The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at 30: Five Things You Should Know 

Thirty years ago, Equality Now was there when the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action became a historic milestone for gender equality, committing governments worldwide to remove barriers to the realization of women’s human rights. However, decades later,  discrimination in the law, and in practice, still persists, and progress is stalling.

As we mark Beijing+30, here are five critical things you need to know about its impact, and why it still matters today.

1. The Beijing Platform for Action Was a Bold Global Commitment to Gender Equality

Adopted at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was a groundbreaking global agreement. It outlined 12 critical areas for action, including:

• Ending violence against women
• Ensuring women’s full participation in decision-making
• Promoting economic empowerment and legal equality

189 governments signed on, making it the most comprehensive commitment to gender equality at the time.

Despite progress, women and girls still face systemic discrimination worldwide. Sexist laws continue to limit women’s and girls’ rights in all areas of life, including family and economic, and the right to be free from violence.

2. Words Matter—But Deeds Are What Create Change

While governments made bold commitments in 1995, many have failed to follow through on legal and policy reforms. Despite this:

• 49 countries still have no laws protecting women from domestic violence.
• No country has full legal equality and 37 countries grant women less than half the legal rights of men.
• Child marriage is still legal in multiple countries, including most US states.

Legal equality isn’t just a goal—it’s the foundation of human rights. The upcoming Beijing+30 edition of our Words & Deeds report exposes where governments are failing and calls for immediate action.

3. The Global Backlash Against Women’s Rights is Growing

Despite some progress, we’re witnessing an alarming rollback on gender equality and attacks on civil society and the rule of law in many parts of the world.

• Reproductive rights under attack: In the U.S., Poland, and other countries, abortion bans are restricting bodily autonomy.
• Sexual violence laws imperiled: In Bolivia and Uruguay bills are being proposed to weaken protections for women from violence using “anti-men” rhetoric.
•  LGBTQ+ rights threatened: Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and other countries are passing new discriminatory laws.
• Rights to education, movement, and expression violated: In Afghanistan, Iran, and other countries harsher laws are being introduced further jeopardizing women and girls’ participation and presence in public life.

Rights gained should be permanent— but governments are going back on their word and must be held accountable for their deeds. The Beijing+30 review is an opportunity to stop the erosion of progress and fight back against discrimination, especially in the law.

4. The United Nations and Civil Society Must Amplify the Pressure

The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in March 2025 is a crucial moment to push for real legal reforms. We need action from:

•  Governments to repeal or amend discriminatory laws and enforce protections for all women and girls.
• Media & Advocates to highlight legal gaps and call out inaction.
• Civil society organizations to mobilize public support and put pressure on policymakers.

CSW69 provides a global stage to demand urgent reforms. Governments must be pressured and supported to follow through on their legal obligations and commitments.

5. You Can Be Part of the Solution

Want to help drive change? Here’s what you can do:

• Listen and learn: Catch up on our podcast We Change the Rules to learn more about the Beijing Conference in 1995, and how it’s still relevant to the work toward full legal equality today.
• Amplify the message: Share this article and our research on social media.
• Call on governments to act: Engage with policymakers in your country and demand legal reforms.

The Beijing Declaration set a bold vision for gender equality, but 30 years later that vision is far from reality. As we approach CSW69 and the launch of our Beijing+30 report, the time to act is NOW.

📢 Join the movement. Demand legal equality. Let’s turn words into deeds.

Equality Now works with partners around the world to push for legal equality and an end to sex- and gender-discriminatory laws. Following the release of our 2020 report, Words and Deeds: Holding Governments Accountable in the Beijing +25 Review Process, and a series of update briefs in 2023 and 2024, we have continued to work in partnership with organizations around the globe to reform sex-discriminatory laws and ensure that women and girls can enjoy full legal equality – because gender equality improves everyone’s lives.