​In 2023, mid-way to 2030, Belgium is to submit its 2nd voluntary national review (VNR) to the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York.

​Belgium will present its efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as put forward in the 2030 agenda from 2015. A good opportunity for state and civil society actors to take stock and look at what is needed to move forward. The VNR will look at Belgium’s local, regional and national efforts, as well as its international cooperation on the SDGs.

​Sensoa reviewed DGD spending on health and sexual and reproductive health. 

In 2021, 11% of Belgium's total international cooperation spending went to health and reproductive health. Spending on reproductive health (to prevent unplanned pregnancies, ensure maternal health, etc.) increased, but overall spending on health stagnated. This is remarkable, as we would have expected increased support for health in light of the COVID pandemic. Moreover, investments in strengthening health systems are necessary to provide people with quality sexual and reproductive health services. 

Body&Rights, the e-learning on sexual and reproductive health and rights internationally, developed by Sensoa and the SRHR Working Group of Be-cause Health, the Belgian platform for international health, is fully up-to-date. 

While the US Supreme Court’s decision to withdraw Roe v. Wade was still pending, three international women’s rights activists explained the risks involved in the limitation or outright prohibition of women’s access to safe abortion care in a digital dialogue with the Belgian ‘Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda’. 

Five years after the successful international She Decides conference, launched in response to the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule (GGR) under former US President Donald Trump, Belgium and the She Decides Support Unit reconvened sexual and reproductive health and rights advocates from around the world in Brussels, 19-20th May.

The European Commission proposes EU-wide rules to combat violence against women and domestic violence. The Commission aims to enshrine minimum standards in EU Law to:

• Criminalise of rape as lack of consent, female genital mutilation, and cyber violence
• Improve safe reporting and risk assessment procedures
• Ensure respect for victims’ privacy in judicial proceedings and right to compensation
• Support victims through helplines and rape crisis centres 

The 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women concluded on March 25th with a landmark agreement on gender and climate change. The Priority theme was Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes. ​

​It was the first time CSW addressed this theme and it was of particular importance as gender equality and gender responsive matters had been sidelined in recent climate change negotiations.  ​