For ALL Women and Girls: Canan Güllü on feminist solutions to global challenges and the need for greater accountability for gender equality

#ForAllWomenAndGirls is a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. As the world reflects on the progress made – and the challenges that remain - feminist voices from every corner are rising in solidarity to demand a stronger, more resilient future #ForAllWomenAndGirls. Among the leading voices is Canan Güllü, a prominent figure in Türkiye’s feminist movement and the President of the Federation of Women Associations of Türkiye (TKDF) - an umbrella organization approaching its 50th anniversary in January 2026.

For Güllü, advancing women’s rights has been a lifelong mission. Under her leadership, TKDF has worked across diverse areas - from ending violence against women and children to promoting women’s participation in decision-making, ensuring equal access to education and justice, and using art as a tool of advocacy. The organization also recognizes the interconnectedness of gender equality with global challenges such as climate change, technology-facilitated violence, and sustainable employment. One of its key advocacy goals is Türkiye’s ratification of ILO Convention 190, which aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work.

For the past decade, TKDF has actively participated in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meetings. “Each year, we return with stronger voices, bolder demands, and deeper insights from women around the world,” says Canan Güllü, who represented the organization at the 69th session of the CSW69, held in March 2025 in New York.

Feminist solutions to global crises

For Güllü, CSW69 – held during the 30th anniversary year of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action - was a landmark session that didn’t just review progress, but also questioned the lack of it. “Unlike previous years, it wasn’t just a thematic review. It turned into a call for accountability on gender equality progress over the past 30 years,” explains Güllü.

Representing TKDF, which served as the secretariat of the Beijing+30 Civil Society Steering Committee for the Europe and Central Asia region, Güllü played a critical role in amplifying feminist voices from Türkiye and beyond. “For the first time, we heard women speak forcefully about the need for governments to be held accountable. It wasn’t only about setting new goals - it was about demanding implementation, budgeting, and monitoring,” she emphasizes.

“At CSW69, issues that had long been sidelined came into focus. Feminist foreign policy wasn’t just a buzzword – it entered formal discussions. Women’s organizations brought feminist solutions to war, conflicts, and the climate crisis to the forefront. And some states acknowledged this perspective and reflected it in official texts,” continues Canan Güllü.

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence emerged as another major concern, thanks to the advocacy of young feminist groups. “For the first time, gendered hate speech, harassment, and algorithmic discrimination were formally addressed and acknowledged in documentation,” she notes.

Güllü emphasizes women’s roles in the climate crisis. “This year, it became clear: women are not only vulnerable to climate change, they are essential actors in solving it. CSW69 made it clear that women’s representation of women in climate decision-making is not merely a wish, but an obligation,” she says.

Canan Güllü and her peers also engaged in behind-the-scenes advocacy - from roundtable discussions to bilateral meetings - pushing the movement forward. “It was a productive CSW. We made it count,” Güllü reflects.

“CSW69 wasn’t just another annual meeting – it was a turning point in the global struggle for gender equality, shaped by a more political, accountable, and comprehensive framework,” says Güllü.

Through her unyielding advocacy, Canan Güllü embodies the spirit of the Beijing Declaration, demanding a future where equality, partnership, and human dignity are non-negotiable, every girl’s voice is heard, and no woman is left behind.

UN Women, under the Strong Civic Space for Gender Equality Phase II project, funded by the European Union, provides logistical and technical support to activists and civil society organizations to ensure their representation and participation in gender equality-focused national, regional, and international platforms. As part of this support, UN Women facilitated the participation of Canan Güllü and seven other activists from Türkiye at CSW69.