Quarters of nations witness pushback on feminine rights in the year 2024

In a world where women's representation in parliaments has more than doubled and discriminatory laws are being removed, the ambition remains to be the first generation living in an equal world. This is the focus of the UN Women's report, "Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing."

The report, published in a year that presents unique challenges for women's rights, underlines the importance of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls globally. It emphasises six key areas: digital revolution, freedom from poverty, zero violence, full and equal decision-making power, peace and security, and climate justice.

The digital revolution, according to the report, is one of the key areas of focus. However, digital technology and artificial intelligence spread harmful stereotypes, while the digital gender gap limits women's opportunities. The report highlights the need to address these issues to ensure equal participation and benefits for all.

In a concerning statistic, a woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by a partner or member of her own family. The report also highlights the increase in the number of women and girls living in conflict, with a 50% increase recorded in the past decade.

The report is a call to action for advancing women's human rights, equality, and empowerment. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that women's human rights are under attack and that we must stand firm in making human rights, equality, and empowerment a reality for all women and girls.

The Beijing+30 Actions to achieve unfinished tasks in 2025 are intended to be implemented by all States committed to enforcing constitutional protections and aligning national laws with the Beijing Platform for Action, CEDAW, and the SDGs. This involves governments globally rather than a specific list of countries, with emphasis on legal reforms and safeguarding women's and girls' rights.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous affirmed that the organization is committed to ensuring that all women and girls can fully enjoy their rights and freedoms. The report features the new Beijing+30 Action Agenda, which aims to push women's rights forward, creating a world where all women and girls enjoy equal rights and opportunities.

However, the report also shows that in 2024, nearly a quarter of governments worldwide reported a backlash on women's rights. Women's rights defenders confront daily harassment, personal attacks, and even death. The year 2024 is a pivotal year for women and girls, marked by pushback and crises.

Despite these challenges, the report also celebrates progress. Since 1995, parity has been achieved in girls' education and maternal mortality has dropped by a third. The report serves as a comprehensive document addressing various aspects of women's rights and equality, providing a roadmap for continued progress in the face of adversity.