PES Women Resolution on Beijing + 10
The following resolution was adopted at the meeting of PES Women on 17 January 2005 and sent to PES gender equality ministers before the UN meeting in New York (28 February -11 March 2005)
(17 January 2005)
At their meeting on 17 January 2005, PES Women discussed the preparations for the up-coming ten year review of the Beijing Platform for Action at the 49th Session of the UN Commission for the Advancement of Women in New York, 28 February - 11 March 2005.
The UN meeting in New York is an occasion to reiterate and reinforce the political commitment made in Beijing ten years ago to equality between women and men, equal opportunities in political, economic and social life and the respect for women’s human rights. PES Women strongly supports the Beijing Platform for Action which must remain irreversible and non-negotiable.
Although significant progress has been made in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, progress is still slow and uneven. Political will at the highest levels remains insufficient. Mainstreaming of gender equality in all spheres of life is still weak.
The empowerment of women must be our first task. Gender mainstreaming can only be effective when women are empowered so that their voices can be heard and their work and contribution to the society can be respected and valued in a parity democracy.
On this occasion, PES Women calls upon world leaders, and especially socialist and social-democratic leaders, to reaffirm the values and commitments made in Beijing in 2000 and to focus on the empowerment of women, so that through gender mainstreaming we can build a better world of social justice, equality in status and equal opportunities for women and men.
In particular, PES Women demands that:
- the wording of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Cairo Conference on Population on women’s reproductive rights should be preserved;
- the quota system should be reinforced as a positive and affirmative measure to promote equal participation of women in decision-making at all levels;
- additional steps should be taken to eradicate violence against women in society, as well as in conflict and crisis situations, and the trafficking of women and children.
The actions undertaken by socialist and social-democratic parties, while in government and in society in general, offer positive examples of how we can tackle gender inequality through:
- the legislation on equality between men and women and equal opportunities, as well as on violence against women;
- positive measures, such as quotas and parity (“the zipper system”) on electoral lists, to promote the participation of women in political and public life.
- social and economic measures focusing on social welfare and employment and through fostering social solidarity.
