Rights for all, not some: a guide to Beijing+25
By Christina Cadore
2020 not only marks the start of a brand new decade and the promises of hope that come along with new beginnings but also marks a critical year for women’s rights around the world. Beijing+25 will be a phrase you’ll be seeing throughout the year, but what is it and why is it so important for the lives of women everywhere?
What is the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action?
In 1995 thousands of women’s rights activists, government leaders and UN representatives gathered for the Fourth World Conference on Women. They came together with the goal of setting an international agenda that makes women’s equal rights a reality for billions of women around the world.
The 11 day conference was a galvanising moment for women’s rights and a marker in global feminist history. The result of the conference that reinforced that ‘women’s rights are human rights’ was the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The Beijing Platform for Action was a progressive blueprint for achieving women’s rights, laying out 12 areas of critical concern where urgent action was needed to ensure equality for women and girls. The areas included women’s economic rights, violence against women and girls, political participation and education, among others.
In 1995 the diversities of women and their experiences were not only recognised on a world stage, but world governments acknowledged that all of these women had a fundamental right to equality. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was a beacon for hope for women’s rights activists, feminists and advocates for equality all over the world.
Why are people talking about it now?
2020 has the potential to be a momentous year for women’s rights. As well as marking 25 years since Beijing, it’s a key milestone for other international agreements directly impacting women’s rights: the 5th anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. This is such an important moment because despite world governments committing to achieving gender equality over two decades ago, there is still no country in the world where women have equal rights. While there has been progress for some women, in some countries, for some rights, women the world over are still denied their human rights, particularly those often the most marginalised by society. To commemorate this anniversary (dubbed Beijing+25) women’s rights activists are reigniting the feminist fire and demanding governments take action to achieve what the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set out to achieve two decades ago and move this agenda forward.
What is happening to mark the 25th anniversary?
Since 2019 world governments and women’s rights organisations have been preparing to mark Beijing+25. Through national reports on the status of women’s rights, to regional reviews on how the lives of women and girls can be improved, the progress on achieving equality has been under scrutiny.
Womankind and our partners have been involved throughout the process, influencing the call for action and bringing the voices and experiences of everyday women to a global stage. Beijing+25 is more than policy makers at the highest levels making declarations, it’s about improving the real lives of billions of women and girls around the world. Womankind and our partners will continue to hold world leaders to account and insist that they take action throughout a series of UN events in 2020.
Why is it important for women’s rights?
The past few years has seen a rollback on women’s rights all over the world. Hard won freedoms and rights are at risk of being replaced with laws and social attitudes that strip women of their power and autonomy. What’s more, in every country in the world women’s human rights Defenders are consistently being harassed and intimated for standing up for women’s rights. Beijing+25 is an opportunity to shine a light on these rights abuses and compel world leaders to act in the best interest of women and girls. Together women’s rights organisations, activists and feminists are coming together in a movement to be heard by those in the seats of power.
How you can get involved?
For 25 years governments have failed to deliver on the promises made in 1995. Women all over the world are still denied their human rights, particularly those who are most marginalised. In this landmark year for women’s rights we have the opportunity to hold governments to account and make the voices of women heard once and for all.
Womankind is launching #AllNotSome, a campaign that will send a clear message that we will wait no longer. We demand all of the rights for all, not some women. You can support our calls, by sharing our demands, adding your voice to our campaign or even celebrating a woman making a change for the rights of all women in your community. Join us in London on International Women’s Day as we join the Global Women’s Strike and take to the streets (more details on how to join us here). With your support we can speak louder and clearer.
This is the year we put women’s rights back on centre stage. This is the year we hold our leaders to account. This is the year we secure the rights for all, not some.
