30 Years On, Gender Equality Still Lags

Thirty years ago, world leaders adopted a historic blueprint aimed at achieving gender equality. However, even after three decades, significant progress in improving the status of women in society remains elusive. According to a United Nations report released on Thursday, violence against women and girls continues to persist globally, negatively impacting both society and the economy.

The report highlights that in the past year alone, protests against women’s rights took place in one-third of the world’s countries. While some progress has been made in areas like girls’ education and family planning, violence against women remains a major concern. The report reveals that every 10 minutes, a girl is murdered by her own family members or relatives. Additionally, incidents of sexual violence against women have increased by 50% compared to 2022. This report comes ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. It also notes that only 87 countries have ever had a female leader.

Notably, in 1995, the Beijing Women’s Conference was held, with participation from 189 countries. A 150-page declaration was adopted at the conference, outlining steps to promote gender equality worldwide. It advocated for measures to combat poverty, prevent gender-based violence, and ensure women’s leadership roles in business, government, and peace negotiations. The declaration also emphasized reproductive health and rights for women.

A review of that declaration now shows that, while significant progress has been made in gender equality and women’s rights, women around the world continue to face numerous challenges.