Final Beijing+30 dialogue: Youth from Europe and Central Asia advocate for co-creating an equal future

The final dialogue in a series of consultations with youth and adolescents gathered critical insights on key gender equality issues to inform the Beijing+30 review process.

On September 12, 2024, young people from across Europe and Central Asia gathered virtually for the third and final dialogue leading up to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Co-organized by the UN Women and UNFPA Regional Offices for Europe and Central Asia, the event focused on core themes of the Beijing Platform for Action: ‘Gender Stereotypes’, ‘Women's Economic Empowerment’ and ‘Participation and Decision-Making.’ Participants discussed their concerns, hopes, and ideas for promoting equal rights and opportunities.

“The Beijing Platform for Action, initiated in 1995, united countries in committing to a world free from discrimination, promoting equality and justice. As we approach its 30th anniversary, we find ourselves at a crossroads where we can shape a better future,” stated Elisa Fernandez, UN Women Europe and Central Asia Deputy Regional Director. “The voices of young people are crucial in guiding this future, and their active participation, concerns, and recommendations are vital for developing solutions from a youth perspective,” Elisa Fernandez concluded.

The dialogue addressed several key topics, including gender stereotypes, women’s economic empowerment, and decision-making.

During the discussion on gender stereotypes, the meeting participants highlighted several key recommendations, including the use of inclusive, intersectional language in journalism, education, and healthcare; countering the rise of anti-rights and anti-gender narratives and movements; and holding men and boys, particularly those in positions of power, accountable. “We need to create de-radicalization networks to engage with individuals exposed to misogynistic content online,” Dilanaz Güler, a gender equality activist from Türkiye pointed out. "It's also crucial to address gender stereotyping in healthcare by improving curricula and increasing funding for women's health beyond stereotypical notions.”

In the area of ‘Women's Economic Empowerment,’ the youth recommended improving access to financial resources for women and increasing non-earmarked, participatory feminist funding for feminist and youth organizations.

“We need to rethink the approach to women's economic empowerment. It's not just about what the government creates or provides, but about collaborating with women's, feminist, and youth organizations to jointly co-create, co-design, and co-implement initiatives, with a focus on feminist budgeting,” emphasized Asel Kubanychbekova, Founder and Member of the Board of the Women's Entrepreneurship Development Foundation in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Regarding participation and decision-making, the youth proposed several measures: applying systems thinking, decolonial approaches, and power analysis to challenge gender stereotypes; urging Member States and organizations to implement feminist accessibility protocols; and advancing the equitable representation of women and young women in diplomacy and peace processes.

Participants stressed the need to shift the language from “participation” to “co-creation” and “co-leadership,” ensuring that young women and adolescents are not just recipients, but co-creators of processes and information. They also called for an intersectional approach to ensure the leadership of young women in all their diversity, with a particular focus on promoting women with disabilities as leaders in the gender movement.

This dialogue was part of an ongoing series aimed at ensuring meaningful youth participation in assessing progress and setting priorities for gender equality. Following earlier sessions in May and June, this final consultation brought together insights and recommendations from across the series.

The outcomes of these dialogues will directly inform the upcoming Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting, ensuring that youth and adolescents’ perspectives and priorities are central to the discussions and decisions related to the future of gender equality in the region.