The UN has celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, calling for actions to defend women’s rights and human rights.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the call at UN headquarters in New York at an event to commemorate International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8.
“We gather today not just to celebrate International Women’s Day but to move forward – resilient, united, and unwavering in our pursuit of “equality, development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of humanity.”
“Those are the first words of the Beijing Declaration – and this year marks the 30th anniversary of that landmark conference.’’
The Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace was the name given for a conference convened by the United Nations from Sept. 4 to 15, 1995, in Beijing, China.
At this conference, governments worldwide agreed on a comprehensive plan to achieve global legal equality, known as the Beijing Platform for Action.
The UN chief said that since then, women had broken barriers, shattered ceilings, and reshaped societies, noting that these hard-fought gains remain fragile — and far from enough.
Guterres said that violence, discrimination and economic inequality still plague societies.
“As we see in every corner of the world, from pushback to rollback, women’s rights are under attack. Centuries of discrimination are being worsened by new threats.
“Instead of mainstreaming equal rights, we are witnessing the mainstreaming of chauvinism and misogyny.”
“We cannot stand by as progress is reversed. We must fight back,” he said.
Guterres, however, affirmed his commitment to the Gender Equality Clarion Call, which is part of the UN System-wide Gender Equality Acceleration Plan.
“Today, as part of the UN System-wide Gender Equality Acceleration Plan, I am proud to announce our commitment to the Gender Equality Clarion Call.
“A bold, urgent pledge to defend and advance the rights of all women and girls,’’ he said.
According to him, the clarion call sets out four priorities, listing unified leadership as first, noting that all UN leaders must champion and defend women’s rights in every decision and in every forum.
“Action against pushbacks – We must actively confront backlash, prevent rollbacks, and create spaces where women’s rights can thrive.
“Coordinated impact – working across sectors and all levels to dismantle systemic inequalities.
“Protecting women human rights defenders – we will defend and amplify the voices of women on the frontlines, standing firm against those who seek to silence them.’’
Guterres said that the Clarion Call and the Gender Equality Acceleration Plan must drive real political change in all actions, saying that the UN has been leading by example.
He, however, called on governments, organisations and businesses to do the same.
“The fight for gender equality is not just about fairness. It is about power – who gets a seat at the table, and who is locked out.
“It is about dismantling systems that allow inequalities to fester. And it is about ensuring a better world for all. When women participate in negotiations, peace lasts longer.
“When girls can go to school, entire generations are lifted out of poverty. When women enjoy equal job opportunities, economies grow stronger.
“And with parity in political leadership, decisions are fairer, policies are sharper, and societies are more just,’’ the UN chief said.
Guterres further said that when women and girls rise, everyone thrives.
He said, “let us be guided by the voices of women and girls around the world – and always choose action over apathy as well as realise the vision of the Beijing Declaration.”