On the opening day of its 69th session, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) adopted by consensus the Beijing+30 Political Declaration. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Declaration renews Member States’ commitment to “the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.”
By the text, efforts to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the achievement of gender equality, and “the empowerment of all women and girls, including full enjoyment of their human rights.”
The Declaration reaffirms Member States’ commitment to tackle existing and emerging challenges in twelve critical areas of concern: women and poverty; education and training of women; women and health; violence against women; women and armed conflict; women and the economy; women in power and decision making; institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women; human rights of women; women and the media; women and the environment; and the girl child. It calls for concrete action on gender equality, including promoting women’s access to credit and entrepreneurship, reducing unpaid care and domestic work, bridging the gender digital divide, and ensuring education for girls and lifelong learning for women.
The text commits to ensuring that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict have access to healthcare and justice. It calls for gender-responsive budgeting in social protection systems, increased funding for civil society, and support for multi-stakeholder partnerships.
“It is the moment to push forward,” said UN Women Executive Secretary Sima Bahous. “Now, we must transform commitments into results.”
Addressing the Commission, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on “the world to accelerate progress and deliver on the promise of Beijing” by addressing persistent gaps like violence, discrimination, and economic inequality. To accelerate progress, he stressed the need to boost sustainable finance for sustainable development, step up support for women’s organizations, drive action on technology, and guarantee women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in peacebuilding and in leadership in decision making.
In his statement, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Bob Rae underscored the need to “ignite the momentum to ensure that gender equality remains at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” Gender equality, he said, is not just a goal but “the foundation of a just and sustainable world.”
The Political declaration on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Draft resolution submitted by the Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women on the basis of informal consultations (E/CN.6/2025/L.1, dated 6 March 2025) is available at: https://icsf.net/resources/political-declaration-on-the-occasion-of-the-thirtieth-anniversary-of-the-fourth-world-conference-on-women/