Historical Echoes and Future Expectations – Voices from the Global Women’s Summit

After 30 years, Beijing witnessed another milestone in the global advancement of women.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women (known as the “Beijing World Conference on Women”), the Global Women’s Summit was held in Beijing from October 13 to 14. During the summit’s plenary session, leaders and representatives from 46 countries and international organizations delivered speeches, expressing their views, positions, and recommendations.

Many representatives began with history.

Thirty years ago, the Beijing World Conference on Women adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, creating a blueprint for advancing gender equality and women’s development.

“That landmark moment in 1995 was a crucial turning point,” noted the Secretary-General of the Beijing World Conference on Women, stating that the adopted framework documents established comprehensive guidelines for action to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment, and political participation.

“Over the past 30 years, the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action has brought tangible progress for women and girls worldwide. Millions of women and girls have gained more opportunities in education, healthcare, and employment,” said a representative.

This perspective was supported by examples shared by participating representatives: In Serbia, approximately 52% of scientists are women; in Kazakhstan, more than half of judges are women; in Slovenia, 60% of diplomats are women…

“Returning to Beijing 30 years later is not just a geographical journey, but a profound emotional, historical, and humanistic journey,” emotionally stated a former president. “Women have always been active participants in building society. Seeing more women in classrooms, in parliaments, and more women’s voices in public spaces – many dreams from that time have become reality.”

She emphasized that this gathering was not only for commemoration but also to reaffirm the spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women and to declare with equal strength that women cannot be absent from future development.

Currently, significant gender and technology gaps persist, while poverty, hunger, and violence remain stubborn challenges. Climate crises, armed conflicts, and humanitarian crises intertwine, putting global women’s advancement at risk of losing ground and regressing.

Facing these changes and challenges, the Global Women’s Summit Chair’s Statement proposed that countries and parties will focus on action-oriented approaches, resisting any form of regression with firm determination and strong actions, and accelerating a new process for women’s comprehensive development through unity, confidence, courage, and practice…

In the view of a senior UN official, the Global Women’s Summit has become a platform for expressing shared aspirations, creating crucial opportunities to reaffirm commitments, engage in dialogue, take action, and find inspiration – “let us return home with new ideas and effective methods.”

The plenary session of the Global Women’s Summit held in Beijing on October 13, showing representatives taking selfies before the meeting.

In the exchange of ideas among representatives, development visions and future expectations resonated together.

Eliminating women’s poverty, improving education for women and girls, supporting women’s full participation in economic, political, and social life, promoting women’s involvement in peace and security affairs, expanding equal employment opportunities for women, strengthening legal services and rights protection… They focused on women’s poverty reduction, education, health, employment, and social security, speaking out to enhance women’s sense of gain, happiness, and security.

“Working together within the multilateral framework to protect women’s development rights,” “Adhering to a multipolar order where every voice can be heard,” “Firmly opposing and condemning actions that violate international law and equality principles,” “Transcending cultural, geographical, age, and gender barriers to jointly promote international cooperation”… They recognized their shared destiny and called for accelerating a new process for women’s comprehensive development.

“Fulfilling commitments cannot wait another 30 years – it must happen now,” urged a senior official during the summit’s closing ceremony, emphasizing the need for effective methods to translate commitments into action.

Setting out again from Beijing,

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China and a city with over 3,000 years of history, serving as the nation’s political and cultural center for much of the last eight centuries. It is renowned for its magnificent historical architecture, including the Forbidden City—the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties—and the Temple of Heaven. Today, Beijing is a sprawling modern metropolis that seamlessly blends its ancient heritage with contemporary global influence.

United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women

The United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women was a landmark international forum held in Beijing, China, in September 1995. It is historically significant for producing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a comprehensive policy document that set a global agenda for advancing women’s rights and gender equality. The conference and its resulting declaration are widely credited with galvanizing a worldwide movement for women’s empowerment.

Beijing World Conference on Women

The Beijing World Conference on Women refers to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, in 1995. It was a landmark global gathering that produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a comprehensive policy agenda for advancing women’s rights and gender equality worldwide. The conference is historically significant for uniting governments and civil society around a common framework for women’s empowerment.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is a landmark global policy document adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. It is recognized as the most comprehensive and progressive global blueprint for advancing women’s rights and gender equality. The platform outlines strategic objectives and actions across twelve critical areas of concern, including poverty, education, health, and violence against women.

Global Women’s Summit

The Global Women’s Summit is a major international conference dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s leadership. While not a single physical site, its history is rooted in the late 20th and early 21st-century global movements for women’s rights, evolving from earlier UN conferences like the 1995 Beijing Conference. These summits serve as a crucial platform for leaders, activists, and organizations to share strategies, build networks, and drive progress on issues affecting women worldwide.

Serbia

Serbia is a Balkan nation with a rich history as a medieval kingdom and later the core of various Yugoslav states. Its cultural identity is deeply shaped by Orthodox Christian traditions, visible in monasteries like Studenica, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The country’s history includes centuries under Ottoman rule and its role as a major battleground during World War I.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a Central Asian nation and former Soviet republic with a history stretching back to the nomadic empires of the Scythians and the Mongol Empire. It is the world’s largest landlocked country, known for its vast steppes, modern cities like Nur-Sultan, and the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world’s first and largest space launch facility. Its culture reflects a blend of traditional nomadic heritage and influences from its Russian and Islamic neighbors.

Slovenia

Slovenia is a small Central European country with a rich history, having been part of the Roman Empire, the Habsburg Monarchy, and later Yugoslavia. It gained its independence in 1991 and is known for its stunning natural landscapes, including the Julian Alps, pristine lakes like Lake Bled, and extensive cave systems such as the Škocjan Caves. The country’s culture reflects a blend of Slavic, Germanic, and Romance influences, visible in its architecture, cuisine, and traditions.