On 17th March 2021 from 11:00-12:30 EDT, a CSW round table discussion will unpack how Member States, intergovernmental organizations and civil society are contributing to the Beijing Platform for Action. Speakers will share experiences, lessons, challenges and potential solutions for working as / or with religious actors to progress the gender equality agenda. Spanish, French, Portuguese and Arabic translations will be available.
The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, adopted unanimously by 189 countries, is an agenda for women’s empowerment and considered the key global policy document on gender equality. It sets strategic objectives and actions for the advancement of women and the achievement of gender equality. In 2021, the global community marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), and six years since the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted.
With eighty-four percent of the world’s population identifying with a faith, religious actors are key stakeholders in achieving gender equality and empowerment, Sustainable Development Goal 5. At a time where there are a number of persisting challenges and structural barriers affecting the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, it is vital that strategic partnerships for gender justice are strengthened. 2021 is a critical year to measure progress towards our universal commitment to gender equality and empowerment around the world. COVID-19 is showing how interconnected our lives are and calls for intersectional approaches to tackling gender inequality.
This event is co-organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, Canada, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Germany (BMZ), Side by Side, Islamic Relief Worldwide, ACT Alliance, Lutheran World Federation, KAICIID, Global Interfaith Wash Alliance, Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities, USPG, The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.