For All Women and Girls: Prof. Dr. Feride Acar on Intergenerational Collaboration and New Forms of Inequality
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#ForAllWomenandGirls is a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In 2025, the world marks 30 years since the landmark 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Prof. Dr. Feride Acar, a leading expert in international women’s rights and a key figure in gender equality advocacy, reflects on the need for intergenerational collaboration in advancing gender equality and tackling new forms of inequality that have emerged in recent decades.
A Lifetime of Advocacy for Gender Equality
Prof. Dr. Feride Acar is a pioneering academic and advocate in the field of gender equality and women's rights, both in Türkiye and internationally. She has been a professor at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, teaching political sociology and social movements. As the founding director of METU’s Gender and Women’s Studies Graduate Program, she has played a vital role in institutionalizing gender studies in Türkiye.
Acar’s international contributions are equally remarkable. She served as a member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) from 1997 to 2005 and again from 2011 to 2018, including a term as chair between 2003 and 2005. During this time, she led global efforts to monitor and enforce women's rights commitments. Recognized for her outstanding contributions to gender equality, she has been honored with numerous national and international awards, including the Pro Merito Medal from the Council of Europe.
From Beijing 1995: A Platform for Solidarity Across Generations
Attending the Beijing Conference in 1995 was a transformative experience for Acar. She participated as part of Türkiye’s official delegation and was deeply involved in negotiations shaping the final form of Beijing Platform for Action. “It was incredibly exciting to be part of a global gathering of this scale, where representatives from all over the world came together to push for a progressive women’s rights agenda,” she recalls.
Acar was particularly struck by the diversity of voices and perspectives present in Beijing. “It was not just about policymakers; activists, academics, and civil society leaders played a crucial role in influencing the discussions,” she notes. The conference also served as a powerful reminder that gender equality requires sustained efforts across generations. The groundwork laid by experienced activists was embraced by younger feminists, ensuring the momentum for women’s rights continued beyond 1995.
The Beijing Legacy and Emerging Challenges
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action became a foundational document in the global fight for gender equality. Acar highlights that the documents’ impact was not just in setting goals but in creating a mechanism for accountability. “Governments could no longer ignore gender equality. They were now expected to report on their commitments and show progress,” she explains.
However, Acar also notes that new forms of gender inequality have emerged over the past three decades. While traditional forms of discrimination persist, digitalization and global shifts in labor markets have created new challenges, “Inequality is evolving. We must recognize and address these modern manifestations of discrimination,” she warns.
30 Years Later: Bridging Generations for Lasting Change
Three decades after the Beijing Conference, Acar acknowledges the significant progress made in gender equality worldwide. Additionally, she warns that progress is not linear.
“Each generation has to build upon the work of those before them. Without this continuity, we risk losing the hard-won gains."
Prof. Dr. Feride Acar
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Acar stresses that intergenerational collaboration is also essential to sustaining progress. “Young feminists today are navigating a different landscape, but they are just as determined and visionary as the women who fought before them,” she says. She believes that experienced activists must pass down institutional knowledge, while younger generations bring new strategies and digital activism to the movement. “We need to learn from each other and work together to ensure that the principles of Beijing remain relevant in an ever-changing world,” she urges.
A Call for Collective Action and Adaptation
Reflecting on the future, Acar calls on younger generations to remain engaged in the fight for gender equality. “The structures of discrimination may have evolved, but the fundamental struggle for justice remains the same,” she says. She believes that intergenerational collaboration between experienced activists and young feminists is crucial to sustaining momentum.
Acar emphasizes the importance of collective action and global solidarity in advancing women’s rights. “Women around the world share common struggles, and our strength lies in working together to challenge inequality in all its forms,” she states. She calls on young advocates to use every tool available—legal frameworks, activism, policymaking, and digital platforms—to push forward the commitments made in Beijing.
For all women and girls, the Beijing Declaration remains a promise that must be upheld. With continued determination and activism across generations, a more equal and just world is within reach.
