For All Women and Girls: Selma Acuner and the power of negotiation in gender advocacy

Date: Monday, 10 November 2025

Selma Acuner, a dedicated gender equality advocate and policy expert, has played a key role in bringing feminist perspectives into international negotiations and multilateral processes. Photo: UN Women/Ali Saltan

#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 and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration. Selma Acuner, a prominent gender equality advocate and policy negotiator, reflects on the importance of inclusive negotiation processes, civil society engagement, and the collective efforts that have driven the women’s movement forward.

A voice for gender equality in global policy

Selma Acuner has spent decades working at the intersection of gender equality, international negotiations, and civil society organizing. With a background in public administration and gender studies, she has represented Türkiye in various international fora, including the 1995 Beijing Conference, where she played a vital role in both official and non-governmental spaces.

Her work spans government delegations, women’s platforms, and academic institutions. She is especially recognized for helping bridge the gap between feminist civil society actors and official policy structures. “We always believed that policy must reflect the lived realities of women,” Acuner notes. Her career has been dedicated to ensure that women’s voices are not just heard but placed at the center of decision-making.

Women at the negotiation table: Shaping policy with purpose

For Acuner, one of the most powerful lessons from Beijing was the importance of women negotiators in shaping global gender policy. She recalls how feminist delegates within official teams often had to balance their national positions with the broader vision of the Platform for Action.

“We were not just observers. We were in the room where it happened - negotiating texts, pushing language, insisting on rights-based language even when there was resistance,” she says. That persistence helped ensure the final document reflected a strong vision of equality and rights.

She emphasizes that women negotiators - especially those informed by feminist principles - can lead to more inclusive, equitable outcomes.

"Negotiation is not only about compromise. It's about standing firm on what matters. And for us, that was always the human rights of women and girls.”

Selma Acuner, Gender Equality Advocate and Policy Expert

From government delegate to civil society champion

Although Acuner attended the Beijing Conference as part of Türkiye’s official delegation, she was also instrumental in involving civil society organizations in the process. “We worked hard to make sure NGO voices were not sidelined. It was essential for national delegations to hear directly from grassroots activists, scholars, and feminist leaders,” she recalls.

Following the conference, she transitioned to civil society roles, continuing her advocacy for institutional reform. As one of the founders of the Women’s Platform for the Beijing Process in Türkiye, she contributed to building networks that would monitor and hold governments accountable for their commitments made in Beijing.

Sustaining momentum through collective action

Acuner remains a strong believer in the collective power of women’s movements. She underscores the importance of intergenerational dialogue and intersectional organizing as key tools for sustaining progress. “The feminist movement must evolve with time. New forms of inequality require new tools, but our core values - equality, justice, and rights - remain the same,” she affirms.

While she recognizes the progress made since Beijing, she also warns of new challenges, including shrinking civic space and the co-opting of gender agendas. She encourages young activists to remain vigilant and creative. “Do not be afraid to enter negotiation spaces. Be prepared, be strategic, but never lose your values,” she advises.

A call to the next generation

Reflecting on 30 years of activism and policy work, Acuner sends a message to young feminists around the world:

“We made gains by being inside the rooms of power and holding the line. Now it’s your turn to be there - not just to continue our fight, but to redefine the future. Don’t just take your place at the table. Change the table.”

For ALL women and girls, the Beijing Declaration is not only a historic document - it is a living promise. And with strong, values-driven negotiators, that promise can endure.