Civil society from the UNECE region make their voices heard and call for new gender equality commitments
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Civil society representatives from over 78 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across 48 member states convened in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 21–22, 2024, to push for stronger commitments to promote gender equality at the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting. The event, organized every five years and hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), marks a critical step towards the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA). The BPfA, a global blueprint for advancing women's rights, will be reviewed and appraised at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in March 2025.
Over 200 participants, including youth leaders and academics, came together to evaluate progress, set new priorities, and urge government representatives to renew their commitments to gender equality. This participation was the culmination of months of consultations and dialogues led by various groups, including the Beijing+30 Civil Society Steering Committee, established by UN Women ECARO, and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, based in Geneva.
Between May and September 2024, the Beijing+30 Civil Society Steering Committee engaged with over 500 civil society representatives through consultations, resulting in insights and recommendations on six key BPfA themes: Inclusive development, shared prosperity, and decent work; Poverty eradication, social protection, and social services; Freedom from violence, stigma, and stereotypes; Peaceful and inclusive societies; Participation, accountability, and gender-responsive institutions; and Environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation. Each consultation produced an outcome document that empowered civil society representatives to actively contribute to the discussions and raise critical issues during the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting.
Meanwhile, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women encouraged NGOs to review the BPfA’s 12 critical areas, culminating in the Civil Society Forum on October 19-20, 2024. “The yearlong Beijing+30 civil society consultation process united the voices of women and girls across the region to identify the most pressing issues and propose actionable recommendations, calling for urgent action from Member States, UN entities, the private sector, academia, and NGOs to address these challenges,” said Carolyn Handschin-Moser, President of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women. “The outcome documents are powerful advocacy tools to achieve equality for all women and girls. Without missing a step, the momentum and common voice move on to CSW69, with a united call to action.”

During the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting, the Civil Society Steering Committee emphasized ongoing barriers to gender equality, including economic inequality, limited access to quality jobs, and gender-based violence, particularly in rural areas. Oleksandra Harmash, a member of the Beijing+30 Civil Society Steering Committee and representative of the Rural Women Business Network from Ukraine, underscored the importance of women’s involvement in peacebuilding and environmental policies. “Without women's meaningful participation, true equality and peace remain out of reach,” she noted.
Marija Risteska, Executive Director of the Centre for Research and Policy Making in North Macedonia, called for challenging gender stereotypes and adopting shared responsibility in caregiving roles. “Women are penalized for being mothers. Deep-rooted cultural norms and gender stereotypes regarding care responsibilities must be addressed. It’s time for change,” Risteska stated.
The committee also highlighted the need for greater women's inclusion in decision-making, the challenges NGOs face due to limited resources and government resistance, and the importance of raising awareness about BPfA to improve accountability. “Political instability, lack of governmental cooperation, and shrinking space for NGOs hinder gender equality reforms. The rise of anti-gender movements, particularly targeting LGBTQI+ communities and gender activists, creates a hostile environment that undermines progress in gender equality,” warned Elene Rusetskaia, Chairperson of the Women’s Information Center in Georgia.
The NGO Committee on the Status of Women stressed that despite progress in legal frameworks, significant barriers remain, including inequitable distribution of unpaid care work, gender pay gaps, and patriarchal economic systems. They called for a shift toward a feminist, human rights-based, and sustainable economy focused on care.
“From the Holding the Line Coalition’s perspective, the discussions should have placed more emphasis on systemic critiques of capitalism, militarism, and colonialism, which drive both environmental harm and gender inequality,” said Hanna Gunnarsson, Gender Expert within Women Engage for a Common Future. “Strengthening the focus in our region on feminist global solidarity, Indigenous leadership, and intersectional feminist action against anti-gender and anti-rights movements would deepen the reach of transformative justice. This would ensure it moves beyond policy frameworks and towards real, structural change that addresses the root causes of oppression and inequality.”
Youth leading the charge for change
Youth were at the forefront of the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting, having participated in three online dialogues hosted by UN Women and UNFPA between May and September 2024. These dialogues provided young people with a platform to voice their concerns, share recommendations, and propose solutions. Each consultation resulted in a position paper that was presented during the meeting in Geneva.

Asel Kumanychevkova, President and Board Member of the Women's Entrepreneurship Development Foundation of the Kyrgyz Republic, participated in the youth dialogue on September 12, 2024. During the meeting, she emphasized the need for women’s active participation in shaping entrepreneurial ecosystems. “Three barriers continue to hold back women entrepreneurs: safety, lack of gender-disaggregated data, and exclusion from decision-making. We must address these to unlock the full potential of women entrepreneurs in the region,” Kumanychevkova noted.
Branislava Arađan, Project and Youth Ambassador Coordinator at the WAVE Network, joined the youth consultation on June 7, 2024, focusing on youth contributions to peacebuilding, ending violence against women, and challenging stigma and stereotypes. “Access to decision-making spaces remains limited for many young people due to barriers like complex engagement processes, technical language, and political hierarchies based on age and other intersecting factors,” Arađan explained during the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting. “To overcome these barriers, we need to simplify engagement processes, use language that bridges generational gaps, and fully harness digital platforms to enhance youth participation.”