The Long Road to Equality: Taking stock of the situation of women and girls in Asia and the Pacific for Beijing+25 (synthesis report)

The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+25 Review was convened by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in late 2019 to review progress on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals. More than 600 participants from 54 countries and 166 civil society organizations attended the conference, which culminated in the adoption of the Asia-Pacific Declaration on Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. It offers a comprehensive set of commitments and actions on region-specific issues to move forward the gender equality agenda over the next five years.

Within this context, ESCAP and UN Women conducted a study of the progress made and gaps that remain in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This synthesis report is the result of an analytical review drawing from national review reports of ESCAP members and associate members on Beijing+25, SDG data and secondary literature.

To further advance gender equality in the region in the coming five years, governments indicated that eliminating violence against women and girls, promoting women’s political participation and enhancing women’s access to decent work are top priorities. Additional investments are needed in key areas as diverse as social protection, inclusive digital access and skills building, and sustainable infrastructure. Across these areas, and many more, there is a critical need for concerted collective, collaborative and well-resourced action to empower all women and girls in Asia and the Pacific, and to realize gender equality for everyone, everywhere.