In New York, women assess major treaty on gender equality
Thousands of women from around the world are gathering in New York to assess and review the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the largest multilateral treaty on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
The 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) is being held at United Nations headquarters and will run until March 22.
Maria Aparecida Schumaher, coordinator of the Human Development Network—a Brazilian civil association dedicated to promoting inclusive human development with gender and racial equality—emphasizes that amid a global policy deepening the divide between hemispheres, a key concern under debate is the progress of feminist achievements.
“We are facing a very difficult reality in which we have regressed globally. Unfortunately, the conservative wave has grown. I believe the Brazilian delegation is well-prepared, with strong civil society representation to apply pressure. However, it doesn’t depend solely on Brazil’s stance—it also depends on other countries, many of which hold very conservative positions. Unfortunately, there is frequent discussion about reversing progress,” she stated.
Historian and gender and race relations researcher Wania Santana believes that Donald Trump's election as US president and the rise of the far right in Europe are critical issues that should be highlighted at this forum—but the Global South must respond.
"I believe we may see unexpected reactions from Asian countries—frankly, even from China. We might also be surprised by more active participation from some Latin American and African nations. We must be prepared for the fight," Santana said.
Report
The CSW meetings follow the release of a UN Women report assessing the past five years of the Beijing Platform for Action. The report revealed a regression in women's rights in a quarter of the 159 countries that submitted national reports.
The Brazilian report was no different, highlighting significant advances such as the Maria da Penha Law, the Feminicide Law, and Equal Pay legislation, along with public policies that distribute caregiving responsibilities, combat hunger, and secure many other rights for women and girls. However, it also points to numerous obstacles.
For Schumaher, the advances and setbacks demand a much greater effort from women to solidify an idea.
"It's not just about implementing policies; it also requires a shift in mentality, understanding, and respect for all human beings—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, or location. What often happens is that for every five steps forward, we take four steps back," Schumaher added.
Inequalities
According to Ana Carolina Querino, UN Women's representative in Brazil, advances in laws and public policies are more likely to be consolidated after in-depth discussions on social norms, as these discussions directly address the root causes of inequalities in the country. This is why it is crucial for Brazil to also make progress in the quality of scientific and statistical data production.
“It's only possible to bring issues to the public agenda based on evidence and data from an intersectional analysis, allowing for a discussion on the diverse experiences of women—such as black women, indigenous women, and quilombola women—like those highlighted in the most recent Census,” Querino points out.
"Although the progress has been slower than expected for women and girls worldwide, the effectiveness of the Beijing Platform for Action is an achievement worth celebrating," says Wania Santana.
"It's a comprehensive and far-reaching document that addresses many topics and remains relevant, even though it requires updates on issues where we've made progress over time, such as tackling racism and advancing LGBT+ rights, just to name a few," Santana added.
Resistance
Some Brazilian women who represented the country in the fight for women's rights 30 years ago are in New York. While they agree that the current moment presents different challenges from those they faced in the past, they are united in their resolve: if further setbacks occur, they will resist.
"We cannot undo the progress made in establishing institutional mechanisms to implement policies for women, such as ministries and secretariats. We cannot roll back women's human rights, the conversation about women in the media, women in the environment, or the rights of girls and adolescents. There is no going back. We will not be slaughtered like helpless sheep in an unprotected field. There will be a fight," says Wania Santana in conclusion.
