At the UN headquarters in New York, world leaders and stakeholders gathered to mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action — a game-changer for women’s rights — and to demand faster progress. 🚀
Annalena Baerbock, president of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session, called the Beijing Declaration a watershed achievement that advanced women’s rights, resources, and representation, yet reminded the audience that the revolution remains unfinished.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised it as the most ambitious global commitment for women’s rights, highlighting gains in legal protection, political participation, and education. He urged countries to pick up the pace, noting that progress has been slow and uneven. ⚠️
Sima Bahous, UN Women’s Executive Director, pointed out that the number of women in parliament has nearly doubled and almost 100 discriminatory laws were reversed in the past five years. Still, she warned that poverty, conflict, climate shocks, and tech gaps are eating away at these hard-won gains.
Delegates also sounded the alarm on a growing backlash against gender equality. Guterres noted that artificial intelligence — developed in a male-dominated industry and built on biased data — can reinforce discrimination. A Swedish representative shared deep concern over backsliding and stressed that we cannot accept a new normal where mothers enjoy more freedoms than daughters.
A recent UN Women report warns that none of the gender-equality Sustainable Development Goals are on track, and that a record 676 million women and girls now live under the shadow of deadly conflict.
Liechtenstein’s Deputy Prime Minister Sabine Monauni said this is a pivotal moment for women’s empowerment, while Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden urged all member states to fully implement the Beijing+30 Action Agenda. He emphasized the need for well-resourced national plans to address violence, economic empowerment, political participation, access to justice, and discriminatory laws — backed by solid financing in domestic budgets and international aid.
With the clock ticking, UN leaders agree it’s time for decisive action. Let’s join the call and help power the next chapter of the women’s rights movement. 💪
Reference(s):
World leaders call for accelerating commitments to women's rights
cgtn.com
