Democratic backsliding and the backlash against women’s rights: Understanding the current challenges for feminist politics

Date: Friday, June 5, 2020

In this paper, we propose a conceptual framework to discuss two interrelated realms: backsliding on gender equality policies and the emerging political space for feminist responses to this backsliding. We illustrate our framework with empirical observations from three Central and Eastern European countries: Croatia, Hungary, and Poland. We aim to contribute to an understanding of the gendered aspects of de-democratization and the functioning of illiberal democracies.

Feminist perspectives on the 2030 Agenda in Ecuador: Selective engagement, inclusions and omissions

Date: Thursday, March 26, 2020

This paper examines how the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been integrated into the national debate on gender equality in Ecuador. It identifies which policies from the Agenda have been taken into account and which have been rejected. It also examines how the actors involved in clarifying the scope of these policies—women’s movements, sexual diversity organizations, public officials, and UN agencies—have coordinated their activities with the Agenda.

Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights for an equal future

Date: Monday, May 6, 2019

On the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, UN Women’s “Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights for an equal future” campaign demands equal pay, equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work, an end to sexual harassment and violence against women and girls, health care services that respond to their needs, and their equal participation in political life and in decision-making in all areas of life.

A short history of the Commission on the Status of Women

Date: Friday, February 1, 2019

This short history of the Commission on the Status of Women from its inception in 1946 to today highlights the Commission’s advocacy for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. It summarizes the Commission’s key achievements in developing the global legal and normative framework, and in advancing its follow-up and implementation at the national level, for the benefit of women and girls everywhere.

Step it Up: Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2016

This book compiles the concrete steps and measures to achieve gender equality under UN Women’s “Step It Up” initiative, pledged by 72 Heads of State and Government who came together at the Global Leaders' Meeting in September 2015.

Ending Violence Against Women: From the Beijing Platform for Action to the Sustainable Development Goals

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2015

The following booklet contains relevant sections of the principal international agreements over the past 20 years where countries have committed to responding to violence against women and girls, from the Beijing Platform for Action to the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals.

Training for Gender Equality: Twenty Years On

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Training for Gender Equality: Twenty Years On analyses how training for gender equality has evolved from the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action (PFA) to the present day.

Beijing+20: Past, present and future. The representation of women and the United Nations system

Date: Monday, March 9, 2015

The Beijing Platform for Action mandates the full participation of women in the decision-making, including within the UN system. Twenty years later, statistical trends and future projections on representation within the UN system are analysed, and action points to overcome obstacles and accelerate progress are presented.

Summary Report: The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action turns 20

Date: Friday, February 20, 2015

Progress, challenges and lessons learned on realizing gender equality, the empowerment of women and human rights of women and girls in the post-2015 context are analysed in this summary of the Report of the Secretary-General on the 20-year review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, prepared by UN Women.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Beijing +5 Political Declaration and Outcome

Date: Monday, January 19, 2015

Considered the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women's rights, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action has been reprinted in this special edition, which also includes a copy of the political declaration reached at the 23rd special session of the General Assembly in 2000, which reviewed progress towards the Platform for Action five years after its adoption.