The year 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, and this report takes stock of the progress that has been made since by member States to realize women’s and girls’ rights. It reflects a synthesis of member State actions to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and identifies areas where significant progress has been made on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains the most comprehensive and progressive blueprint for achieving gender equality to date. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reinforces its ambitions, through advancing Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+25 Review was convened by ESCAP and UN Women in late 2019.

This report tells UN Women’s story over the period 2019–2020. It shares how we and our many partners are striding forward to realize a better world for women and girls—one of equality and empowerment. Looking forward, we will draw on our full resources and experiences in protecting and advancing the rights of all women and girls. That is what we do and who we are, as a leader, mobilizer, convenor, provider of programmes, and partner for change.

The infographics examine the progress made and challenges faced in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in Asia and the Pacific 25 years after its adoption.

Adopted in 1995 by 189 countries, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is considered the foundational document for international agreements on gender equality. Twenty-five years later, governments, civil society, and activists are coming together to review the implementation of this agenda. This newsletter highlights the voices and stories behind the Beijing movement in Asia and the Pacific.

Global processes towards the achievement of gender equality