Beijing Declaration, Women's Rights

As the Beijing Declaration turns 20, the 59th Commission on the Status of Women will take stock of women's rights, amid mixed progress

The year 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Considered the most comprehensive blueprint on advancing women's rights, the 1995 Beijing roadmap was adopted by 189 governments. But 20 years on, the commitments made are only partially fulfilled. 

From 9-20 March, the 59th Commission on the Status of Women will review global implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and take stock of where women stand in the world today. From the political to the economic spheres, progress has been made, but not enough. 

Today, only one in five parliamentarians is a woman. Approximately 50 per cent of women worldwide are in paid employment, an increase from 40 per cent more than 20 years ago, with wage inequality persistent. At the present rate of progress, it will take 81 years for women to achieve parity in employment. The pandemic of violence against women and girls affects one in three women worldwide, despite being recognized as a gross human rights violation and a barrier to global development. In 2000, the groundbreaking UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security recognized the need to increase women's role in peacebuilding in post-conflict countries. Yet, from 1992 to 2011 only 4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements and 9 per cent of negotiators at peace tables were women. 

Preparations for the upcoming meeting have been significant. UN Women launched a global campaign "Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It" last year, to reignite the gender equality debate through global events and engagement. In the lead-up to the Commission, a record-breaking 166 countries undertook national reviews regarding the status of women in their countries. Rich contributions have also come in through consultations with civil society, who remain an integral part of this process. Setting a new record, more than 1,100 NGOs and a total of 8,600 representatives have registered to participate in this year's session. About 200 side-events hosted by governments and UN agencies are planned alongside the official meetings of the Commission, with an additional 450 parallel events by civil society. 

With the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform coinciding with the defining of the post-2015 development agenda, expectations are high that it will generate momentum and urgency for global actions on women's rights and gender equality. A political declaration will be adopted by the Commission on the opening day of session. 

HIGHLIGHTS FOR MEDIA: 

For press covering the International Women's Day event or any official CSW59 events at the UN Secretariat in New York, UN press accreditation is required. More information at: http://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/index.shtml

Media Opportunities: Women's rights advocates and experts are available for interviews. List below, please contact media officers listed. 

Related links:

Events at the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, 9 - 20 March 2015

Official meetings of the Commission are listed here: http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw59-2015/official-meetings 
Live webcasts: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/csw/webcasts

Key Official Sessions:

All the above will also be webcast live at: http://webtv.un.org/

UN Women organized/co-sponsored events:

[Entire list of official side events: http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw59-2015/side-events/calendar-of-side-events; NGO-organized parallel events:http://www.ngocsw.org/]

UN Women senior officials will speak at the following events:

 

 

Author`s name
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
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