Due to the relentless efforts of women's rights advocates from across the globe, the 2030 Agenda's commitment to gender equality is prominent, comprehensive and cross-cutting, building on the commitments and norms contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The 2030 Agenda makes clear that development will only be sustainable if its benefits accrue equally to both women and men, and women's rights will only become a reality if they are part of broader efforts to protect the planet and ensure that all people can live with respect and dignity. What is needed to bridge the gaps between rhetoric and reality?