Women’s groups challenge UN sustainable development goal

Speakers at a Vatican women’s conference have challenged one of the UN’s proposed Sustainable Development Goals because of its support for contraception and abortion, writes Hannah Roberts.

The conference, “Women and the post-2015 development agenda – the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals”, held in Rome last weekend, was organised by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the World Union of Women’s Catholic Organisations and the World Women’s Alliance for Life and Family. The goals, a proposed set of targets for global development by 2030, include a “Goal 5” on gender equality. Subsection 5.6 reads: “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights”, understood to include “safe abortion”.