For ALL Women and Girls: Gülfer Kırbaş on feminist legacy, struggle, and solidarity amid the backlash against women’s rights

Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Gülfer Kırbaş, a feminist and activist from Türkiye, at CSW69 in New York. Photo: Personal archive

#ForAllWomenAndGirls is a rallying call for action, as we mark 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 them is Gülfer Kırbaş, co-founder and co-general coordinator of the Çember Civil Initiative Association in Türkiye, who has been tirelessly working for women’s rights and empowerment for years - even amid crises such as the pandemic and devastating earthquakes.

With energy, purpose, and determination, Kırbaş traveled to New York to take part in the 69^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in March 2025. This year’s session focused on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

“The story of the Beijing Declaration - and the power of struggle that emerged from it — is incredibly inspiring,” she says. “This year’s CSW felt even more special because we were marking the Declaration’s 30th anniversary.”

“We are inheriting an important legacy from women who have long been engaged in advocacy. To carry this legacy forward in the best way possible, we need to become more involved and learn the tools of advocacy,” Kırbaş adds.

“With a strong legacy, we can resist the backlash on women’s rights”

Kırbaş highlights that CSW69 placed strong emphasis on the need to create sustainable resources for women’s organizations. “With a well-supported civil society, a strong legacy of struggle, and the rise of a new generation of activism, we can push back more forcefully against the backlash on women’s rights,” she continues.

Gülfer Kırbaş at the UN General Assembly. Photo: Personal archive

One of the most powerful moments for her was the intergenerational dialogue, where veteran feminists who helped shape the original Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action shared a simple yet profound piece of advice with the younger generation: “Speak up. Start with those closest to you. Share what you know to be true.”

Gülfer Kırbaş notes that civil society’s space within global mechanisms has been shrinking in recent years. Yet rather than giving in to frustration, she calls for renewed advocacy - strengthening women’s movements, creating new channels for engagement, and reigniting the transformative force behind platforms like CSW and the Beijing Declaration.

At CSW69, Gülfer Kırbaş witnessed firsthand the collective strength of women coming together across borders. She met activists from around the world, sharing stories, challenges, and strategies. “While our issues converge in many ways, each struggle carries its own unique spirit and inspiration,” she reflects.

“I came back empowered. I realized that while we may sometimes feel isolated or stuck, we are part of a larger, vibrant movement - and I will pass on this sense of strength to every woman I work with.”

Gülfer Kırbaş is a feminist activist, deeply committed and inspired by the legacy of those who came before her. Her message is clear: “The pursuit of gender equality must not only continue – it must also grow louder and stronger #ForAllWomenAndGirls.”

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