The SDGs: The UN's 2030 Development Agenda
You should be familiar with SDG #5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The stand-alone goal on gender equality was a major victory for women in the SDGs. SDG #5 Targets relate to violence against women and girls, trafficking, early marriage, FGM, recognition of unpaid and domestic work, increasing women in leadership and decision-making positions, reproductive rights, access to economic resources, access to and use of technology, and enforcing existing legislation. Gender equality is not only a goal in itself, but a means for achieving all the other goals of Agenda 2030.
The Beijing Platform for Action
Part of the mandate of CSW is to review progress in the achievement of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), a visionary agenda for the empowerment of women. It is the most comprehensive global policy framework for the achievement of gender equality and the human rights of women and girls. The BPfA was the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in September 1995, when representatives of 189 governments agreed to unprecedented commitments. More than 30,000 people from around the world came together in the Huairou Forum of non-governmental organizations in advocacy, networking, training and knowledge sharing. Seven FAWCO women were trailblazers for FAWCO's engagement in advocacy at the UN beginning with the Beijing Conference.
As we celebrated 25 years since the Beijing Conference in 2020, we acknowledged that progress has been unacceptably slow, particularly for the most marginalized women and girls who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.
Beijing Platform for Action 12 Critical Areas of Concern
❖ The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women
❖ Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to education and training
❖ Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to health care and related services
❖ Violence against women
❖ The effects of armed or other kinds of conflict on women, including those living under foreign occupation
❖ Inequality in economic structures and policies, in all forms of productive activities and in access to resources
❖ Inequality between men and women in the sharing of power and decision-making at all levels
❖ Insufficient mechanisms at all levels to promote the advancement of women
❖ Lack of respect for and inadequate promotion and protection of the human rights of women
❖ Stereotyping of women and inequality in women’s access to and participation in all communication systems, especially in the media
❖ Gender inequalities in the management of natural resources and in the safeguarding of the environment
❖ Persistent discrimination against and violation of the rights of the girl child
At CSW, civil society stakeholders and gender equality activists advocate for urgent and sustained action to transform the structures, institutions and norms – economic, political and social – that hold back progress on gender equality. These systemic changes require:
• Governments to demonstrate strong, determined leadership and commitment to advance women’s rights;
• Reaching the most marginalized women and girls by tackling rising inequalities and multiple forms of discrimination;
• Strengthening accountability for gender equality, supporting national gender equality mechanisms and women’s movements to exert greater influence in policy decisions;
• Greater contributions of men as gender equality advocates; and
• Increasing investments in gender equality and women’s rights.
CEDAW
The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women -- the international bill of rights for women known as CEDAW -- was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly. “The Convention provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life -- including the right to vote and to stand for election -- as well as education, health and employment. States parties agree to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
The US Senate has not ratified CEDAW. FAWCO campaigns for the ratification of CEDAW. You can learn more in Amnesty International's Fact Sheet on CEDAW.