More than 450 government officials, civil society representatives, youth leaders, academics, UN officials, and regional organizations from 56 UNECE Member States gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21-22 October 2024 for the landmark Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting. Held every five years, this meeting assessed progress on gender equality and women's rights in the UNECE region, laying the groundwork for the next steps toward making gender equality a reality.
Co-hosted by UNECE and the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, the Regional Review was a pivotal opportunity to reinvigorate political commitment to gender equality, women's human rights, and women's empowerment as the world prepares for next year's 30th commemoration of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
A joint call for action
In her opening speech, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean called on participants to seize the opportunity to set ambitious goals and commitments to create a roadmap leading to real and lasting improvements in the lives of women and girls across the UNECE region.
"Gender equality remains a critical driver of sustainable progress and sidelining it would jeopardize all other areas of development. To deprioritize gender equality is to risk undermining progress across all SDGs and to endanger the foundations of peace and stability," noted Molcean.
UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda echoed the call for transformative action. "It is no longer about commitments; it is about action. And the only viable measurement of success is transforming the lives of women and girls. Now is the time to deepen accountability for progress, prioritize and commit to gender equality. I urge all governments, organizations, and stakeholders in the UNECE region to move forward with concrete actions to deliver on the promises made in Beijing three decades ago," stated Gumbonzvanda.
Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, added his support, stressing, "Let this Beijing+30 moment mark a new era where we turn reflection into action and drive decisive change for a more equitable future."
The two-day meeting opened with statements from over 40 Member States, which shed light on long-term trends as well as persistent and emerging obstacles to gender equality, including the impacts of wars and armed conflict, which have negatively affected the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action across the UNECE region. While some countries have introduced stronger legislative and policy standards, progress remains slow and insufficient in several priority areas, notably in eliminating gender-based violence and advancing women's economic rights.
Therefore, the agenda covered a wide range of pressing topics, including women's economic empowerment. Participants emphasized the importance of financial inclusion and support for women entrepreneurs, discussing key issues such as gender-responsive budgeting, the gender pay gap, equal pay, and targeted assistance for women entrepreneurs. Additionally, expanding childcare services and care systems was identified as essential for addressing unpaid care work and advancing gender equality.
Violence against women continues to be a global challenge, with one in four women in this region experiencing intimate partner violence. Therefore, the implementation of Istanbul Convention remains critical for future progress.
The impact of wars and armed conflicts underscores the need for strong laws and gender-sensitive peacebuilding efforts to empower women in recovery processes as per UN Resolution 1325.
Also, while women's political representation has improved, women still face significant barriers to leadership, requiring cultural shifts for true progress. Institutional mechanisms for gender equality are crucial, yet backlash threatens achievements, particularly regarding reproductive rights.
Financing gender equality efforts is vital, as good practices in gender-responsive budgeting have demonstrated a real impact on the lives of women and girls. Tax reforms and substantial investments are needed to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals targets, and civil society involvement is key to effective policy design. The compounded discrimination faced by migrant women highlights the need for supportive migration policies and social services.
In conclusion, the meeting also called for partnerships between governments, civil society, and private sector entities, with a focus on inclusive, grassroots initiatives to ensure lasting progress in gender equality while implementing the Beijing Platform for Action and ensuring no one is left behind.
A roadmap for future action
The Beijing+30 Review set forth key takeaways, including renewed commitments to gender equality, addressing emerging forms of violence against women, enhancing women's economic opportunities, and introducing new legal measures to promote gender equality. The meeting also concluded with a strong consensus on the need for collaboration, solidarity, and international partnerships to overcome gender challenges and societal norms.
Civil society representatives emphasized the importance of supporting grassroots feminist movements and women's rights organizations as equal partners. They also called for improved accountability mechanisms to fully realize the transformative vision of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Following the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting, an outcome report reflecting the discussions will be drafted and sent to all UNECE Member States for input. These insights will inform the global Beijing review in March 2025 in New York, where leaders will reflect on 30 years of implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and identify tangible and concrete steps toward achieving gender equality.
