Introducing the Civil Society representative, the UNECE chair said, "Civil Society always has a lot of good advice for us."
The Beijing+25 ECE Review Civil Society Statement was developed in consultation with over 420 NGO representatives from 48 countries. The key messages were delivered by a 27 year old student of international human rights law from Turkey - a strong symbol of youth as we embark on the year of Generation Equality. As Ilyana said, "I am grateful that they have given me, a young feminist, the floor to deliver this message. I was a two year-old baby when the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted, yet it continues to be the most progressive blueprint for achieving gender equality and advancing the rights of all women to date. However, almost 25 years have passed and we are still miles away from fully realizing the commitments made in 1995."