Governments and other stakeholders are meeting at the 69th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) this month to review the progress (or lack of) made on Beijing Declaration 1995 and its Platform for Action.
"Beijing Declaration is a United Nations (UN) resolution that outlines a plan to achieve gender equality and women's rights. It was adopted in 1995 at the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. This conference was attended by 189 countries worldwide and a parallel people's conference also took place in which over 30,000 feminists from around the world took part. Beijing Declaration was accepted by all 189 countries present in this UN meet in 1995. Being ratified by 189 countries globally made it a very important promise to behold and advance gender equality and women's rights. It was pivotal in our feminist advocacy," said Anjali Shenoi, a noted intersectional feminist who serves at the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW). She was speaking at a SHE & Rights session (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights session) co-hosted by Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Asia Pacific Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media), Centre for Global Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) and CNS.
"It is important to remember that conclusions adopted by CSWs are non-binding. While these conclusions influence national and international policies, civil society often struggles to hold governments accountable for their commitments. When it comes to the Beijing Declaration 1995 and its Platform for Action, we are living in an age of poly-crises in an anti-rights and anti-gender world. Regressive trends in neoliberal globalisation are compounded by colonial legacies and neocolonialism. There is a rise of authoritarianism, securitisation, militarism and conflict. It has also unleashed debilitating debt crisis in the region with intolerable austerity measures, rising inequality and increasing poverty, exacerbating the impact of COVID-19 and the various climate crises that we are facing. There is a growing number of anti-gender and anti-rights arguments and interventions from both governments and non-state actors, which is exacerbated by the Trump administration and its 'Global Gag Rule.' It gives rise to further concerns of corporate capture undermining feminist priorities," added Shenoi.
Agrees Kavutha Mutua, lawyer, High Court, and Founder-Director of The Legal Caravan, Kenya: "We need stronger accountability to hold governments to account on the promises of gender equality and human rights. We have seen the issue of contradicting foreign policies- for example the regressive 'Geneva Consensus Declaration' which limits access to safe abortion services as well as other sexual and reproductive health services. Or the 'Global Gag Rule'. Countries like Kenya have very progressive laws on gender equality and part of Maputo Protocol too, but it is also part of the regressive Geneva Consensus Declaration and other polices that contradict what has already been passed in our domestic law."
Birth of a boy celebrated with 7 ululations, while a girl gets 3
"In many parts of my country Ethiopia, the birth of a boy is celebrated with seven ululations, while a girl receives only three. This seemingly small difference signals the start of a lifelong gender bias, favouring men over women. Societal norms assign greater value to boys, shaping their opportunities in education, economic participation, and leadership, while reinforcing barriers for girls. These biases accumulate over time, limiting women's potential and perpetuating gender inequality across generations. Despite being vital to national development, women in Africa continue to face widespread discrimination and violence solely due to their gender. Gender equality is not just a human right and a matter of social justice, it is also a crucial foundation for sustainable development, peace, and progress," said Siyane Aniley, an expert in gender equality and social inclusion, SRHR, and education; who contributes to strengthening quality SRH services and promoting gender equality at Centre for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT), Ethiopia.
Ageing with rights and human dignity
We need to ensure that older women (and all gender diverse peoples) are not left behind in policies, programmes and actions that are addressing gender inequalities and social injustices. Gender equality and SDGs are for all people of all genders and of all ages.
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