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UN council adopts statement celebrating 20th anniversary of Beijing Declaration

Xinhua, March 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

The ongoing 28th Human Rights Council session on Wednesday adopted a Presidential Statement marking the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The Presidential Statement by the Council reaffirmed the importance of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action in fostering global gender equality 20 years after it was adopted by the United Nations(UN) in 1995.

In his statement, Joachim Rücker, President of the Human Rights Council, stated that "governments bear the primary responsibility for the achievement of gender equality and that international cooperation has an essential role to play in assisting developing countries in progressing towards the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action".

He also reiterated the pivotal role played by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in terms of achieving set development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

The Platform for Action, which adheres to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, is an agenda of women's empowerment. As such, it is the central policy framework for the achievement of gender equality.

It builds on the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women set out in 1985, and seeks to provide equal participation for women in economic, social, cultural and political decision-making.

Twelve critical areas of concern are outlined, including women and the economy, women and poverty, women and armed conflict and violence against women.

In the past 20 years, governments, civil society groups, NGOs and the private sector have been called upon to instigate societal and legal changes aiming to improve women's lives.

Ren Yisheng, Minister Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of China to UN at Geneva, thanked all participants for their constructive cooperation in a general statement, and said that the Fourth World Conference was an important milestone in the achievement of women's rights.

According to the diplomat, China will co-host and organize, in collaboration with UN Women, a Global Leaders' Meeting on Achieving Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in September 2015. Endti