#the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

[coochiequeens]

March 05, 2025 • By Nathalie Ebead

On 8 March, as the world observes International Women's Day and marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, it is essential to recognize the key roles women continue to play in Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement since the illegal 2021 military coup.

The military coup precipitated an unprecedented human rights and humanitarian crisis  in Myanmar severely impacting women and girls. 

In 2025, women and girls in Myanmar continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing crises and conflict in Myanmar: 10.4 million women and girls need humanitarian assistance, including 7.1 million women and 3.3 million girls. Women-headed households are 1.2 times more likely than male-headed households to live in poverty, and families with more children face higher risks.  Women and girls deal with a host of crisis-driven hardships, including the risk of forced conscription, early and child marriage, human trafficking, and gender-based violence. 

Deep-rooted patriarchal norms continue to relegate women to secondary roles in decision-making, making it difficult for them to participate in legislative and constitution drafting in Myanmar’s post-coup transition. Structural barriers such as a lack of legal protections, discriminatory practices, and economic barriers further hinder women’s full participation. 

Despite these challenges, women in Myanmar have shown exceptional resilience by stepping into leadership roles in politics, combat and the humanitarian field, driving grassroots activism, and advocating for equality and justice in their communities, contributing to a vision of a federal democratic union as outlined in the Federal Democracy Charter (FDC) . The FDC’s human rights provisions include gender equality and children’s rights, and a prohibition of discrimination on any grounds, including race, faith, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. The FDC also aims to build inclusive state institutions, establishing a Women Rights and Gender Equality Commission and including a 30 percent quota for women at all levels of decision-making in Myanmar’s future democratic institutions.

Women MPs and Ministers: Shaping the Future of Governance

Women MPs elected in the 2020 general elections joined the pro-democracy movement in 2021, establishing the Myanmar Women Parliamentary Network (MWPN) , a coalition of more than 100 female MPs from various ethnic groups and all states and regions of Myanmar, including those in exile and from conflict-affected areas, as a platform for collective action to strengthen women’s political participation. Women MPs continue to work as advocates for policy and legal frameworks that support gender equality and to participate in governance on state and regional level. Their increased outreach efforts to their constituents since 2023 in the form of in person townhall meetings in liberated areas address core issues such as women’s rights, service delivery including healthcare access and interim education, security, human rights protection and the prevention of gender-based violence, thereby promoting a more inclusive democracy that reflects the needs of all citizens.

In their outreach to the international community, the MWPN has worked to expand its network and relations with regional MPs and in global fora such as the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), organising regional exchanges on the challenges of women’s political participation, and amplifying the voices of Myanmar’s women. 

Watch the video by Aye Mya Mya Myo, the Chairperson of Myanmar’s Women Parliamentary Network (MWPN) on the challenges and work of the network:   

"If we were to mention the greatest challenge under Myanmar's current military rule, it is that some believe that the role of women and gender equality is no longer important. I, however, truly believe that women's leadership is the key to building a peaceful society. However, we cannot do it alone: we need to join forces and work together, unite and collaborate more effectively. This is crucial for women in Myanmar to be able to take on more leadership roles and work towards a just and equal society." Aye Mya Mya Myo, Chairperson MWPN

Women have also taken up ministerial roles within the National Unity Government (NUG),  leading key Ministries such as education, health, and social welfare as well as the Ministry of Women, Youth, and Children Affairs. Furthermore, the Interim Gender Equality Policy (2024-2026) was recently adopted by the government, prioritizing Myanmar’s efforts to ensure gender-responsive governance, strengthen women’s political participation, economic empowerment and social protection, advance women, peace, and security efforts, and secure a better response to gender-based violence.

Grassroots Leadership and Peacebuilding

Women in Myanmar have emerged as leaders of grassroots movements, which are essential to the fabric of the pro-democracy struggle. The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) has seen significant contributions from women who organize protests, share resources, and provide essential humanitarian support to communities impacted by the coup. 

The voices of civil society and disadvantaged groups, particularly women, youth, and ethnic minorities, must be heard and integrated in the political processes shaping a future Myanmar. Practical strategies to promote coalition building and financial support to empower women are essential, including creating supportive networks and training programs to allow them to effectively participate in political processes and to deliver humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable. The sudden and significant loss of funding that has already occurred this year will severely impact the ability of women’s organisations and the CDM to continue providing life-saving assistance and to participate in shaping a future democratic Myanmar.

A Vision for the Future

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is vital to acknowledge the sacrifices and achievements of women in Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement. Their courage, leadership, and relentless advocacy not only inspire future generations but also frame a vision for a just and equitable society.

Moving forward, it is essential that the international community continues to support the efforts of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement to make the necessary structural changes for women's inclusion and representation. Strategies must be implemented that prioritize women's voices in all areas of decision-making, from community-level initiatives to national governance combined with financial support, resources, and capacity-building for women-led advocacy initiatives.

To read more about women’s challenges of political participation since the coup and proposed strategies to promote gender equality, please go to Inclusion and Gender Equality in Post-Coup Myanmar: Strategies for Democratic Constitutional Reform – Perspectives and Key Takeaways. For further International IDEA resources on gender equality and Myanmar please visit:

Preventing Gender Based Violence in Myanmar A Guide to being an effective advocate for gender equality International IDEA Gender Quota Database Constitution Assessment for Women’s Equality Women in Conflict and Peace

[warningsine]

New York, 25 November 2024 – On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November, the report Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides by UN Women and UNODC reveals that femicide—the most extreme form of violence against women and girls—remains pervasive globally.

Globally, 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2023. 60 per cent of these homicides –51,100- were committed by an intimate partner or a family member. The data shows that 140 women and girls die every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative, which means one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes. 

In 2023, Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide, followed by the Americas, and then by Oceania. In Europe and the Americas, most women killed in the domestic sphere (64 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively) were victims of intimate partners, while elsewhere, family members were the primary perpetrators.

“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable. We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, it is time for world leaders to UNiTE and act with urgency, recommit and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all", highlighted UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous. 

“The new femicide report highlights the urgent need for strong criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable, while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms,” said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC. “At the same time, we must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women. As this year’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign begins, we must act now to protect women’s lives.”

The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2025, coupled with the fast-approaching five-year deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, presents a critical opportunity to rally all stakeholders to take decisive and urgent action for women’s rights and gender equality. This includes ending impunity and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls. 

[emmynet24]

Akmodel Group MD Congratulates Women on International Women's Day 2025

Akmodel Group MD, Builder (Dr.) Abdulhakeem Odegade, has joined other well-wishers to celebrate Women on International Women’s Day 2025. 2025 is a significant year in the global fight for gender equality and women’s empowerment, marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This global movement celebrates women’s achievements and advocates for their rights. This…

[okurightsmatter]

Reference notes on women and girls with disabilities and gender-disability-ageing intersectionality

Harilyn Rousso, feminist, rights activist, psychotherapist and artist with cerebral palsy (1946 – )

2025 is the year of Beijing+30: the international commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). Government and civil society review of progress and gaps in the 12 critical areas of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is under way.

[sageglobalresponse]

Africa needs greater inclusion of women in peace and security processes

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) have called for greater inclusion of women in peace and security processes if Africa is to meet its development aspirations and enjoy meaningful stability.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, OSAA and the APRM, are advocating for the full implementation of UNSCR 1325 in Africa, with women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in sustainable development goals (SDGs) planning and domestication at the local, national and regional levels through the effective monitoring and evaluation of SDG 16 within the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs (2020-2030).

The heads of the two entities, Ms. Cristina Duarte from OSAA and Prof. Eddy Maloka from the APRM, acknowledged progress made towards women’s inclusion to date, but emphasized that more still needs to be done. UNSCR 1325 was adopted in October 2000 and exclusively recognizes women’s right to have a leading role in achieving international peace and security.

Among the milestones achieved by African countries in the last 20 years, women’s representation in national parliaments has increased, especially with the African Union (AU) 50:50 parity campaign and the AU gender policy in 2010. Rwanda has exceeded this target, with 64% of parliamentary seats occupied by women, followed by the Seychelles, Senegal, South Africa and Namibia (from 40-44%).

However, the share of parliamentary seats at the regional average remains low at only 22.4% for women and 77.6% for men, with a slightly lower average for ministerial positions occupied by women.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, governance, gender, peace and development have become more interlinked than ever before. The pandemic has scaled back gains, with women and girls being disproportionately affected by its socio-economic impact.

A recent report by the APRM Secretariat on Africa’s response to COVID-19, sets women’s inclusivity in governance, and the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), as some of the urgent prerequisites to curb the pandemic. Further, providing skills, resources and funds for women, especially in fragile and conflict areas, is likely to help avoid further human catastrophes and accelerate recovery and building back better.

“One of the significant lessons learned from the novel coronavirus is that societies led by women in leadership display a sense of transparency and accountability, essential to mitigate disasters,” Ms. Duarte said, while commending the leadership of the 13 African female health ministers who are leading the continent’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic at national level.

Despite the notable achievements by African women, their contribution to the four pillars of UNSCR 1325, namely conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding, still needs to be strengthened.

For instance, in 16 African peace mediation processes between 1992 to 2011, only two had 5% female signatories, and only three of 16 processes had female led mediators, according to the AU Special Envoy on women, peace, and security.

In addition, African countries are lagging behind in developing or adapting National Action Plans (NAPs) on UNSCR 1325. The APRM study on “Governance, Gender and Peacebuilding” reveals that in some African regions, only a quarter of countries have NAPs on UNSCR 1325.

“The conflicts in Africa necessitate women’s involvement in the mentioned four pillars, especially conflict prevention. Strengthening the role of women is crucial for the delivery of the SDGs, in line with the goals and aspirations of Agenda 2063 and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Prof. Maloka said.

Although the state-based conflicts slightly declined, the rise of non-state armed conflicts during the last decade imposes severe implications for the African regional security. By 2018, Africa had 14 of the top 20 most fragile states worldwide. Adding to poverty, inequality, and social challenges in many African countries, mobilising youth – including females – to extremist and terrorist groups became a phenomenal trend.

APRM and OSAA applauded UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s Appeal for a Global Ceasefire and implored AU, UN organs and related bodies to assist African countries with necessary funds to raise women’s skills, resources, and infrastructure in fragile and conflict states in Africa. This is in line with OSAA’s mandate on global advocacy on Africa’s strategic priorities.

The two entities urged AU Members States, Civil Society Organizations, the private sector, academia and multilateral organisations to strengthen their collaboration towards fostering the adoption of gender-governance standards; Strengthening capacity and women’s resilience; Disseminating best practices, and Monitoring implementation of governance targets through the effective implementation of SDG 5 and SDG 16.

2020 is historical as it commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, and the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325. It is also the African Union’s year of Silencing the Guns, the year of maturity for the African Women Decade (2010-2020) and the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action (Beijing 25+).

Therefore, 2020 is, without a doubt, a year for the celebration of women and peace. This year gives prominence to key instruments and SDGs entailing goals such as: SDG 5 on Gender Equality, SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions. SDG 16 meets Aspirations three and four of Agenda 2063, which aim to promote “good governance and the rule of law in Africa” and achieve “A Peaceful and Secure Africa”. In the same manner, it is worth noting that the Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 calls for “An Africa Whose Development is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by African People, especially its Women and Youth, and caring for Children.”

Over the past two decades, African Women achieved various milestones of empowerment at political and economic levels. These achievements are alluded to by the African Union Constitutive Act (2000), the Maputo Protocol (2003), and the Kampala Protocol (2009). The framework also comprises of The Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) (2004), which led to the appointment of Women Special Envoys and The Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance (2002). The latter established the APRM as a tool for peer-review and sharing best experiences to promote good governance among AU countries.

As an early warning tool, the APRM as Africa��s home-grown organisation for promoting good governance was designated at the 30th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly held in January 2018, in Addis Ababa. In March 2020, inspired by the AU theme of Silencing the Guns, the 914th meeting of the Peace and Security Council reiterated the role of the APRM towards the Peace and Security Agenda.

The APRM coordinates with the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the Africa Governance Architecture (AGA) towards promoting the Governance, Peace and Security Agenda while encouraging a greater women’s participation in the process.

[whittlebaggett8]

China’s Long, Hot Summer of Censorship

Each individual year in June, China’s censors go into overdrive to prevent citizens from discussing, commemorating, or studying about the pro-democracy protests that took position throughout the country in 1989 and the brutal armed forces action that introduced them to an close.

But this calendar year, the combination of the 30th anniversary of all those occasions, an escalating trade war with the United States, huge anti-governing administration protests in Hong Kong, and the availability of a much more technologically state-of-the-art info-manage process has pushed the Chinese Communist Party’s censorship endeavours to unprecedented extremes. With even far more sensitive anniversaries approaching in July, the escalation is possible to continue on.

New Updates to Current Censorship

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Not astonishingly, the nationwide world wide web filtering process recognised as the Excellent Firewall expanded its reach this month. Inside of the 1st 7 days of June, the internet sites of 12 important worldwide information retailers from 5 different nations around the world had been blocked, such as CNN, the Washington Publish, the Guardian, the Intercept, the Toronto Star, The Age in Australia, and New Zealand’s Newsroom. These joined other individuals like the New York Periods, Reuters, and the Wall Avenue Journal, which have lengthy been inaccessible within just China.

In the meantime, the country’s most preferred social media apps — Sina Weibo and Tencent’s WeChat — deployed novel technologies and penalties to avoid information about the June 4 anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre from circulating. Censors at top rated Chinese tech providers explained to Reuters that the artificial intelligence utilized to detect and delete banned content material had arrived at “unprecedented degrees of accuracy.” People caught communicating about the occasions of 1989 risked currently being shut out of their WeChat accounts to log back in, they would have to admit that they had “spread destructive rumors” and supply a face print, as BBC journalist Stephen McDonell skilled 1st-hand. Manya Koetse notes that on Weibo there was extra airtight censorship this 12 months encompassing the phrase “Tiananmen” by itself, and not only in mix with dates or conditions that would url it to 1989. In yet another initial, Apple reportedly eradicated several Chinese-language podcasts from its on line shop in China, influencing 1 of the few Apple products and services in the region that had until then prevented censorship.

Expansion to Apolitical Areas

Even fairly dated enjoyment written content has not escaped the censors’ awareness. In the most notable case in point, key Chinese streaming platforms have eradicated songs by rock star Li Zhi considering that April, and the musician’s Weibo account, WeChat general public account, and Douban musician website page have been deleted. Though Li’s current new music has been apolitical or even professional-govt, a few more mature pieces alluded to the 1989 protests. In the run-up to the June anniversary, regulators purchased the deletion of any audio or online video information associated to these music.

A extra surprising move has been the complete or partial suspension of are living-streaming, relationship, and superstar gossip products and services owing to “system upgrades” or “maintenance,” all commencing in May and scheduled to close in June. At minimum nine these instances have been documented, together with Momo (a hook-up and are living streaming app with 113 million buyers), movie-sharing internet site Bilibili (100 million users), China’s greatest dating application Tantan (90 million end users), LGBT social media app Blued (27 million end users), and Dingtalk, a enterprise conversation app. In most cases the company was not entirely shuttered, with suspensions focusing rather on functions that permit true-time communication and could possibly be tricky for censors to hold up with — this sort of as “bullet chat” commentary that operates along a online video. YY, a well-known stay-streaming system, declared this kind of restriction in late May, shortly just after including in excess of 300 new keywords and phrases related to June 4 and Hong Kong to its blacklist.

The companies’ statements explained that their efforts were initiated at the behest of “the related govt authority,” an apparent reference to the strong Cyber Administration of China (CAC). They experienced small decision but to comply with the agency’s calls for. The economical information provider Refinitiv, which distributes Reuters articles by way of Eikon terminals, was reportedly warned by CAC officials that it could lose its news dissemination license if it refused to omit articles relevant to the Tiananmen anniversary. In a indication of the regime’s broader stress and anxiety about the economic climate and involved topics, on June 10 the CAC reportedly requested the suspension of the web page and cell app of Wallstreet.cn, a monetary news aggregator that experienced garnered an estimated 180 million world consumers.

In reality, the jump in censorship more than the previous month is perhaps most outstanding for the sheer scale of the media styles and person bases affected. Hundreds of millions of men and women have professional a sudden decline in their means to obtain or share info, even if in some instances they continue being unaware of the motives at the rear of the restriction.

Short-term or Long-lasting?

Provided that the upgraded censorship looks to have been brought on largely by the Tiananmen anniversary, 1 may possibly assume that most of the new steps are short term. But the evidence suggests that this kind of an assumption would be a slip-up.

Freedom House’s assessments of the 12 international news web-sites that have been blocked in early June — carried out on GreatFire.org’s URL analyzer — exhibit that aside from CNN, all remained blocked as of June 18. Other innovations deployed in excess of the past thirty day period, such as social media filtering aided by artificial intelligence, can be envisioned to expand fairly than deal in the coming decades. Any details about problematic WeChat consumers that was gathered in the course of this delicate period will be retained for long run reference.

And if China’s censors were being busy in June, the thirty day period of July will be no picnic either. July 1 marks the anniversary of Hong Kong’s transfer from British to Chinese rule, which could effortlessly prompt an additional round of mass protests. Then there is July 5, the 10th anniversary of ethnic violence in the Xinjiang location that led to a harsh and ongoing crackdown on its huge Muslim population. The incredibly subsequent working day, July 6, is the Dalai Lama’s birthday, and July 13 is the next anniversary of the death of democracy advocate and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo. Finally there is July 20, the 20th anniversary of the Communist Party’s ban on the Falun Gong non secular exercise and the commencing of a significant and usually violent marketing campaign to eradicate it.

Contrary to the more traditionally centered June 4 anniversary, some of July’s delicate dates are carefully tied to current activities, which includes the most egregious human rights abuses and most significant examples of dissent taking put in China nowadays. Around the past 7 days by itself, news emerged that a popular Uyghur author experienced died due to detention in a Xinjiang “re-education” camp, an independent inquiry in London concluded that prisoners of conscience in China — which includes Falun Gong and most likely Uyghur detainees — have been killed so that their organs can be employed in transplant functions, and the Hong Kong federal government suspended its controversial extradition invoice just after mass protests.

Most persons in China may perhaps be fully unaware of these developments, even although they are creating intercontinental headlines and could have serious repercussions for the region. Inspite of this data isolation, however, hope is not shed. Numerous accounts printed this month by younger Chinese reveal how they learned the reality about the gatherings of 1989 and spotlight some of the cracks in the regime’s censorship process. Data from at least two circumvention equipment present an improve in customers from China in June as opposed with the past thirty day period, about the two the June 4 anniversary and the massive protests in Hong Kong.

Men and women in China evidently want to know what the governing administration is not telling them. As the coming month propels Beijing’s facts command attempts to even better extremes, global actors should be ready to support common individuals’ quest for entry to uncensored information.

Sarah Cook dinner is a senior investigate analyst for East Asia at Freedom Dwelling and director of its China Media Bulletin.

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[okurightsmatter]

Reference notes on women and girls with disabilities and gender-disability-ageing intersectionality

Disabled, female and proud.

Harilyn Rousso, feminist, rights activist, psychotherapist and artist with cerebral palsy (1946 – )

2025 is the year of Beijing+30: the international commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). Government and civil society review of progress and gaps in the 12 critical areas of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is under way.

Bangkok is the venue for three major Asia-Pacific meetings pertaining to the Beijing+30 review:

Young Feminist Forum (16 November 2024);

Asia-Pacific CSO Forum (17-18 November 2024);

Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review, Conference (19-21 November 2024).

The combined outcomes of the Young Feminist Forum and the Asia-Pacific CSO Forum are expected to be presented to the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference.

The outcome of the Ministerial Conference will serve as the Asia-Pacific input to the deliberations at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2025.

For the first time, women with disabilities are engaging more visibly in the Beijing review process, including through, among others, membership in the Beijing +30 Civil Society Steering Committee for Asia-Pacific, as well as presentations in the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review and in a side event. Efforts are under way to collate inputs from women and girls with disabilities for crafting an Asia-Pacific declaration by/for women and girls with disabilities.

There are also other forthcoming events that women and girls with disabilities and our allies could leverage for strategic advocacy.

To support those who are exploring the possible use of these opportunities for strategic advocacy, The OKU Rights Matter Project team has prepared reference notes on women and girls with disabilities and gender-disability-ageing intersectionality