Women’s rights then and now: “We are not in a gender war; we are on a shared path to equality”

Interview with Afërdita Saraçini Kelmendi on attending the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing - a turning point for the global gender equality agenda that led to the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action - and why the Platform still matters today.

Standing strong for women’s rights during repression

“In 1995, Kosovo was experiencing severe repression,” Kelmendi recalls. “Systematic discrimination and mass dismissals affected all, especially women.” Despite the harsh conditions, a resilient network of women’s rights activists in Kosovo persisted. “Women were organized through strong NGOs and connected with allies across Europe and the U.S.,” she says.

This international solidarity paved the way for Kelmendi and her peers to attend the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing - a powerful moment that brought Kosovo’s struggles into the global spotlight.

A voice from Kosovo at a global summit

“To be part of a summit with over 40,000 participants was unforgettable,” says Kelmendi. “Our delegation, including one man, represented the unheard voices of women under repression.”

The experience reinforced her belief in the strength of collective action. “We didn’t just witness change; we contributed to it,” she affirms. The platform gave her a broader understanding of feminism and a lasting sense of purpose.

The Beijing Platform for Action: Still shaping Kosovo’s future

Afërdita Kelmendi sees the Beijing Declaration as a foundational moment. “It challenged norms and gave us a global framework - but declarations alone don’t change the world,” she stresses. “It’s women, with persistence and engagement, who drive change.”

She highlights Kosovo’s progress - women in leadership, media, and public service - but worries that passion for activism has waned. “Young people today, particularly men, seem more conservative. We need to reignite the spirit of the 1990s.”

Educating with inclusivity, not opposition

Afërdita Kelmendi believes in inclusive education as a tool for transformation. “Girls must know their rights - but boys must be included too,” she says. “We’re not in a gender war. We’re on a shared path to equality.”

She calls for creative, engaging educational formats that build solidarity and keep the legacy of Beijing alive: “Not just in history books, but in daily life.”

For all women and girls… “We must never stop. Change is slow, like pushing a mountain with your chest - but we push on, together.”

#ForAllWomenandGirls is a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Afërdita Saraçini Kelmendi, 65, a renowned journalist and co-founder of Radio Television 21 from Kosovo¹, reflects on her experience at the historic 1995 Beijing Conference and its lasting relevance in today’s work for gender equality and the rights of women and girls.

^{1 References to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).}