International Women’s Day: Tracing the Legacy of the Beijing Platform for Action
In celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, UN Women Türkiye and the Embassy of Sweden hosted a special documentary screening event in Ankara. The event marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, bringing together activists, academics, diplomats, and young leaders to reflect on three decades of progress in advancing women’s rights and gender equality.
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The premiere of 30 Years, 7 Stories documentary in Ankara—marking three decades of progress since the Beijing Declaration, brought together activists, academics, diplomats, and young leaders. Credit: UN Women
UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Belen Sanz Luque remarked, "Commemorating this International Women's Day, and marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we recognize that youth voices and leadership are more critical than ever. We cannot allow another generation to inherit the same struggles. Therefore, we will push forward for rights, equality, and empowerment for all women and girls. Crucially, this push must be fueled by a robust intergenerational dialogue, bridging the wisdom of experience with the dynamism of youth. By fostering this exchange, we ensure a sustainable and effective path toward lasting change."
“We must advance—not in the distant future, but immediately, together with youth.” said Her Excellency Malena Mård, Ambassador of Sweden. “We must demand action, ensuring that gender equality remains paramount on global and national agendas. We must mobilize a new generation of leaders, ensuring that no girl has to wait decades to witness genuine change.”
With just five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, speakers underscored the urgency of renewed commitment to closing gender gaps, investing in young women’s leadership, and ensuring that the promises of the Beijing Declaration remain a reality for all.
(From left to right, in alphabetical order) Prof. Dr. Ayşe Ayata, Prof. Dr. Fatmagül Berktay, Prof. Dr. Feride Acar, Prof. Dr. Gaye Erbatur, Halime Güner, Dr. Selma Acuner, Prof. Dr. Yakın Ertürk. Credit: UN Women
30 Years, 7 Stories
At the heart of the event was the premiere of a documentary capturing the transformative impact of the Beijing Declaration over the past 30 years. The film explored milestones in women’s rights while addressing the persistent challenges that remain in Türkiye today. Structured around the personal stories and reflections of seven senior women activists, the documentary provided a historical overview, highlighted key achievements, and offered forward-looking recommendations for the next generation.
Time Is Now
Following the screening, a panel discussion engaged young leaders working on critical issues: gender parity in national and local government, ending violence against women, bridging the digital gender gap and transforming the care economy.
Panelists shared insights, challenges, and calls to action, emphasizing the intergenerational responsibility of continuing the work started by the Beijing Declaration. The discussion highlighted how young activists and professionals are driving change in their respective fields and explored innovative solutions to long-standing gender inequalities.
The conversation also shed light on barriers that persist—such as the lack of women in leadership roles, the gendered digital divide, online harassment, economic inequalities, and the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women.
A key theme that emerged was the importance of collaboration between different generations of activists and decision-makers. Speakers underscored that while significant progress has been made in the past 30 years, true equality will only be realized through continued advocacy, strategic investments, and a commitment to transforming norms that limit women and girls’ full participation in society.
"Although we were not yet born when the Fourth World Conference on Women took place in Beijing 30 years ago, the spirit of that conference continues to live within us. The fight for gender equality persists, and we may be the first generation to truly achieve it. From the digital divide to the care economy, from combating violence against women to empowering female leaders, we must engage in intergenerational cooperation to drive change across many areas. Beijing+30 presents us with a unique opportunity to accelerate equality. Now, it is time to take up this legacy and turn change into reality.”
Çağla Şahin, UN Women
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“Digital activism is a powerful tool for women to make their voices heard and defend their rights. However, inequality of access to the internet and digital tools and online violence threaten women's presence in this space. Digital rights are an integral part of women's rights and their protection is critical on the path to equality.”
Dilan Orak, IMDAT Association
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“In Türkiye, only 3 out of every 10 women are able to participate in the labor force and nearly 10 million women are unable to participate in the labor force due to their domestic and care responsibilities. To prevent the burden of care from falling solely on women, it is essential that unpaid household care work is equally distributed between women and men, and the publicization of care work is a vital step.”
İrem Gerkuş, Women for Women's Human Rights Association
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“Today we need more civic spaces where young women can empower themselves and ensure their presence in the public sphere.”
Hilal Gedik, Başkent Youth Council
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“The current discourse around AI and digital-critical literacy must be thought of in conversation with the Beijing 30+ process. It’s crucial to foster intergenerational dialogue and spaces to ensure the policies receive the revisions they need.”
Dilanaz Güler, One of Us Global Foundation
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A Call to Action for the Future
Bringing together different generations of activists, advocates, and leaders, the event reaffirmed the enduring impact of the Beijing Platform for Action and its role as a guiding force in the fight for gender equality. The conversation emphasized the need for continued solidarity, intergenerational collaboration, and bold action to close the gender gap in all spheres of life.
As International Women’s Day 2025 serves as a powerful reminder of the work still ahead, the event concluded with a resounding message: "For ALL Women and Girls: Equality in All Areas” The next generation is ready to lead the way—the time for action is now.
