On March 12, 2025, the United Nations unveiled an ambitious new action agenda aimed at advancing women’s rights and achieving gender equality globally. The plan was launched at a high-level event during the ongoing 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the UN headquarters in New York.
In a video message, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called 2025 a critical “call to action” year, emphasizing that women and girls are facing overwhelming challenges, including ongoing armed conflicts and rampant violence. “With just five years left to meet the SDGs, this must be our turning point to succeed in achieving gender equality,” she stressed, while also pledging bold actions from the UN to ensure lasting impacts.
The new agenda focuses heavily on young women and adolescent girls, with particular attention to financing for gender equality and the mobilization of gender data. It also aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure women have equal representation in decision-making processes. This new initiative builds upon the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which provided a roadmap for gender equality.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous remarked, “Today, we take stock of the situation of women and girls. Despite some progress, much remains to be done. Women still endure targeted violence, are disproportionately affected by climate change, and often remain excluded from key decision-making roles.”
The Beijing+30 Action Agenda sets clear objectives to transform the lives of women and girls, including a digital revolution, an end to poverty, zero violence, equal decision-making power, and full participation in peace, security, and climate justice initiatives.
The launch of this new action agenda coincides with CSW69, the world’s largest conference on women’s rights, running from March 10 to March 21. The agenda aligns with national priorities and the broader goal of achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
UN Women’s Bahous concluded, “Together, we choose action over apathy. We choose to reignite the spirit of the Beijing Declaration and drive progress forward.”
The event featured panel discussions with government representatives, experts, and UN officials, exploring the six key aaction areas, acknowledging achievements, and addressing challenges that lie ahead.
