30 June 2014
UN Women Holds Beijing+20 Campaign Launch
story highlights

UN Women held a launch event for its year-long, worldwide commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China (Beijing+20).

The campaign - ‘Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It!' - aims to mobilize governments and citizens to envision a world in which gender equality is a reality, as well as to renew political will and commitment to accelerate implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

The campaign was launched online in May.

beijing20.unwomen27 June 2014: UN Women held a launch event for its year-long, worldwide commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China (Beijing+20). The campaign, titled ‘Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It!’, aims to mobilize governments and citizens to envision a world in which gender equality is a reality, as well as to renew political will and commitment to accelerate implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. The campaign was launched online in May.

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka described gains in 12 areas of concern, including reducing women’s share of poverty and ensuring women’s full participation in decision-making. Noting the Beijing vision “is still unfinished business,” she said achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is “the mission of our time.”

UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson described the campaign launch as “a celebration and Call to Action.” He outlined areas in which progress is still needed, including on gender equality in education, ending violence against women and girls, maternal health, and increasing the number of women parliamentarians. Eliasson expressed confidence that the post-2015 development agenda “will be driven by goals to achieve gender equality, empower women and girls and fully protect their rights,” underscoring that equality for women and girls will build a better world for all.

“If you involve and include women you will have a much better society and you will also have equality, peace and prosperity,” said Ine Eriksen Søreide, Norway’s Minister of Defense.

The launch celebration took place at the Apollo Theater in New York, US, on 26 June 2014, and featured music and words from performers, including: Women of the World, an international world music ensemble; Girl Be Heard, musical group; Jimmie Briggs, Founder of Man Up; Gloria Steinem, feminist activist; and Soon-Young Yoon, UN representative for the International Alliance of Women. The event also included a screening of UN Women’s movie, ‘Beijing+20.’ [UN Women Press Release] [Event Website] [UN Deputy Secretary-General Remarks] [UN Women Executive Director Remarks] [Campaign Website] [IISD RS Story on Campaign Launch]

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