Urgent Call for Gender Justice at UN Women’s Commission
The Commission on the Status of Women concluded its first week with a powerful dialogue emphasizing the urgent need for inclusive leadership in the fight for gender equality. Youth representatives highlighted the importance of integrating Indigenous voices and addressing the unique challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities. As the UN marks 30 years since the Beijing Platform for Action, leaders stress the necessity of renewed commitment to achieving gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
30 Years After Beijing: A Call to Action
During the ongoing sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, discussions centered on the legacy of the 1995 Beijing Conference, where global leaders pledged to advance women’s rights and gender equality. Kateryna Levchenko, Ukraine’s Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy, underscored that despite the passage of three decades, no nation has fully realized gender equality. She urged Member States to recommit to the Beijing Platform for Action, emphasizing its role in overcoming obstacles to progress. With only five years remaining until the 2030 target for the SDGs, Levchenko called for collaborative efforts among governments, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate advancements in gender equality.
Fenna Timsi, the UN Youth Representative for Human Rights and Security from the Netherlands, echoed these sentiments, stating that today’s youth are at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights. She noted that the upcoming 2024 review of the Beijing process, with over 150 countries reporting their actions, serves as a testament to the ongoing relevance of the Platform for Action. Timsi highlighted the need for youth voices to be included in discussions about gender-based violence, education access, and economic empowerment.
Gender Equality: An Unfulfilled Promise
Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN-Women, opened the session by praising the activism of young representatives. She acknowledged that, despite some progress, gender equality remains an unfulfilled promise. Bahous pointed out that while women now hold 27 percent of parliamentary seats—up from 11 percent in 1995—this is still insufficient. Furthermore, one in three women globally experiences physical or sexual violence, a crisis that cannot be accepted as inevitable. She stressed that the ongoing climate crisis and economic disparities disproportionately affect young women and girls, making their empowerment even more critical.
Bahous reaffirmed the Beijing Platform for Action as the most powerful framework for achieving gender equality. She noted that while there have been advancements, such as increased representation of women in politics and stronger laws against gender-based violence, the pace of change has been too slow. The need for transformative and inclusive change is urgent, as young people continue to demand accountability and action from leaders.
Inclusion of Women with Disabilities: A Critical Issue
Eva Chisom Chukwunelo, an Amputee Peer Counselor from Nigeria, shared her personal journey as a young woman with a disability. She emphasized that gender justice cannot be achieved without addressing the unique challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities. Chukwunelo questioned whether the promises made in the Beijing Platform included her and others like her. She highlighted the systemic barriers that prevent women with disabilities from accessing education and leadership opportunities, urging governments to disaggregate data by gender, disability, and age to better understand and address these issues.
Chukwunelo called for active engagement of young women with disabilities in policy-making and leadership roles. She stressed the importance of creating inclusive educational environments and healthcare systems that respect and serve women with disabilities. Her message was clear: without justice for all women, gender equality remains incomplete.
Empowering Youth and Engaging Men in the Fight for Equality
Ema Mecaj, a member of the Beijing+30 Youth Steering Committee, emphasized the importance of meaningful youth engagement in shaping policies that reflect the aspirations of young people. She noted that while progress has been made, many women and girls continue to face significant challenges, including poverty and gender-based violence. Mecaj highlighted alarming statistics, such as the 51,000 women and girls killed by intimate partners or family members in 2023, calling for urgent action to address these issues.
Ahdithya Visweswaran, Governance Coordinator at Young Diplomats of Canada, stressed the need for boys and men to actively participate in the fight against patriarchal systems. He argued that addressing the root causes of gender inequality requires the involvement of all genders, with men and boys positioned as allies rather than adversaries. Visweswaran called for a shift in societal narratives and the institutionalization of efforts to engage men and boys in promoting gender equality.
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