Asia-Pacific Regional Review of the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

The Conference

Date: Monday, 11 November 2024

In 2025, the global community will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). Progress in implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action is reviewed by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) every five years. To date, there have been four reviews - 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2020 - with each review resulting in an outcome document that reinforces global commitment to the empowerment of women and girls and outlines priority actions for the coming five years.

The sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025. The main focus of the sixty-ninth session will be on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action  and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. The review will include an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the BPfA and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In Asia and the Pacific, the regional review will culminate in the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review, which will be convened as part of the regional review process feeding into the global dialogue to be held in 2025.

The year 2025 will also mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and 10 years of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Event Description

In accordance with ECOSOC Resolution E/RES/2022/5, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP) will lead the Asia-Pacific regional intergovernmental review of the BPfA, in close collaboration with UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and supported by the rest of the United Nations systems under the umbrella of the Asia-Pacific Issue-Based Coalition on Promoting Human Rights, Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.

The regional review aims to assess current and emerging challenges that affect the implementation of the BPfA and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific region, and strengthen the knowledge base on progress and gaps in realizing the rights of women and girls in the region. It aims to build regional consensus on actions needed to accelerate the implementation of commitments made in the BPfA. The Beijing+30 regional review will build upon the regional review conducted by ESCAP and UN Women for Beijing +25 and the resulting Asia-Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

Programme: 19 November 2024

09:00 - 10:00	Item 1: Opening of the Conference (a) Opening addresses H.E. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women Civil Society Representative (b) Election of officers (c) Adoption of the agenda Group photo
10:00 - 12:00	Item 2: Review of the progress made towards the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and priorities for accelerated action in Asia and the Pacific. Concept Note (a) High Level Panel: Moderator Ms. Lin Yang, Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme, ESCAP Panellists Ms. Mereseini Rakuita, Principal Strategic Lead- Pacific Women, The Pacific Community Ms. Hana Brixi, Global Director on Gender, World Bank Ms. Nala Amirah, Founder and Advisor, Green Welfare Indonesia (b) Country Statements
12:00 - 14:00	Lunch
12:30 - 13:45	Side events
14:00 - 17:00	Item 2 (continued): Review of the progress made towards the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and priorities for accelerated action in Asia and the Pacific (b) Country Statements (continued); (c) Statements by intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies and other international organizations; (d) Statements by civil society organizations.
17:05 - 19:00	Launch of the publication “Charting New Paths for Gender Equality and Empowerment: Asia-Pacific Regional Report on Beijing+30 Review”
	Reception

Programme: 20 November 2024

09:00 - 10:30	Item 3: Thematic discussion on the achievements, challenges, gaps and emerging issues in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and key actions for their further implementation in Asia and the Pacific: (a) Round table (a): Advancing women’s economic empowerment through employment, decent work, social protection and entrepreneurship Concept Note Moderator Mr. Srinivas Tata, Director, Social Development Division, ESCAP Panellists Ms. Huang Shu, Deputy Director General of the Office of National Working Committee on Children and Women of the State Council, China Ms. Trinh Thi Huong, Deputy Director General, Agency for Enterprise Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Viet Nam Ms. Ume Laila Azhar, Executive Director, HomeNet Pakistan Ms. Anna Lee Fos-Tuvera, Director of Gender Equality Activities, International Trade Union Confederation-Asia Pacific Open discussion with member States and other participants
10:30 - 12:00	Item 3: Thematic discussion on the achievements, challenges, gaps and emerging issues in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and key actions for their further implementation in Asia and the Pacific (b) Round table (b): Strengthening women’s participation and leadership in Asia and the Pacific Concept Note Moderator Ms. Cindy Sirinya Bishop, UN Women Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Asia and the Pacific Panellists H.E. Ar. Siti Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman, Secretary-General of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and champion of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Women’s Political Participation H.E. Ms. Elvina de Sousa Carvalho, Secretary of State for Equality, Timor-Leste Ms. Ipul Powaseu, Senior Program Manager, Disability Inclusion, PNG Women Lead Program, and Pacific Region Focal Person for the Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network Ms. Amina Sugimoto, CEO and Founder, Fermata, Inc. Open discussion with member States and other participants
12:00 - 14:00	Lunch
12:30 - 13:45	Side events
14:00 - 15:10	Item 3: Thematic discussion on the achievements, challenges, gaps and emerging issues in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and key actions for their further implementation in Asia and the Pacific (c) Round table (c): Sustainable strategies for responding to and preventing violence against women and girls in an era of uncertainty Concept Note Moderator Ms. Bandana Rana, Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Panellists H.E. Nhean Sochetra, Director General of Social Development, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Cambodia, and a Representative for women of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) H.E. Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell, Ambassador for Gender Equality, Australia Ms. Pritha Chatterjee. Lead, Global Positioning, Breakthrough Mr. Pio Smith, Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia-Pacific Regional Office Open discussion with member States and other participants
15:10 - 16:20	Item 3: Thematic discussion on the achievements, challenges, gaps and emerging issues in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and key actions for their further implementation in Asia and the Pacific (c) Round table (c): Sustainable strategies for responding to and preventing violence against women and girls in an era of uncertainty Concept Note Moderator Ms. Bandana Rana, Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Panellists H.E. Nhean Sochetra, Director General of Social Development, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Cambodia, and a Representative for women of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) H.E. Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell, Ambassador for Gender Equality, Australia Ms. Pritha Chatterjee. Lead, Global Positioning, Breakthrough Mr. Pio Smith, Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia-Pacific Regional Office Open discussion with member States and other participants
15:10 - 16:50	Consideration of the draft decisions
15:50 - 17:00	Item 4: Other matters
17:15 - 18:30	Side events

Programme: 21 November 2024

09:00 - 10:15	Side events
10:30 - 12:30	2024 Asia-Pacific Care Champions Special Event
13:00 - 14:35	Side events
14:30 - 16:30	Item 5: Adoption of the report of the Conference
16:30 - 17:00	Closing of the Conference Closing remarks Ms. Lin Yang, Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme, ESCAP Ms. Christine Arab, Regional Director, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

Concept note

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Concept note

What is Beijing+30?

What is Beijing+30

Check our infographic "What is Beijing+30" here.

12 Critical Areas of Concern

12 CRITICAL AREAS OF CONCERN

As a defining framework for change, the Platform made comprehensive commitments for women under 12 critical areas of concern: poverty, education and training, health, violence, armed conflict, economics, power and decision-making, institutional arrangements, human rights, media, environment, and the girl child.