Beijing+30: Reflecting on Progress, Renewing the Promise of Equality
2025 marked the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA)—the most comprehensive global framework for women’s rights and empowerment. As the world reflected on three decades of progress, the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) reviewed the implementation of the BPfA and assessed the progress achieved across its 12 critical areas of concern.
On 27 January, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in The Hague hosted the annual NGO briefing for CSW69. The event brought together the Dutch Government Delegation and numerous civil society organisations, including Gender Concerns International. During the session, NGOs presented key recommendations addressing the 12 priority areas of the BPfA—ranging from women’s education and health to poverty eradication, political participation, and ending violence against women.
Alongside Dutch civil society partners, Gender Concerns International also observed the sitting of the UN General Assembly’s High-Level World Conference on Women, convened to commemorate 30 years of the BPfA. Discussions at the conference highlighted remarkable progress since 1995, including advancements in girls’ education, reductions in maternal mortality, and a growing number of women in parliaments worldwide. Yet, the meeting also underscored persistent barriers, such as armed conflicts, climate change, and systemic inequalities, that continue to threaten women’s empowerment.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of the urgent need to address the vulnerabilities women face in conflict and climate crises. In response, Gender Concerns International reiterates the call for sustained resources, policy reforms, and inclusive leadership to accelerate the realization of the BPfA. By investing in women’s organisations, increasing women’s political representation, and ensuring accountability for gender-based violence and discrimination, the global community can fulfil the Beijing Declaration’s purpose: true equality for all women and girls.