Will the G7 stand firm on LGBTIQ+ and women’s rights?
Share
G7 Summit

Will the G7 stand firm on LGBTIQ+ and women’s rights?

Beth Woroniuk

Diana Sarosi

Gender equality and the rights of women and LGBTIQ+ people have featured in recent G7 communiqués and statements. The 2022 Elmau leaders’ communiqué went as far as to advocate for feminist policies: “In the spirit of feminist development, foreign and trade policies and to empower women and girls, we will strengthen the rights, resources and opportunities for women and girls in all their diversity in every sphere.”

Even last year, under the presidency of the more conservative Italian government, strong statements were made: “We reaffirm our commitment to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity … We express our strong concern about the rollback of the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people around the world, in particular in time of crisis, and we strongly condemn all violations and abuses of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

This year, given Canada’s longstanding championing of gender equality, hopes are high for continued progress. However with one G7 leader’s vocal opposition to all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and outright withdrawal of women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights, there are significant worries that past language and commitments are at risk of being overruled.

Attacks on the rights of women and LGBTIQ+ people are not new. From local school boards to the halls of the United Nations, there have been coordinated and well-funded efforts to reverse gains for the respect and protection of those rights. There are crackdowns on feminist and LGBTIQ+ organisations. Hate crimes are on the rise. New legislation targets same-sex relationships and trans people.

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is growing. Although there have been improvements in some jurisdictions relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights, in many other places access is shrinking and there are new forms of criminalisation.

There is the possibility that this could happen under Canada’s G7 presidency.

Canada has a global reputation as a staunch advocate for gender equality. In 2010 Prime Minister Stephen Harper championed the Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, mobilising over $1 billion in support. Criticised by activists for failing to include comprehensive reproductive health services, the Muskoka Initiative is nonetheless seen as one of the major achievements of that year. At the 2018 Charlevoix Summit, Canada initiated the Gender Equality Advisory Council, highlighted gender equality issues across discussions and launched several initiatives.

A critical moment for gender justice

The Women 7 is the civil society engagement group providing feminist recommendations to G7 officials and leaders. We heard from activists around the world that – this year – there is a heightened sense of urgency. There are calls for strong leadership on gender justice issues.

This year, 2025, also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women, a time to take stock of what has been achieved. Feminist activists are warning that progress is much too slow and regression is an all-too-real possibility. Between 2019 and 2022, nearly 40% of countries stagnated or declined on key gender equality indicators. As well, 2023 saw 50% more cases of conflict-related sexual violence than the previous year.

To meet these challenges, this year’s W7 is calling for:

  • Increased ambition to ensure attention to women’s human rights, LGBTIQ+ rights and gender justice issues across all discussions and also to address gender equality priorities as a key standalone agenda.
  • Strengthened coherence of policies and actions across all major G7 discussions, documents and priority areas, noting gender equality priorities throughout.
  • Recognition that progress on gender justice is required to address today’s global challenges. Gender justice forms part of good solutions. A gender-just world is more secure, sustainable and prosperous.
  • Concrete commitments, actions and resources, both monetary and non-monetary (including resources for feminist movements, organisations and networks).
  • Demonstrated leadership and policy coherence based on gender justice and universal human rights and fundamental freedoms both domestically and globally.
  • Greater investment in gender and age-disaggregated data in order to track change.

Backtracking on past statements would signal a new and dangerous precedent. The world is watching to see if this year’s G7 finds a way to build on past commitments and stands firm against rollbacks on gains and rights.