UNIDO and UNODC, together with the Permanent Missions of Finland, Sweden and Norway in Vienna, hosted the seventh Vienna Discussion Forum (VDF), a platform dedicated to advancing gender equality within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s VDF, themed “Freedom from Poverty: Empowering Women, Engaging Youth”, explored the gendered dimensions of poverty and criminal justice, and strategies to alleviate these systemic challenges. 

The forum convened international leaders, private sector representatives, civil society actors, UN officials, and notably youth representatives from the Diplomatic Academy Vienna, AISEC Austria, and RAUN. The active participation of youth, including a UN Youth Delegate, amplified the forum’s focus on inclusive, intergenerational, and community-driven approaches to poverty reduction and gender empowerment. 

Key themes and takeaways emerged from the forum’s discussions, reflecting shared priorities and innovative approaches. Panelists called for a holistic and participatory approach to poverty eradication, recognizing women and youth as central agents of change. The forum highlighted successful models of empowerment through entrepreneurship, education, and justice reform, and encouraged replication and scaling of these initiatives. It also underlined the need for multilateral cooperation to address systemic inequalities.

Ultimately, the Vienna Discussion Forum 2025 reaffirmed the commitment of UNIDO, UNODC, and their partners to gender equality and sustainable industrial development. By spotlighting the intersection of poverty, gender, and youth engagement, the forum contributed to the global dialogue on inclusive development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals - particularly those related to poverty reduction (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9), and partnerships (SDG 17).