Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Victoria Fernandez
September 22, 2025 Women
In the three decades since the adoption Beijing Declaration on the Rights of WomenWhile significant progress has been made globally, women and girls continue to face unacceptable levels of violence and discrimination. At the current session of the General Assembly, UN delegates are taking stock of this achievement and highlighting the significant challenges that remain.
The assigned tasks are not being accomplished?
Ahead of a high-level meeting on gender equality, UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs warned that all gender equality targets may not be met by the deadline.
Their report, "Gender Outlook 2025," states that 10 percent of women live in extreme poverty, and 351 million women and girls could remain so in 2030. Approximately 708 million women are unemployed due to unpaid domestic and care work. Many of those who are employed work in low-wage sectors. Women in several countries lack access to land, financial services, and decent jobs—denying them the conditions they need to thrive.
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According to the report, violence against women and girls persists: one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Furthermore, 676 million live within 50 kilometers of a conflict zone—the highest number since the 1990s. In some countries, hard-won rights are being curtailed, and civic space is shrinking.
However, it is important to remember the breakthrough that was the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, and why it is considered one of the most important milestones in advancing gender equality.
It was then that it was adopted Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – a plan that includes measures in key areas such as poverty alleviation, education, violence, the situation of women in armed conflict and participation in decision-making.
The governments of 189 countries unanimously declared that equality between women and men is a matter of human rights and an indispensable condition for achieving social justice, as well as a necessary and fundamental condition for development and peace.
Today, the world has more extensive legal protections for women and girls: 193 countries have adopted 1,583 laws combating gender-based violence, compared to only 12 countries in 1995. Police in over 100 countries undergo special training to support women victims of violence.
In the workplace, laws prohibiting gender discrimination have expanded significantly, strengthening women's economic independence. New services have emerged to reduce the burden of unpaid housework, and gender gaps at all levels of education are narrowing.
In the area of peacebuilding, there are 112 national plans on Women, Peace and Security in force worldwide, compared to 19 in 2010.
The price of progress
At a high-level event on 22 September, representatives of Member States, civil society organisations, academic institutions and the private sector will discuss how to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and find resources for the necessary measures.
For UN Women, investing in women is investing in society as a whole: if governments take action now, extreme poverty among women could be reduced from 9.2 percent to 2.7 percent by 2050, generating $342 trillion for the global economy.
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However, the call for more resources to achieve equality comes at a time when countries are cutting funding for both these initiatives and data collection efforts. Only half of women's ministries and gender equality institutions have sufficient resources.
According to Sarah Hendricks of UN Women, it's a question of political will, where systems prioritize war over rights and equality. "We live in a world that spends $2.7 trillion a year on weapons, yet can't find $320 billion to advance and achieve gender equality and women's rights," she emphasized.
Another century of inequality?
A high-level meeting on gender equality opens Monday at UN headquarters under the chairmanship of Annalena Baerbock, who was elected President of the UN General Assembly in early September, becoming only the fifth woman to hold this post in the 80-year history of the Organization.
Following the high-level week, Baerbock will also chair the election of a candidate for the post of UN Secretary-General, who will take office in 2027. Despite increasing pressure from many countries and organizations, the post has never been held by a woman.
Globally, women remain excluded from power and decision-making: they hold only about 27 percent of parliamentary seats and 30 percent of leadership positions. 113 countries have never had a female head of state. If the pace of progress continues, achieving gender equality in leadership will take another century.
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