Asia-Pacific Regional Review of the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Beijing+25 Review

Photo: UN Women/Pornvit Visitoran

Background

A quarter of a century since the adoption of the landmark agreement on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, more women are achieving better educational outcomes and political representation across Asia and the Pacific. However, progress has been slow and persisting patterns of inequality are stalling further progress on gender equality. Technological transformations and disruptions, demographic shifts, increasing migratory flows as well as natural disasters and climate change have profoundly impacted the development context for women, their risks and vulnerabilities as well as opportunities in the region.

With the convergence of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+25) and the 5-year milestone for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), the year 2020 marks a window of opportunity to take stock of progress made and actions required to address barriers to gender equality and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The 2030 Agenda has affirmed the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women as a standalone goal as well as a priority that cuts across all 17 SDGs. The Beijing+25 review will harness synergies with the 2030 Agenda to consolidate efforts to accelerate the achievement of key international commitments on gender equality.

As mandated by ECOSOC Resolution E/RES/2018/8, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will lead the regional review of Beijing+25, in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and with the support of the Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Mechanism Thematic Working Group on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (RCM-TWG-GEEW).

The regional review will culminate in the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+25 Review, which will take place in November 2019, United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok.

Three-Track Approach

The regional review will adopt three tracks. The analytical track will comprise the regional synthesis of the national-level reviews conducted by Governments on progress made and challenges encountered in implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The consultative track will involve engagement of stakeholder participation through Civil Society Consultations. The intergovernmental track will engage Governments in the regional review to identify priority actions to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women in the region. As part of this process, the Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 63rd Session of the Commission of the Status of Women,13-14 February 2019, Bangkok, engaged Asia-Pacific governments in preparations for the Beijing+25 regional review.

Expectations

The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+25 Review will bring together Ministers and senior officials from relevant line Ministries (Ministries of Women, National Planning, Finance), civil society and other key stakeholders from across the Asia-Pacific region to:

• identify key strategic areas and actions required to overcome barriers to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
• provide a platform to highlight innovative solutions and exchange good practices and lessons learned on strategies for change.
• invigorate the momentum to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women through increased engagement with stakeholders of all ages.

For further information, please contact: Ms. Cai Cai, Chief, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section, Social Development Division, ESCAP ([ Click to reveal ]).

Call for Proposals for Side events and Exhibitions

Side events and exhibitions will provide space to share knowledge and experience as well as to showcase good practices, innovative initiatives and cutting edge thinking to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The Call for proposals for side events and exhibitions is inviting interested Member States, UN partners, Civil Society, Academia and international organizations to submit concept notes using the downloadable template by 20 August 2019. Should you require a fillable form, please contact escap-sdd@un.org.

Given the finite number of rooms and conference services available, the organizers are encouraged to work in an integrated manner and ensure thematic coherence. Innovative development solutions for gender equality that use technology are especially encouraged.

Organizers are kindly requested to hold their event in English or make their own interpretation arrangements as interpretation services are not available for side events.

A set of key questions that will guide the review and assessment of the proposals received:

Side events and exhibitions sponsored by Governments will be given priority. In order to ensure that as many organizers can be involved as possible, side event and exhibition proposals should be based on collaborative partnering.

• Is the side event/exhibition sponsored by a Member State?
• Is the side event/exhibition a collaboration among a broad range of stakeholders (e.g. UN Agencies, CSOs, Academia, Youth, Private Sector)?
• Is there a High-Level Speaker involved in the side event/exhibition?
• One of the co-organizers of the proposed side event/exhibition should be designated as a lead organizer. A co-organizer should not be the lead organizer of more than one side event/exhibition.
• Is the lead organizer involved in other side events/exhibitions?

The proposed side event/exhibition should make a clear link to one or more of the 12 critical areas of concern of the BPfA. The side event/exhibition should also constitute a potential contribution to the outcome of the Beijing+25 Review as well as provide innovative and original perspectives on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women in synergy with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Which area/s of concern of the following cluster/s does the side event/exhibition touch upon?

• Inclusive development, shared prosperity and decent work _____
• Poverty eradication, social protection and social services _____
• Freedom from violence, stigma and stereotypes _____
• Participation, accountability, gender-responsive institutions _____
• Peaceful and inclusive societies _____
• Environmental conservation, climate action and resilience-building _____

• Does the side event/exhibition put forward innovative ideas and highlight emerging good practices?
• Does the side event/exhibition demonstrate cutting edge thinking and innovation using technology to come up with creative development solutions?
• Does the side event/exhibition provide lessons on synergies and/or multi-stakeholder approaches to advancing the BPfA and the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs?

The side event/exhibition may outline the opportunities for the regional cooperation to accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment.

• What opportunities for regional cooperation are proposed?

Click here for guidelines for exhibition organizers in UNCC relating to Building Facilities Requirements. Please fill out this form to provide technical details on proposed exhibition and submit it as part of the proposal.

For more information on the organization of side events and exhibitions, please contact [ Click to reveal ].