Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and International Women’s Day
The Fourth World Conference on Women, having met in Beijing 4 -15 September 1995, recommended to the General Assembly of the United Nations at its fiftieth session that it endorses the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action ( BDPfA).
The BDfA listed 12 areas as follows: Women and poverty; Education and training of women; Women and health; Women in power and decision-making; Institutional mechanism for the advancement of women; Human rights of women; Women and the media; Women and the environment; The girl-child; Violence against women; Armed conflict; Women and economy .The BDfA areas can be linked to Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs).
SDG #5 has 9 targets namely : End Discrimination against Women and Girls; Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls; Eliminate forced Marriages and Genital Mutilation; Value unpaid Care and Promote Shared Domestic Responsibilities; Ensure full Participation in Leadership and Decision-Making; Universal Access to Reproductive Health and Rights; Equal rights to economic resources, Property ownership and financial services; Promote Empowerment of Women through Technology; Adopt and Strengthen Policies and Enforceable Legislation for Gender Equality.
On 6th March 2025, the Ambassador of France in Nairobi in partnership with the Centre for Rights, Education and Awareness (CREAW), hosted a Roundtable discussion to highlight initiatives undertaken to promote women rights towards the International Day of Women Rights ( normally celebrated on 8th March annually).
Our Executive Director of the African Foundation for Women and Youth in Education and STI, Prof Catherine Ngila , attended the Roundtable discussion at the French Embassy in Nairobi.