Global IssuesHow Megatrends Affect Advancement of Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment in Asia and the Pacific
BANGKOK, Thailand, Nov 07 (IPS) - The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 during the Fourth World Conference on Women, remains a cornerstone in the global pursuit of gender equality and women's empowerment. With the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review fast approaching, now is the time to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that remain in Asia and the Pacific.
Despite significant strides in women's education and health, and some progress made in women's political representation in the past three decades, progress towards gender equality appears to be stagnating, and even regressing in some areas such as labour force participation. Women in all their diversity continue to face significant barriers.
Gender-based violence, discrimination, and women's disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care work, persist across the region. Women continue to perform up to five times more care work than men. And in South Asia, projections show there will be 129 poor women for every 100 poor men by 2030. The level of political will to address these issues remains inadequate.
Moreover, women and girls have been disproportionately affected by multiple and inter-related crises. The socioeconomic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the triple-planetary crisis (climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss), food insecurity, energy crises and growing digital divides disproportionately impact women, with vulnerable groups hit hardest.
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
The upcoming Ministerial Conference in Bangkok from 19-21 November 2024 as well as the CSO Forum immediately preceding the conference will be a platform for enhanced cooperation among member States and key stakeholders. It will:
- Evaluate Progress: Assess the implementation of the Beijing Declaration across the region, identifying successes and areas for improvement.
- Heighten Ambitions: Encourage Member States to set more ambitious gender equality targets within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Foster Collaboration: Promote regional cooperation and share good practices.
- Innovate Solutions: Highlight innovative approaches that can drive gender equality, such as digital inclusion and green economy initiatives.
In addressing these objectives, the series of deliberations will also consider the impact of megatrends, including poverty and inequality; demographic changes; urbanization; digitalization and AI. The importance of a just transition must be emphasized to ensure economic shifts benefit women equally, which will in turn benefit all of society.
As underscored during the Summit of the Future, taking decisive actions now is essential to safeguard the rights of future generations and ensure an inclusive, sustainable world.
While notable progress has been made across the Asia-Pacific region, further advancements will depend on how we address recurring challenges:
Megatrends Shaping Gender Equality
Climate change: A just transition to sustainable economies must consider the social implications for disadvantaged groups, including women in vulnerable situations. Women are disproportionately affected by job losses in traditional sectors and increased care responsibilities. Ensuring access to new opportunities, such as green jobs, is essential.
Additionally, policies must address gender-specific vulnerabilities, promote women's leadership in climate action, and ensure that transitions are inclusive and equitable. Also, climate-induced disasters in the Asia-Pacific region disproportionately impact women and girls, highlighting the urgent need for increased attention to resilience-building initiatives and gender-responsive disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies that empower and protect them in the face of escalating environmental risks.
Inequalities: Poverty and inequality often wear a woman's face because women are disproportionately affected by economic disparities and lack access to opportunities for education, employment, and healthcare. Women are more likely to engage in unpaid care work and informal employment, which offers little social protection.
Cultural norms and discrimination further limit women's access to resources. Targeted policies are critical to achieving gender equality. Women and girls facing intersecting forms of inequalities require greater partnerships and greater representation so that policies and services address their specific challenges, prevent further discrimination, and allow for all women to equally benfit from the region's rapid growth and innovation.
Demographic shifts, particularly population aging: The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing both a youth bulge and rapid aging, each with significant gendered impacts. For countries experiencing a youth bulge, a demographic dividend is possible but is hindered by high unemployment and limited educational opportunities, disproportionately affecting young women and heightening risks of instability.
In aging populations, gaps in social protection and healthcare access particularly burden older women, who often lack retirement benefits due to informal, lower-paid work histories. Addressing these dual shifts requires policies that recognize unpaid care work and invest in the care economy, ensuring equitable support across age groups.
Urbanization: Rapid urbanization creates opportunities but also increases vulnerabilities, such as challenges in accessing services and exposure to violence. Gender-responsive urban planning can ensure women benefit from urban growth. This includes creating safe public spaces, accessible and affordable care services, safe transportation, and affordable housing that can accommodate women's needs.
The emergence of digital technologies: The advancement of digital technologies and AI presents opportunities for empowering women through access to information, education, and economic opportunities. However, technology is widening inequalities in the region and increasingly being used to mete out violence against women and girls and gender biases in AI algorithms persist, perpetuating existing inequalities. Only 30% of the workforce in the renewable energy sector are women.
Looking forward to November!
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains a vital framework for achieving gender equality in Asia and the Pacific. We look forward to discussing these issues with a broad range of stakeholders at the upcoming Ministerial Conference.
This conference represents a crucial moment to reflect on progress, address ongoing challenges, and seize new opportunities to empower women and girls. When coming together, we can foster innovative solutions and build a more equitable and prosperous future for all, ensuring that the aspirations of the Beijing Declaration are fully realized for generations to come.
Additional information is available on the ESCAP and UN Women dedicated websites for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review:
Srinivas Tata is Director, Social Development Division; Christine Arab, Regional Director, UNWOMEN and Channe Lindstrøm Oğuzhan, Social Affairs Officer, Social Development Division.
Source: ESCAP
IPS UN Bureau
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