UNITED NATIONS — Amid a growing countermovement regarding women’s rights, the United Nations’ 193 member states committed to advancing gender equality across multiple dimensions on Monday. They agreed upon a comprehensive action plan in a political declaration, emphasizing the involvement of men and boys as pivotal allies in achieving this goal.
This declaration, unanimously endorsed at the opening of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women’s annual meeting, marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing women’s conference. That conference introduced a detailed agenda to reach gender equality globally.
Recognizing progress since the Beijing conference, the declaration also acknowledges that no nation has yet fully realized gender equality, with advances being inconsistent and facing numerous challenges.
A report issued by UN Women notes that around a quarter of governments have acknowledged setbacks in women’s rights as of 2024. The agency’s policy director Sarah Hendriks suggested that the actual number may be higher, reflecting a widely unfavorable climate.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned against the regression of women’s rights, underlining the jeopardy of previously secured advancements in areas such as reproductive rights and gender equality initiatives.
Guterres highlighted that traditional inequalities, such as economic disparity and violence against women, are pervasive. He cited the gender pay discrepancy, ongoing global violence against women, and sexual violence in conflict zones as pressing issues.
He also pointed out the dark side of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, which is being misused to perpetuate violence and misogyny online. This includes non-consensual pornographic depictions, predominantly of women.
The call for action made in 1995 by Beijing’s conference covered tackling poverty, protecting gender rights, promoting women’s access to leadership roles, and ensuring their ability to make decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health.
Guterres urged global efforts in defending the rights of women and girls, stressing the necessity to uphold and implement the commitments set forth at the Beijing conference.
The newly adopted eight-page declaration advocates for actionable measures such as:
– Enhancing women’s access to financial services and entrepreneurial opportunities.
– Minimizing unpaid caregiving imposed on women by developing supportive care systems.
– Equitably sharing domestic responsibilities between men and women.
– Closing the gender gap in digital access to allow women full technological benefits.
– Guaranteeing quality education opportunities for girls, with ongoing learning chances for women.
– Enacting and financing national schemes to eliminate violence against women and girls.
During last year’s commission meeting, an all-male speaking order drew mixed reactions. This year, Saudi Arabia’s U.N. Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil, who is the commission’s chair, started the meeting by introducing three young female speakers, reinforcing a more inclusive approach.
Alwasil described the Beijing conference as pivotal and stressed the urgency of transforming its pledges into real progress, highlighting the need for inclusive governance and steadfast political commitment.
In a show of solidarity, the declaration received applause and prompted a recommendation for future actions, including encouraging countries to put forward female candidates for the next U.N. secretary-general, as the organization has yet to appoint a woman to this role.
