b'Soroptimist InternationalReport for the High-Level Political ForumEssential Implementation ApproachesPolicy and Implementation Fundamentalsthere is for men and boys. The pandemic has also Gender equality is a human right and a preconditionreaffirmed how entrenched gender norms are, how for the achievement of sustainable development they limit the realistic options available to women achieving sustainable development is impossible ifand girls, and how easy it is for us to fall back to half of humanity is denied their human rights andharmful gender roles which do not support effective equalopportunities.CSOs,likeSoroptimistrebuilding after crises nor sustainable development International,havelongunderstoodthatwomenmore broadly. During the tragedy of this pandemic, areagentsofdevelopment.Itcanbecelebratedwearepresentedwithauniqueopportunityto that all states have now also recognised women asreformpoliciesandpracticestocreateamore agents of development. However, that recognitiongender-equal, sustainable and resilient world. musttransitionintoactionandempowerment, ensuring that women are full, equal, effective andNow is the Time for Gender-Transformative meaningfulparticipants,leadersanddecision- ActionWhen the Sustainable Development Goals makersinall sustainabledevelopmentprocesses.were first created, the need for gender-sensitive Effortstoachievegenderequalitymustbeimplementationwasoftenhighlighted.However consideredasameansofimplementationandabeing gender-sensitive is no longer enoughstates critical policy measure for countries who want toandallotherstakeholdersmustbegender-achieve their full development potential. transformative if we are to meet the ambitions of the goals. There are key differences between means To achieve the 2030 Agenda, States must adopt theofimplementationthataregender-sensitiveand inclusive,transformativethinkingthatgenderthosethataregender-responsiveandgender-mainstreaming allows. This approach has been usedtransformative. While gender-sensitive approaches byfeminist,womensandgirl-ledmovementsare aware of gender inequalities and are adjusted in across the world. It is vital that States and agenciesaccordance with the realities of gender inequalities endsiloedpolicymakingprocessesinordertoin society, those approaches do not fundamentally addresstheinterconnectednatureofallthechange those inequalities. Instead, gender-sensitive Sustainable Development Goals.policiesmayperpetuategenderinequalities. Gender-responsiveapproachesacknowledgeand Gender equality is not only a purpose and outcomeconsider the specific needs of people based upon ofsustainabledevelopment,butameansoftheir gendered experiences and needs. Importantly, implementation. Gender mainstreaming, while longthese approaches respond to the realities of women discussed,needstobeurgentlyimplementedandgirlsandtrytomakethoserealitiesbetter. through laws, policies, programmes, financing andWhilegender-responsiveapproachesarean indicators.Thisshouldincludereviewingcurrentimprovementongender-sensitiveapproaches, policies, programmes, laws, budgeting, indicators,gender-transformative approaches provide for the datacollectionmechanismsandothermeansofkind of ambitious action needed to achieve all the implementation and review of the SDGs. As outlinedSustainable Development Goals by 2030. Gender-by the UNDP, a gender approach can be applied totransformativeapproachesaddressthecauseof andareaofsustainabledevelopmentandanygender-basedinequalitiesandworktotransform Sustainable Development Goal. xii thoseinequalitiesbyaddressingharmfulgenderTheCOVID-19pandemichasrevealedhowfarroles, norms and power relations. This means that behindtheworldisinensuringthattherearegender-transformative approaches are essential for gender-equalpoliciesthatensurethesamethe achievement of gender equality. outcomes and opportunities for women and girls as37'