In Focus: Beijing at 20

In March, we celebrate International Women’s Day and Beijing+20 at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.  The Day and the Commission will highlight the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments 20 years ago that is still considered the most comprehensive blueprint on women’s rights. While there has been progress over the last two decades, the blueprint still remains only partially fulfilled.  In May 2014, UN Women launched a global campaign “Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It”, to reignite the urgency behind the Beijing call and mobilize a new generation. In the lead up to the Commission, a record-breaking 164 countries have undertaken national reviews of the status of women, and rich contributions from civil society have also come in. The reports will be a centrepiece of the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women where leaders will formulate concrete actions to step up their efforts, and accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide. Here’s a look at how the world galvanized around the issue of gender equality and women’s rights in the lead-up to Beijing+20.

In this op-ed for International Women’s Day, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka takes a look at the mixed progress since the 1995 Beijing Conference and asks for bold steps to accelerate change in the lives of women and girls. She underlines the urgent need to recommit to the promises made in 1995 by world leaders, and an end point to achieving gender equality. Calling for substantial change, she stresses the need to frontload actions for the next five years to achieve full equality before 2030.

Read her message »

Related links

• UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s video message for International Women’s Day
• UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's message for International Women's Day

This infographic highlights how far we have come and the many challenges ahead to achieving equality. View infographic »

• UN Women coverage of International Women's Day 2015
• UN System coverage of International Women's Day 2015
• The 59th Commission on the Status of Women