The United Nations convened global leaders today to commemorate three decades since the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, where 189 governments adopted a groundbreaking platform for gender equality. The high-level General Assembly meeting reviewed progress on 12 critical areas – from economic empowerment to environmental justice – while addressing persistent gaps in women's rights worldwide.
Secretary-General António Guterres noted "measurable advances" since 1995, including a 38% reduction in maternal mortality and increased girls' school enrollment. However, he warned that "patriarchy is far from defeated," citing that 2.4 billion women of working age still lack equal economic opportunities.
Asia's evolving role featured prominently in discussions. Japan highlighted its womenomics policies boosting female workforce participation to 74%, while India showcased digital education initiatives reaching 50 million rural girls. Southeast Asian delegates emphasized post-pandemic recovery programs targeting women-led SMEs.
Civil society representatives urged faster action on violence prevention, noting that 1 in 3 women globally experience physical abuse. The meeting concluded with commitments to accelerate implementation through public-private partnerships and AI-driven policy tools.
