3 DECADES OF THE BEIJING DECLARATION: TIME TO REVISIT THE FORGOTTEN PROMISES

3 DECADES OF THE BEIJING DECLARATION: TIME TO REVISIT THE FORGOTTEN PROMISES

In 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing, where 189 countries, including India, adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. It became the most progressive global agreement for advancing gender equality. This year marks three decades since its adoption, yet many of its goals are still in progress.

The Beijing Declaration identified 12 critical areas for change — including violence against women, education, health, economic participation, political representation, and legal rights. It emphasized that women’s rights are human rights and called on nations to adopt national policies ensuring equal treatment, safety, and opportunity for all women and girls.

In India, several initiatives and legislative reforms were introduced post-1995, aligning with the declaration’s goals. Laws addressing domestic violence, workplace harassment, and trafficking were strengthened. The DV Act, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 among many other laws for women in India, have roots in the international commitments and policy shifts that followed the Beijing conference.

Globally, the declaration influenced many United Nations programs and monitoring mechanisms. It also created space for grassroots women’s groups to engage in policy-making. In India, women's movements referenced the document while pushing for more vigorous enforcement of existing rights and the need for new laws for women in India, especially for marginalised groups.

Despite the progress, many gaps remain. According to UN Women, violence, wage inequality, and underrepresentation in leadership still affect millions. Technology-driven harm has also grown, creating new threats. While some laws protecting women exist, enforcement and awareness are uneven across states and communities.

This 30-year mark is being recognised worldwide, with renewed commitments from governments and civil society to revisit and act on the unfinished agenda of equality and safety for all women.