Concluding remarks and future directions

This study was undertaken to review major developments related to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the Arab region since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995. A universally endorsed list of actions and recommendations, the Beijing Platform provides a roadmap for Governments, international organisations, the private sector and civil society to safeguard women’s human rights and to ensure their full and equal participation in society. The ambitious and transformative approach of the Beijing Platform makes it a reference framework that remains relevant today. The recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development explicitly reaffirms commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which, together with CEDAW, will continue to guide efforts to reach the new Sustainable Development Goals in the next decades.

Related Subject(s): Women and Gender Issues