Beijing+30 at CSW69 2025: the Gender Equality Marathon in a Hostile Era

By Georgiana F Bugeag

The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), held in March 2025, commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA). The Beijing Declaration, adopted in 1995, was a groundbreaking framework that set out to address gender inequalities across 12 critical areas, from education and healthcare to political participation and economic empowerment. Over the years, the Beijing Declaration has served as a key reference point for global gender equality efforts, influencing policies in many countries and acting as a standard against which progress is measured.

While there has been undeniable progress in the realm of gender equality in terms of increased political representation and improved access to education for women and girls, it remains a significant gap between policy rhetoric and practice. An alarming statistic, highlighted during CSW69, noted that at the current pace, achieving gender parity in political leadership could take up to 137 years. This statistic highlights the urgent need for more decisive and collective action to accelerate progress and address the persistent threats that continue to hold back gender equality. It has been acknowledged that globally the trend of rising anti-gender movements, regressive laws, and cuts to funding for gender equality initiatives continue to undermine the progress that has been made.

Milestones since 1995

The decades since Beijing have yielded undeniable advancements. Women’s political participation, once a rarity, has become a measurable norm: global parliamentary representation has risen from 11% in 1995 to 27% today. Quota systems, particularly in nations such as Rwanda and Bolivia, have demonstrated the power of intentional policy. However, for every Rwandan parliament (women hold 61% of seats) persists a Japan or Hungary, where cultural and political resistance stifles progress.

In the field of education, the gender gap in primary and secondary enrolment has narrowed dramatically. Many countries have achieved near-universal enrolment for girls, and there has been a significant shift towards gender parity in tertiary education, with women outpacing men in higher education enrolment in several regions.  In education, girls’ enrolment in primary and secondary schools now rivals that of boys in 90% of countries, while women outpace men in tertiary education enrolment across regions including Latin America and the Caribbean. This shift marks a historic transformation in women’s access to education, which has been a critical barrier to their empowerment. Educational gains, though laudable, often falter at the threshold of STEM fields, where women remain underrepresented.

Legal reforms have also played an essential role in advancing gender equality as 146 countries now have laws against domestic violence, a legislative leap forward from the patchwork protections of the 1990s. Numerous countries have passed laws aimed at addressing gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, and gender inequality in education and healthcare. These legal reforms, while varied in their scope and impact, represent a significant step forward in creating a more just and equal society for women and girls. Nonetheless, despite these advances, many legal frameworks remain incomplete, and enforcement of these laws is often inconsistent, particularly in less developed regions.

Threats to Equality

CSW69 revealed anti-gender movements, emboldened by conservative alliances, have surged from the Americas to Eastern Europe, weaponising rhetoric to roll back reproductive rights protections. This regressive measures are compounded by a chronic underfunding of gender equality initiatives. Despite overwhelming evidence that investing in women catalyses societal progress, less than 4% of international aid targets gender-specific programmes.

The session’s most urgent takeaway, however, was the pervasive disconnect between rhetoric and action. The CSW69 Political Declaration by-passed contentious issues such as SRHR and climate justice, opting for vague platitudes over concrete commitments. This evasion drew sharp criticism from civil society groups, who accused policymakers of sacrificing marginalised voices for political compromise.

Renewed Actions at CSW69

The discussions at CSW69 centred on addressing these gaps and finding solutions to accelerate gender equality. The Political Declaration adopted at the session reaffirmed the global commitment to gender equality, recognising the specific needs of adolescent girls and acknowledging the importance of unpaid care work. However, the exclusion of SRHR and the failure to address the climate crisis effectively in the declaration were noted as missed opportunities by many civil society groups. Furthermore, the reliance on voluntary commitments remained a significant point of contention, as critics highlighted that these non-binding pledges do not offer the accountability needed to drive meaningful change.

One of the key outcomes of CSW69 was the endorsement of new accountability mechanisms, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the Commission and ensuring that gender equality commitments are tracked and implemented. Nevertheless, the omission of enforceable targets or dedicated funding underscored the fragility of multilateral agreement. As one youth delegate remarked, “We are told to be patient, but patience is a luxury our planet and our bodies cannot afford.”

Strategies for a Just Society

Firstly, governments must introduce and enforce more robust laws that address gender inequality, including those related to pay equity, parental leave, and violence against women. These legal reforms should be integrated into national legislation and aligned with international standards, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women .

Secondly, we must redirect financial resources from military budgets and fossil fuel subsidies to fund gender-responsive policies is critical. Moreover, debt cancellation for low-income countries would free up vital resources for essential services such as healthcare, education, and social protection for women.

Thirdly, it is crucial to ensure that women from all sectors of society, including marginalised voices while working with boys and men as allies. Intersectional approaches are necessary to address the overlapping forms of discrimination these groups face.

Finally, the intersection of gender and climate change needs to be prioritised in international frameworks, recognising the disproportionate impact of environmental disasters on women. Similarly, SRHR must be reintegrated into global discussions to ensure that women’s reproductive rights are safeguarded.

Sustaining Momentum for Gender Equality

CSW69’s Beijing+30 milestone was a critical moment for reflecting on the progress made since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. While many achievements were celebrated, the session also highlighted the significant work still to be done. To move forward, it is essential to not only reaffirm commitments but to take bold, concrete actions that address the systemic barriers to gender equality. The road ahead demands vigilance. It requires governments to move beyond performative allyship, businesses to reject exploitative practices, and individuals to challenge complacency in their communities. As UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous asserted, “Patriarchy will not negotiate. It must be dismantled.” The marathon continues, and the stakes could not be higher.

Sources

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (adopted 18 December 1979, entered into force 3 September 1981) 1249 UNTS 13

UN Commission on the Status of Women, Political Declaration on the Occasion of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women UN Doc E/CN.6/2025/L.1 (6 March 2025)

UN General Assembly, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (15 September 1995) UN Doc A/CONF.177/20

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