20 November 2014: Governments adopted the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, pledging to strengthen institutions and partnerships, enhance accountability, support regional cooperation and increase resources to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment across the Asia-Pacific region. The declaration was adopted at the Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Beijing+20 Review, which is one in a series of regional reviews of the Beijing Platform for Action adopted in 1995.

The Asia-Pacific review meeting took place on 17-20 November 2014, in Bangkok, Thailand. Over 700 participants attended the event, which was convened by UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and UN Women.

In a keynote address, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuk, said the “eradication of violence from the lives of women and girls, along with peace, democracy and sustainable development in the region, will become possible when women and girls are valued, when their ability to fully and freely exercise their human rights is wholly supported, when there is equality in the exercise of power and when decisions are made to fully resource comprehensive and evidenced-based interventions.”

Several speakers recommended connecting the Beijing review with discussions on the post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the Regional Director of UN Women Asia and Pacific, Roberta Clarke, and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, speaking via video message. Noting that Member States are in the final stage of crafting the post-2015 development framework, Mlambo-Ngcuka said “it is vital that in your regional and global development cooperation you remain vigilant in this process to maintain a strong gender goal as well as the targets and indicators on gender equality across other goals.”

Participants also discussed, inter alia: advancing peace and security for women and girls; empowering women economically; increasing women’s leadership and political participation; and eliminating violence against women and girls. They recognized women’s and girl’s progress in education, employment, health and political rights and representation, while noting that challenges remain.

ESCAP Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar said “this action-oriented document will help us consolidate our achievements, identify the gaps and priorities which remain, and tackle these through stronger institutions and partnerships, with greater financing and accountability, for gender equality and women’s empowerment in Asia and the Pacific.”

UN Women is working with the UN Regional Commissions to organize Beijing+20 reviews in each region. The resulting recommendations will contribute to the global review of the Platform’s implementation, at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 59). [UN Press Release] [ESCAP Press Release on Opening] [ESCAP Press Release on Closing] [IISD RS Story on UNECE Beijing+20 Meeting]