Olga Algayerova, Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary, UNECE, opened the meeting on October 29, pointing out the need for more women’s political involvement and participation in decision making: “Let us work together so every girl and woman can live in safety and dignity.” Gender equality is both an objective and a driver of sustainable development. Despite significant progress and lessons learned, there are still many structural barriers. We are here to assess progress, identify challenges, and develop strategies to enhance progress.
Asa Regner, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, announced that 51 of the 56 ECE member states sent national Beijing +25 reports (the US did not send a report). Summarizing the reports: some progress has been made, but it is far too slow. The rate of violence against women has increased in some member states. The gender pay gap persists. There is insufficient funding for women’s organizations. Governments must accelerate investments. These are issues of rights, power, and democracy. The Beijing ideal was to change power structures between women and men, but we are seeing more resistance to gender equality and more political rhetoric that is anti-equality. However, change is possible with hope and determination. We know that women’s participation brings better outcomes in all endeavors; we have data, statistics, research and evidence that proves this.
We are now at a new more difficult stage, beyond changing laws to changing minds and attitudes. We have to create improved socioeconomic conditions for women, end stereotypes and discrimination, expand economic opportunities, and increase investments in education.
Gender equality is the pillar of sustainable development and therefore critical to the UN’s Agenda 2030. If we don’t achieve SDG5, we won’t be able to achieve any of the other SDGs