Three decades after the pledges made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), this briefing uncovers a landscape marred by broken promises and unrealised ambitions from governments. This predicament stems not solely from a lack of political determination but from a deeply entrenched and inequitable economic structure. As global leaders brace themselves to evaluate their commitments to the BPfA, they face the crucial task of resisting the rise of anti-rights factions, whose appropriation of human rights rhetoric poses a grave threat to universal human rights and jeopardises the hard-won achievements of feminist and LGBTQIA+ movements, thereby undermining the very social contract binding states and their citizens.
This briefing highlights the failure of States to honour the commitments of the BPfA, attributing this to both political reluctance and an inherently unequal economic system. In light of an upcoming review of the BPfA, it stresses the importance of resisting anti-rights movements that threaten hard-earned human rights, particularly those of feminist and LGBTQIA+ activists, which risks damaging the social contract with citizens.
In summary, the review of the BPfA is not merely a formality; it demands immediate action against the pervasive anti-rights movements that threaten progress. By rejecting the influence of these actors, world leaders can reclaim the principles of human rights for all individuals. Upholding the gains made by activists in the feminist and LGBTQIA+ spaces is essential for restoring trust in the social contracts that govern societies. Embracing equality is the path forward to true justice.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
