In 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the UN Commission was adopted and remains the most progressive blueprint for gender equality. The ACT Alliance Global Gender Justice Programme mobilised members to collectively participate in the UN Commission on the Status of Women, including co-hosting 5 Side Events with 12 government partners, 4 UN agencies/programmes and 20+ civil society organisations, including many faith-based actors.
The political declaration was successfully adopted, whereby Member States affirm the importance of the Beijing Platform for Action. The final text reaffirmed human rights and made references to reforming discriminatory laws and practices, transforming gender stereotypes and negative social norms, and addressing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. You can read our statement by ACT members on the outcome of CSW69 here.
Despite progress being made for gender equality over the last 30 years, it often remains too slow, fragile, and at risk of being pushed back. We echo the calls of the Women Right’s Caucus that ‘Progress is not permanent unless it is protected’. We lament that explicit references to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights could not be agreed upon by Member States. SRHR remains critical for achieving the health pillar of the Beijing Platform for Action.
When working to transform negative norms, we will push back the backlash through consistent and contextualized dialogue to create common understanding.Kidist Belayneh NCA Ethiopia
During CSW, ACT Alliance with ten of our members, launched a new report on the role of faith transforming social norms to advance gender equality. The report includes 30 case studies from ACT Alliance members and partners, who are provoking catalytic change in the critical areas of the Beijing Platform for Action, including health, violence against women, human rights and the girl child. You can download the report here.
Central to many of the discussions was the adverse impact that the current shifts in funding will have on women and girls in all their diversity. As our member, Joanna Lija, during a high-level event at CSW69, we need funders to ‘fund the change you want to see’.
Quotes from ACT Alliance members:
“When working to transform negative norms, we will push back the backlash through consistent and contextualized dialogue to create common understanding.”
Kidist Belayneh, NCA Ethiopia
“We must work together and push for progress so that the next generation of women and girls – in all their diversity – will have more rights than we do. I call upon governments, philanthropy and other kinds of funders to fund the change you want to see.”
Joanna Lilja, Act Church of Sweden
We must work together and push for progress so that the next generation of women and girls – in all their diversity - will have more rights than we do. I call upon governments, philanthropy and other kinds of funders to fund the change you want to see.Joanna Lilja Act Church of Sweden
