By WDN-ZW
The Women’s Democracy Network Zimbabwe, a vibrant network of women leaders and gender champions, joins the world in commemorating the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global agenda for achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls. Adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing from September 4 to 15, 1995, it is considered the international Bill of Rights for women, defining women’s rights as human rights and setting goals across a range of issues affecting women and girls.
The declaration outlines an agenda for women’s empowerment and gender equality, addressing critical areas such as poverty, education, health, violence, armed conflict, the economy, power and decision-making, institutional mechanisms, human rights, media, the environment and the girl child. It also emphasizes the need for urgent action and cooperation among governments, international organizations, and civil society to advance the status of women globally. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action includes strategic objectives and actions to be taken at national, regional and international levels to achieve the following goals. The key commitments of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action are included.
- Equality, Development, and Peace: Governments commit to advancing the goals of equality, development and peace for all women everywhere.
- Human Rights: Reaffirming the equal rights and inherent human dignity of women and men and ensuring the full implementation of the human rights of women and the girl child as an inalienable, integral, and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
- Empowerment and Participation: Promoting women’s empowerment and their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres of society, including decision-making processes and access to power.
- Eradication of Poverty: Addressing the structural causes of poverty, ensuring equal access to resources, opportunities and public services for women, and promoting sustainable development.
- Health and Reproductive Rights: Ensuring women’s right to control all aspects of their health, particularly their own fertility and enhancing women’s sexual and reproductive health and education.
- Violence Against Women: Preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
- Education and Training: Ensuring equal access to education and training for women and girls and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
- Economic Independence: Promoting women’s economic independence, including employment and addressing the persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women.
- Peace and Security: Recognizing the role of women in peace movements and working towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.
- Institutional Mechanisms: Strengthening national, regional and international mechanisms for the advancement of women and ensuring accountability to the world’s women.
- Media and Environment: Promoting a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media and involving women actively in environmental decision-making at all levels.
- The Girl Child: Eliminating all forms of discrimination against the girl child and promoting her rights and well-being.
These commitments require urgent action and cooperation among governments, international organizations and civil society to achieve gender equality and empower women globally. At the national level, to move from commitment to action towards sustained initiatives that make a difference for women and girls, promoting gender-responsive policymaking is one of the most practical ways. This calls for the need to take stock of the state of gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights and take action to consult, engage and position them at the center of gender analysis, informed problem identification, policy design, policy adoption, policy implementation and oversight. We are all key agents for equality and equity for women and girls. From our homes to the community and worldwide, let us work to promote women’s inclusion and full participation in public life, guided by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Add your voice, Join Us in commemorating the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Email wdnzimbabwe@gmail.com your commemorations contribution. Follow and support #Action4Equality Campaign on Facebook: WDN-Zimbabwe LinkedIn: Women’s Democracy Network Zimbabwe Instagram: Women’s Democracy Network-ZW X: @WdnZimbabwe