2025: A Year of Action and Orientation
Delegates at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held at the UN Headquarters, have unanimously adopted a Political Declaration reaffirming their dedication to advancing the rights and empowerment of women and girls worldwide. The declaration acknowledges that 2025 presents new opportunities to enhance efforts in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Member States have emphasized the importance of gender equality for sustainable development. UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bacchus, stated that in a time when progress in gender equality is being challenged, the world has united to support women and girls everywhere. The adoption of the declaration reflects this solidarity, as reported by the UN News Service.
The declaration also reaffirms the international community’s commitment to increasing women’s participation in peace and security matters. It highlights the necessity of involving women, including in leadership roles, in efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, as well as in post-conflict peacebuilding.
During the session, a new action program for achieving gender equality was introduced. The program builds upon the provisions of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, focusing on goals such as poverty eradication, ending violence, promoting equal decision-making power, ensuring women’s voices in peace and security issues, and advocating for climate justice.
In a video message to the session, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized the urgency of action in 2025. Women and girls continue to face significant challenges, including ongoing armed conflicts and pervasive violence against women. Mohammed urged participants to seize the opportunities available and ensure that their commitments lead to lasting impact.
As the world marks progress in advancing gender equality and women’s rights, the adoption of the Political Declaration at the Commission on the Status of Women signals a renewed commitment to empowering women and girls globally.
