In 2025, the global community will mark the 30th anniversary of the revolutionary program for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Its name is the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Nearly 30 years ago, the governments of 189 countries, under the auspices of the UN, committed to building a world in which every woman and girl feels safe, lives free from violence, has equal access to education and fair wages, can realize her potential without obstacles, and most importantly—has freedom, CHOICE, and equal outcomes. The global and comprehensive nature of the program lies in its strategy—to introduce gender equality in all areas of life: from parenting to high leadership positions.
Ukraine’s participation in the Beijing Conference passed judgment on the Soviet past and became a symbol of Ukrainian women’s aspiration for freedom, with roots tracing back to the times of the Cossacks. It was a powerful gesture of solidarity with the international community and its values, as well as a confirmation that the fight for women’s rights has always been part of Ukrainian identity.
The Beijing meeting raised issues that are still debated worldwide and remain critical in electoral campaigns, such as women’s right to abortion, which was discussed by Hillary Clinton, then First Lady of the US. Interestingly, her visit to the Beijing conference almost fell through due to the Chinese government’s opposition to her speech, which addressed the right of women to terminate pregnancies. Despite the protest, Hillary delivered her speech, adding criticism of China’s demographic policy, which at that time encouraged families to have no more than one child, with a preference for boys.
Independent Ukraine was also represented at this global meeting, including by Kateryna Levchenko, co-founder of the NGO “La Strada Ukraine” and currently the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, Larysa Kobelianska, Head of the Public Council at the MFO “Equal Opportunities,” Olena Suslova, Senior Analyst at the NGO “Information and Consultative Women’s Center,” and other activists who influence the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in Ukraine.
Since then, 30 years have passed. To date, no country has fully implemented all the principles of the Beijing Platform. Does this demonstrate its unrealistic nature? On the contrary, it only highlights its comprehensiveness and the extensive work that still needs to be done.
How does the implementation of Beijing’s principles function?
Each participating country is obligated to regularly report to the UN on the implementation of the platform’s principles. These reports include data on legislative changes, women’s support programs, the introduction of policies for equal pay, and efforts to combat discrimination. The Beijing Declaration caused a shift in the perception of where tradition ends and human rights begin. Therefore, the unwavering position regarding the absurdity of violence against women, such as the surgical alteration of sexual organs in some countries’ customs, was condemned and prohibited. Regardless of cultural specifics, signatory countries must adhere to its norms.
Is there monitoring of the implementation of principles?
Progress is assessed at global level forums, such as the Civil Society Forum, held on October 19 and 20 in Geneva. There, activists, human rights defenders, and government representatives gather to discuss results, identify challenges, and find new paths toward achieving gender equality.
Beijing+30 is an opportunity to assess progress in implementing the goals of the Beijing Platform for Action in countries, regions, and globally. Despite declarations of support for women’s rights, their implementation is still not the basic setting of every society. Today, in 2024, 30 years after Beijing, the fight for access to rights and equal outcomes is still ongoing!
The participation of representatives from civil society organizations was supported by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund and UN Women Ukraine.
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