UN conference calls for renewed, bold efforts to make gender equality commitments a reality in Asia and the Pacific | Press Releases | Asia

Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Beijing+30 Review It opened today where more than 1,200 delegates from governments, civil society, youth groups, the private sector and academia gathered to discuss progress and priority actions to support gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The three-day conference, jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and UN Women, is being held in Bangkok ahead of next year’s 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This landmark international commitment continues to shape policies towards gender equality.

“We must ensure that women and girls are positioned to succeed where new opportunities arise,” ESCAP Secretary General Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said in her opening remarks, adding that women must be at the forefront of issues that define our shared future, such as climate action. and digital transformation.

“These are the megatrends of our time and without a focus on gender equality, they risk deepening inequalities. We must provide women with the tools, training and resources to lead in these areas to ensure they not only participate but also lead the solutions of tomorrow,” Alisjahbana said.

“Looking ahead, the Beijing+30 Review offers us a unique opportunity to mobilize political will and public participation to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

“Let us seize this moment to recommit to the principles of the Beijing Platform for Action to ensure that women and girls in our region are at the center of our economic, social and political agendas. “We must continue to move forward with bold actions that will not only tackle current challenges but also pave the way for future generations to thrive.”

Today, more girls are going to school in Asia and the Pacific than ever before. Maternal deaths have fallen by a third since 2000 and women have gained greater access to leadership positions in politics, business and decision-making.

Despite these successes in recent years, progress across the region remains slow and uneven. Critical bottlenecks remain: Deeply entrenched discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes; high levels of gender-based violence; disproportionate unpaid care and housework; and limited investments in gender equality.

“Increasing investment, political will and a response to increasing attacks on gender equality and human rights around the world are crucial. Achieving gender equality requires the active participation and commitment of all stakeholders to work together to eliminate systemic barriers and promote equal opportunities for all,” said HE Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand.

“Our presence here today is a reminder that although we have made significant progress, there is still much work ahead of us. Together, let’s move towards a future where no woman or girl is left behind and gender equality is truly accepted and realized in Asia and the Pacific,” she said of the conference.

Shahrzad Koofi Ahmadi, representing more than 800 non-governmental organizations in the region, highlighted the effects of the recent crises: “Women and girls, especially those who face various forms of discrimination, pay the greatest price. “These pose a serious threat to previously agreed normative frameworks and commitments to gender equality and the fulfillment of women’s rights in the region.”

Meanwhile, youth representative Aizhan Dzhanaeva called on countries to close the gender digital divide and address technology-facilitated gender-based violence, hate speech and misinformation.

ESCAP and UN Women also published a new report at the conference Charting New Paths in Gender Equality and Empowerment: Asia–Pacific Regional Report on the Beijing+30 Review. The report highlights the challenges ahead, as well as forward-looking strategies and solutions under six thematic areas: poverty reduction and human capital development; shared prosperity and decent work; protection from gender-based violence; meaningful participation and gender-sensitive governance; peaceful and just societies; and gender and environment.

The report also highlights three key actions to strengthen the foundation for accelerating progress in gender equality across all sectors, including transforming gender norms; strengthening the collection and use of gender data; and promoting gender-smart investments and cross-sector partnerships.

On the sidelines of the conference, a range of independently organized events, exhibitions and performances will take place, including a special event on the care economy, as well as a digital art exhibition and a GPT gender robot chat trained to answer gender-related questions.