In 2024, a staggering one in four countries report a significant backlash against women’s rights, as detailed in UN Women’s latest publication, “Women’s Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing.” This report highlights a perilous increase in discrimination and a decline in legal protections for women worldwide, exacerbated by economic instability, climate change, and escalating conflicts that hinder advancements in gender equality.
Historically, 87 countries have seen female leadership, yet true gender parity remains elusive. Alarmingly, a woman or girl is murdered every ten minutes by intimate partners or family members. The digital sphere further magnifies these challenges, with AI and social media platforms propagating harmful stereotypes, while women remain underrepresented in tech roles.
The past decade has seen a troubling rise in women and girls exposed to conflict, accompanied by daily threats faced by women’s rights defenders. The consequences of crises such as COVID-19 and rising living costs threaten to reverse any progress made towards equality, signalling dire times ahead.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urgently states, “When women and girls can rise, we all thrive,” emphasising the necessity of rejecting rising misogyny and fostering equality for all. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous notes that despite formidable challenges to gender equality, the call for change from women and girls cannot be ignored.
As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration in 2025, the report celebrates notable achievements, including over 1,500 legal reforms, a significant reduction in maternal mortality, and a surge in women’s parliamentary representation. However, considerable efforts remain to fulfil the 2030 Agenda.
The newly introduced Beijing+30 Action Agenda seeks to expedite progress with focus areas such as ensuring equal access to technology, investing in healthcare and education, and allocating funding to women-led organisations. It also calls for robust legislation to eradicate violence against women, ensuring well-resourced community-based support systems.
In this critical year for women’s rights, UN Women urges commitments from governments and civil sectors to combat the emerging backlash. This is a pivotal moment to reaffirm rights and freedoms for all women and girls.
In 2024, UN Women reveals that one in four countries are witnessing a backlash against women’s rights, with rising discrimination and violence. However, notable advancements have been made since the Beijing Declaration. The newly introduced Beijing+30 Action Agenda prioritises urgent areas for progress, urging governments and organisations to strengthen their commitments to women’s rights.
The report from UN Women unveils a worrying trend of backlash against women’s rights globally, with alarming statistics about violence and discrimination. Yet, it also highlights essential progress and a roadmap for future achievements towards gender equality, advocating for immediate action in key areas. The call for unity and commitment across sectors is vital as we strive to safeguard and elevate women’s rights amid growing challenges.
Original Source: news.un.org
