Perhaps, you’ve heard echoes of a global gathering. It championed the rights of women held right here in Beijing. That event was the Fourth World Conference on Women. We are standing before a sculpture. It commemorates that pivotal conference. It’s the \u7b2c\u56db\u6b21\u4e16\u754c\u5987\u5973\u5927\u4f1a\u4f1a\u5fbd\u96d5\u5851 Sculpture.
The Fourth World Conference on Women took place in Beijing in 1995. The United Nations convened it. Governments worldwide united. They forged a plan. It aimed for global legal equality. It was known as the Beijing Platform for Action.
The UN’s founding charter in 1945 advocated equality. It was between men and women. From 1945 to 1975, women within the UN tried to turn principles into action. The UN General Assembly declared 1975 as International Women’s Year. They later announced 1976 to 1985 as the Decade of Women.
The first World Conference on Women was in Mexico City in 1975. It created the Declaration of Mexico. It focused on equality. It highlighted women’s contribution to development and peace. Copenhagen hosted the second conference in 1980. It acknowledged the 1979 Convention. It was about eliminating discrimination against women. It stressed equal access to education. It highlighted employment opportunities. It also focused on healthcare for women. Nairobi hosted the third conference in 1985. It measured progress in women’s equality. This included legal measures. It measured social and political participation.
The Beijing conference saw 189 governments participate. UN agencies and organizations attended. Activists from around the world joined. There were 17000 participants. 30000 activists attended a parallel forum. Gertrude Mongella of Tanzania was the secretary-general. Aung San Suu Kyi gave the keynote address.
Hillary Clinton gave a speech at the conference. It was titled “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights”. It was influential in the women’s rights movement. Beverley Palesa Ditsie spoke about LGBT rights. She urged recognition. Lesbian rights are women’s rights.
The Beijing Platform for Action is progressive. It addresses 12 areas. These include women and the environment. It highlights women in power. It focuses on the girl child. It also focuses on women and the economy. It targets poverty and violence against women. It considers human rights of women. Education and health are key. It recognizes women and the media. It acknowledges women and armed conflict.
A key result was the Beijing Declaration of Indigenous Women. It sought to reconcile tensions. It was between Indigenous women activists and male-dominated movements. It was a step forward for Indigenous women’s rights.
Global Focus: Women in Art and Culture was a project. Nancy Cusick founded it. It allowed women artists to participate. They addressed universal issues. Most artworks were displayed at the World Trade Center in Beijing.
In 2004, the Fourth World Conference on Women Commemorative Park opened. It was in Huairou District. It is where the NGO forum was held. UN Women started the Beijing+20 campaign in 2014. It commemorated the conference’s 20th anniversary.
As you stand before this \u7b2c\u56db\u6b21\u4e16\u754c\u5987\u5973\u5927\u4f1a\u4f1a\u5fbd\u96d5\u5851 Sculpture, remember its message. It is a call for equality. It is a reminder of the progress made. It is a challenge for the work ahead. The journey toward gender equality continues. This sculpture stands as a symbol. It represents hope. It embodies determination.