KATHMANDU, March 9: The 30-year review report of the Beijing Declaration highlights significant progress regarding women’s political representation, girls' education, and legal rights.
UN Women recently released a report that assesses these advancements. The 1995 World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China, identified 12 key areas for women's development and called for their implementation. The report includes reviews based on recommendations from 159 governments submitted to the United Nations.
The report highlights significant progress in girls' education among member states, including gender equality in education, a one-third reduction in maternal mortality, doubled representation in parliament, and amendments to 1,553 discriminatory laws.
It states that these changes signal prosperity within families and communities. However, it also points out that the expected progress in these areas has not been fully realized. To achieve gender equality, further advancements in other areas are necessary. The Beijing Plus 30 emphasizes the need for a program roadmap, focusing on digital security, the right to privacy, and empowering girls in AI development through the digital revolution for women and children.
The report proposes policies to free women from poverty and suggests expanding women and girls' access to healthcare, education, and care services globally to achieve economic prosperity and alleviate poverty.
The report recommends that quotas and special provisions effectively establish full and decisive rights for women and emphasizes the need for legal amendments and their implementation to end all forms of violence against women.
The report highlights the need to implement a national plan with women-focused financial institutions and suggests focusing on six key areas, including establishing women's rights to climate adaptation to protect them from the increasing impacts of climate change. Beijing Plus 30 views the upcoming Commission on the Status of Women 69 in March as an opportunity to integrate these points into global policy.