Roundup: UN members agree on more efforts for better gender equality, women's empowerment

The UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) on Friday concluded its 59th annual session with an agreement by UN member states on steps to boost its efforts to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.

Governments attending the meeting at UN Headquarters in New York agreed on new working methods for the commission to continue setting standards related to the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and strengthen its role in global policy-making and coordination of actions around implementation.

All the government representatives affirmed the commission's central contributions to shaping the landmark post-2015 sustainable development agenda slated for adoption by a global summit of heads of state and government in September.

As the primary UN body for advancing intergovernmental commitments to gender equality and follow-up to the Beijing Platform, the UN commission will further align its work to the UN Economic and Social Council and the new UN High-level Political Forum.

This will strengthen efforts to integrate gender equality across all global debates and actions on sustainable development.

Since a large number of government ministers now attend the commission, member states agreed to create a ministerial segment starting at the next session in 2016.

It is expected to heighten the visibility of current concerns, and offer opportunities to demonstrate high-level political commitment to accelerated progress towards gender equality, empowerment and the full realization of women's human rights.

Congratulating the member states and the UN system for "a forceful, dynamic and forward-looking session," UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in her speech, "We are all aware that there are no shortcuts to realizing gender equality, the empowerment of women and the human rights of women and girls."

"Based on the road we have travelled, we know that there are more challenges ahead of us. We know we must continue to work, systematically and relentlessly, to bring about transformation in our families, societies, economies, and political and public spaces," she said.

Governments agreed to sharpen focus of UNCSW's annual review theme. Moving forward, case studies will demonstrate lessons learned in implementing commitments made in previous Commission sessions.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to issue a targeted report on progress on the theme, drawing on national data and other inputs.

The process will help close gaps between promises made and measurable change, and offer concrete evidence of how international norms can be translated to make a major difference in the lives of women and girls.

The 59th session included a range of high-level roundtables and panels on critical topics ranging from scaled-up financing for gender equality, to responsibilities of men and boys, to improved gender-disaggregated data.

Discussions on lessons from the Millennium Development Goals, a set of eight anti-poverty targets to be reached by its deadline of 2015, will further shape the post-2015 development agenda.

As the commission opened its 59th session here on March 9, delegates heard a keynote address calling for a revival of the "spirit of Beijing" to tackle problems that have persisted since the adopted in 1995 of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on gender equality and women's empowerment.

The significance of the Beijing Declaration also featured prominently in the address by Song Xiuyan, vice chairperson of China's State Council Working Committee on Women and Children, vice president and first member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federationice, who told delegates that the Declaration represented the international community's "solemn commitment for equality, development and peace."

Since it was adopted in 1995, women's rights and interests had been put under better legal protection, women gained more opportunities to seek education and achieve employment and more attention had been given to vulnerable women groups, she said.

"The UN and its relevant agencies have made tremendous efforts to this end," she said, noting that the Beijing Declaration represented the "most important policy document" for women's progress.

"We should cherish the legacy of the Beijing conference."

Nevertheless, she said, as the 20th anniversary fast approaches, the international community must focus on the remaining difficulties and challenges regarding women's development.

"Let us work together, hand in hand for further advancement of women's status and for the better future of all," said Song. "Let us continue to take actions and never relent until our common goals become a reality."

Among a series of summits at UN Headquarters in September, China and UN Women will co-host a global women summit, said Song.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will jointly sign the invitations of the summit to leaders of all UN member states," she said.

The summit is aimed to enhance the implementation of and Platform for Action, promote new political commitments in achieving post-2015 agenda in women development and find new financial support, said Song, adding that President Xi will attend and address the summit.

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of the the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing," Song said. "Nations around the world have made positive progress in promoting gender equality, empowerment and development of women though they also face challenges. The international community needs to make new starts and commit new actions." Enditem