Beijing +20: Expectation 1995 V/S Reality 2015

The year 1995 was the boiling point of the feminist movement.  Half a lakh people from accross the world traveled to Beijing for the Fourth World Women's Conference driven by one force: the demand for justice. And indeed, their pleas pierced through the pandemonium in the form of a declaration: the Beijing Declaration.

This declaration stipulated a total and absolute destruction of gender based discrimination and disparity across all spheres, industries, demographies and geographies.

The UN had labeled this as the "Most progressive blueprint ever for the advancement of Women's Rights."

Today, we stand Twenty years from that point, celebrating the 20th anniversary of that historic moment, but let's step out of the brouhaha, and analyze whether the ambitious document stands executed or corrected.

Expectation 1995: 189 nations that had met for the conference, ratified and pledged to overcome the gender gap.

Reality 2015: No country has yet achieved all the objectives. Yes, there has been progress. But the document stated 100 percent equality, with a downright refusal to settle for anything lesser.

Expectation 1995: make the streets absolutely safe for women, by wiping out sexual violence and harassment from the face of the earth. The Declaration for Elimination of Violence Against Women was drafted, providing a framework for overcoming the issues.

Reality 2015: One in three women, accross the globe, still confesses to having undergone some degree of sexual harassment- most of which have complained of such treatment administered to them by their partners, families and friends.

Expectation 1995: "The explicit recognition and reaffirmation of the right of all women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their own fertility, is basic to their empowerment."

Reality 2015: 800 women are still dying everyday, of treatable pregnancy related complications, in Sub-Saharan Africa, and in the same region, women spend over 16 million hours a day trying to get clean water. But in the rest of the world, 2 billion people have gained access to clean water since 1995.

Expectation 1995: “Promote women's economic independence, including employment,and eradicate the persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women by addressing the structural causes of poverty through changes uneconomic, ensuring equal access for all women, including those in rural areas, as vital development agents, to productive resources, opportunities and public services;” amounting to inclusive policies in corporates and legislature, amounting to equal representation. Fair remuneration to eradicate gender based disparity in wages completely.

Reality 2015: although the world has made strides of progress in inclusive policies for women in the workplace, we are far from the 50 percent mark. 45 percent women still work without any remuneration, as opposed to 18 percent of the male workforce.

The numbers of women have doubled in legislature, with 11 percent women in 1995 turning to 23 percent right now.  25 of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women, compared to a lone ranger two decades ago.

Expectation 1995: Reaffirming women’s right to education. By stating “Ensure equal access to and equal treatment of women and men in education and health care and enhance women's sexual and reproductive health as well as education.”

Reality 2015: The gender gap in primary education has been overcome, but most of these girls don't make it to secondary school. Even today, there are only 64 girls to every 100 boys in secondary and tertiary schools. There has been little progress in adult literacy too – an 8 percent rise from 76 percent to 84 percent- which is hardly commendable.

Expectation 1995: The declaration acknowledged that war impacts women differently and stated that “Local, national, regional and global peace is attainable and is inextricably linked with the advancement of women, who are a fundamental force for leadership, conflict resolution and the promotion of lasting peace at all levels.”

Reality 2015: Only 9 percent of the negotiators at peace tables around the world are women.

But, there is a sense of optimism. Progress is slow, but it is present. The Beijing +20 celebrations are doubling up as wake up calls, to re-infuse the vigor that was present in 1995. Gender equality can, and will, be achieved is the overall message of this initiative.

Featured Picture Courtesy: UNDP.org