Dear John,

This month, we report on an unsavoury get together in Hungary, review a familiarly disappointing summit on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York, and we look back at an altogether more successful conference in Delhi.    

World Sexual Health Day, with the theme of consent, fell on the 4 September, and we looked into the under-reported issue of forced marriage. For World Sexual Health week (11-17 September), we delved into the state of UK sexual health in 2023 with GP and PM board member Rebbeca Foljambe.

Finally, we are now entering the last few days of crowdfunding for our new South Sudanese partner, the National Women Empowerment and Rehabilitation Organization. We have reached 64% of the total, so if you're able to help us towards the 100% mark please look at the Take Action section below.

Thanks for your support!

- The PM team

A plug for our friends at Population Balance and their excellent podcast, The Overpopulation Podcast. We like it so much, in fact, we gave them an award as part of our Change Champions 2023!

The most recent episode features philosopher Dr. Trevor Hedberg, looking at how overpopulation impact the environment. Do check out their back catalogue as well, which include interviews with some PM friends including Partha Dasgupta, Phoebe Barnard and Paul R. Ehrlich.

"Despite global efforts, the world is falling short of achieving gender equality. This year’s edition of the UN Women and UN DESA “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2023” paints a worrisome picture halfway through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."

So much more needs to be done if we are to get anywhere near achieving the SDGs by 2030. Namely serious financial investment, including $360m dollars per year towards gender equality and women's empowerment.  

South Sudan is a land of unparalleled biodiversity, boasts the world’s second-largest wildlife migration, akin to the famous Serengeti, and is home to Africa’s largest wetland. However, beneath its natural splendour, the country contends with political instability and internal conflicts that have contributed to persistent poverty, restricted access to education and healthcare, and underdevelopment.

NWERO, our new Empower to Plan partner based in the capital of South Sudan, Juba, is working with women, adolescents, and the wider community to implement vital socio-economic community development initiatives focussed on gender justice, gender-based violence prevention and response, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Please give what you can, and help us reach our funding target of £5,400 before the deadline next Wednesday!