Beijing at Ten and Beyond - Publication

All documents are in pdf format
-Introduction
-Women and poverty
-Education and training of women
-Women and health
-Violence against women
-Women and armed conflict
-Women and the economy
-Women in power and decision-making
-Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
-Human rights of women
-Women and the media
-Women and the environment
-The girl-child

In 2005, Member States of the United Nations carried out a ten-year review of progress in implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. A report of the Secretary General: Review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly entitled Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century (E/CN.6/2005/2), covered the 12 Critical Areas of Concern and emerging issues identified at the twenty third special session of the General Assembly.

A questionnaire to Member States on implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action at national level provided the main basis for the Secretary-General’s report. The questionnaire focused on a review of major achievements, gaps and challenges, as well as priority areas for further action to ensure full implementation. The Secretariat received 134 responses from Member States. Information contained in other reports, including reports to the CEDAW Committee or inputs provided to reports of the Secretary-General on a range of issues, were also used as sources for the report of the Secretary-General.

As the outcome of the ten-year review, the Commission adopted a Declaration which reaffirmed the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly; welcomed the progress made while stressing the remaining obstacles and challenges; and pledged to undertake further action to ensure full and accelerated implementation. The Declaration further stressed that full and effective implementation is essential for achieving the internationally-agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and recognized that the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the fulfillment of the commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women are mutually reinforcing in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Declaration called on the United Nations system, international and regional organizations, all sectors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as all women and men, to fully commit themselves and to intensify their contributions to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly.

On the basis of the Member States’ responses to the questionnaire and the report of the Secretary-General, as well as other reports and materials prepared by UN entities and other international and regional organizations in the context of the ten-year review, the Division for the Advancement of Women prepared compilation of major findings on each of the 12 Critical Areas of Concern in the Platform for Action in order to guide the work of Member States, the United Nations and NGOs and other stakeholders in accelerating implementation of the Platform for Action in accordance with the Declaration adopted at the 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

This report: “Beijing at Ten and Beyond” is prepared as an electronic publication only. It is presented under the 12 Critical Areas of Concern. The report focuses on achievements, gaps and challenges and further actions required for full implementation. Lessons learned and good or promising practices, for example policies, legislation, programmes and other initiatives, are provided in boxes. The report is intended for use by Member States, UN entities, academics, civil society and other stakeholders as relevant.