In Focus: Beijing+20 at CSW59
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The year 2015 marks a significant milestone – the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – which will be the focus of the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59).
At the annual high-level gathering, taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 9-20 March 2015, global leaders and activists will take stock of progress and remaining challenges for implementing this landmark agreement for gender equality and women's rights. States drafting the Declaration in 1995, identified 12 critical areas of concern, all of which are still relevant challenges today.
Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, UN Women launched a global campaign in 2014 titled "Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It", to reignite the urgency behind the Beijing call and galvanize a new generation to address gender equality issues.
In the lead-up to the session, a record-breaking 166 countries have also undertaken national reviews on the status of women, and rich contributors from civil society have been generated.
These reviews, coupled with the UN Secretary-General's report on Beijing implementation, will be a central focus of CSW59, where leaders will review progress and formulate concrete recommendations to step up their efforts to ensure gender equality and women's empowerment touches the lives of all women and girls worldwide.
Every year, CSW attracts thousands of NGO members and hundreds of country representatives from around the world to discuss critical issues for women, galvanize attention and spur action. Setting a new record this year, more than 1,100 NGOs and a total of 8,600 representatives have registered to participate. There are thousands of stories to tell. Meet some of the heroes, leaders and protagonists who will be there, and find out what the post-Beijing generation thinks is needed to make the Platform for Action a reality. Picture it!