Glossary    |   | |  |  |

Beijing + 10

| Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995 The Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 is considered a milestone on the road to enforcing women’s rights. To read more see [Background]. See also the [official UN Web site on the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing ]

| Beijing Platform for Action The Beijing Platform for Action was adopted by 189 states at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. The Platform outlines 12 critical areas of concern where the violation of women’s rights and gender inequality persist. Strategic objectives and actions are proposed for each area. Read the outcome documents of the Beijing conference:  [Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (full text)]

|  What is a Women’s NGO? Throughout the Beijing process, women have become involved on a massive scale, and have linked up in non-governmental-organizations (NGOs). These women’s NGOs have successfully managed to bring their demands into the official negotiation rounds and final resolutions.

| The Norgwegian Alternative Report Norwegian women`s organisations and the Centre for Gender Equality wish through the alternative report to present some of the challenges Norway faces with respect to the maintenance of women`s rights.   The report has been drawn up with input from a number of organisations focusing on fields they determine to be important in relation to the follow-up of the plan of action adopted by the UN Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. Download the report as a >>  PDF File

| UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) The central UN organ concerned with women’s issues. Its main task is to promote women’s rights and equal opportunities for women. The CSW continually works on the codification of women’s rights and thereby, plays a vital role in the area of international law. The CSW also prepares recommendations and reports to the UN Economic and Social Council. See results of the [52nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women]

Ten years ago, at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, 189 states adopted the Beijing Platform for Action. Today, it is considered a milestone on the road to enforcing women’s rights. Still the objectives and actions necessary to cut back on women’s discrimination and establish gender justice are far from implemented. Internationally, the political climate is dominated by a conservative mobilization against women’s rights. Political and religious fundamentalism and the curtailment of women’s rights have heightened fears of a conservative backlash.

Still, women’s organizations in many parts of the world are following-up on Beijing and developing new strategies and concepts for the enforcement of women’s rights in light of the “Beijing + 10” process.
From February 28 - March 11, 2005, the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held its 49th Session. The main focus was the review and appraisal of the Beijing Platform for Action by 191 signatory states.