2020 is the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive global blueprint for advancing women’s rights.
2020 also marks:
20 years of Security Council Resolution 1325.
5 years of the Sustainable Development Goals.
10 years of UN Women and 75 years of the United Nations (UN).
It’s a great time to take stock, celebrate what has been achieved and look at the many challenges that still lie ahead. It’s especially important for women’s rights, which has faced rising authoritarianism and fundamentalism, shrinking resources, an ever-changing global political landscape and rollbacks on hard-won gains.
What is the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action?
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDfA) is a resolution adopted by the UN at the end of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. Adopted by 189 member states, it is key in advancing gender equality in 12 areas:
The girl child
Women and the environment
Women and the media
Human rights of women
Institutional mechanisms
Women and poverty
Education and training of women
Women and health
Violence against women
Women and armed conflict
Women and the economy
Women in power and decision-making
What to expect as part of the Beijing+25 review process (revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
During 2019, UN member states undertook national reviews documenting progress and challenges on the Beijing Declaration. This was followed by regional intergovernmental review meetings with multiple-stakeholders including civil society and experts.
64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women
9-20 March 2020
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the largest global policy making forum on women’s rights. Every year, countries take part in a 2-week process to agree actions (outcome document) aimed at promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The global public health concerns caused by COVID-19 resulted in a scaled-down version of the 64th session of the CSW, including the cancellation of all associated events and the sharp curtailment of civil society engagement. You can learn more about what came out of CSW64 by reading GADN’s paper: CSW64: An Update.
The Generation Equality Forum
7-8 May 2020 / 7-9 July 2020
The Generation Equality Forum is a civil society led processes convened by UN Women and co-chaired by the governments of France and Mexico. It is described by them as a multi-stakeholder gathering to not only take stock of what has happened on women’s rights and gender equality over the last 25 years, but to also chart a path forward. The outcomes will be taken forward to the UN General Assembly.
Action Coalitions
The central piece of the Generation Equality Forum is the establishment of a set of ‘Action Coalitions’. These are partnerships across civil society, member states and the private sector that aim to accelerate action on specific thematic areas outlined within the BPfA. In January 2020, the following six Action Coalitions were announced:
Gender-Based Violence
Economic justice and rights
Bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
Feminist action for climate justice
Technology and innovation for gender equality
Feminist movements and leadership
The six themes were selected in consultation with international feminist groups, grassroots activist organisations, governments and other stakeholders. The expectation is that each Action Coalition will be led by government representatives from selected countries, private sector actors and civil society representatives from networks/organisations who specialise on the specific thematic issue. The Action Coalition members will develop a set of concrete actions that they will take forward up until 2025 – beyond the formal Beijing+25 review process.
Due to COVID-19, the Generation Equality Forum has been postponed until the first half of 2021 - the new dates will be announced shortly. You can read UN Women’s full statement here. In the interim, UN Women will continue to organise virtual meetings to ensure that momentum is not lost.
Get Involved
The Advisory Group (selection complete) - 21 volunteers from around the world. Reports to the core decision-making group for the Generation Equality Forum, making sure Forum meetings reflect the priorities of the Thematic Working Groups.
Advisory Committee – civil society actors from around the world who provide guidance to the Advisory Group. The Committee meets (virtually) every two weeks. To join or for more information email: Beijing25@ngocsw.org
Thematic Working Groups - members provide contributions around 6 thematic areas:
Environmental conservation, protection and rehabilitation
Freedom from violence, stigma and stereotypes
Poverty eradication, social protection and social services
Inclusive development, share prosperity and decent work
Peaceful and inclusive societies
Participation, accountability and gender-responsive institutions
UN General Assembly
September 2020 (TBC)
The Beijing+25 review process in 2020 will culminate in a high-level meeting at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, scheduled to take place on 23 September. The theme is “Accelerating the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. It is here that governments are expected to commit the financial resources needed to deliver gender equality.
Useful links
Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights for an equal future