Today marks the UN acclaimed International Women’s Day, this years theme being “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All.” 15 years ago the Fourth World Conference on Women met in Beijing, outlining the most comprehensive policy framework yet in terms of gender equality and development. This week the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is being held to review the implementation of the original Beijing Platform.
Although there have been incredible signs of progress since the 1995 conference, Korean Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the Commission last week stating that, “Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals – peace, security, sustainable development – stand in jeopardy”.
The Secretary-General went on to commend the UN’s work in Burkina Faso which brought electricity to hundreds of villages to save hours of labor, now allowing women time to attend school and local health clinics. This year’s Commission reiterates the idea that through the empowerment of women, development goals can be directly realized.
This year’s Commission is also focusing on the creation of a new single entity within the global community with the goal of promoting women’s rights and well-being worldwide.
-Michelle Leung
Source: UN Women's Watch
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