policies aimed at undermining progress towards the realisation of women and girls’ rights and gender equality, and opposing anti-gender movements.
- Empowering Youth: Supporting initiatives that increase access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education (CSE) and foster youth leadership in advancing women and girls’ health.
- Addressing the Impact of Humanitarian Crises: considering the disproportionate impact of global crises—conflicts, natural disasters, and economic instability—on women and girl’s health, it is fundamental to ensure that women’s health is central to humanitarian responses and post-crisis recovery efforts, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
- Harnessing Technology: Supporting the integration of digital health innovations that improve access to essential health services, particularly for women and girls in rural and underserved areas, ensuring that technological advancements are inclusive and gender-sensitive.
This conference marked a critical moment in reinforcing the role of parliaments in ensuring that women and girls’ health remains a priority in the global development agenda and reinforce that the path forward requires coordinated, sustained efforts from governments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector. The health and rights of women and girls cannot be protected in isolation. The event reinforced the importance of multilateral cooperation in strengthening the collective ability to respond to global challenges and ensure that no one is left behind.
For any additional information, please contact:
Chiara Sammito, EPF Communications Officer
communications@epfweb.org | www.epfweb.org
About EPF
The European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) is a network of parliamentarians committed to advancing global health, gender equality, and human rights. Its Global Parliamentary Alliance for Health, Rights and Development (GPA), launched in 2019, brings together over 160 parliamentarians and numerous parliamentary working groups from across Europe and the Global South.
About Ipas
Ipas is an international NGO that works around the world to advance reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception. We work on five continents with a comprehensive approach that centers the needs of those who seek legal abortion care. We build sustainable abortion ecosystems that address all factors impacting a person’s ability to access abortion—from individual health knowledge, to social and community support, to a trained health workforce, to political leadership and supportive laws. We believe that abortion is an essential health care service and a human right.