Leaders of 40 countries in the Asia-Pacific countries in Bangkok Thursday vowed to accelerate action on achieving gender equality and women's empowerment across the region.
The vow was contained in a Ministerial declaration on conclusion of an international conference on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Making a strong and united regional voice on the concluding day, the leaders made the commitment to reinforcing their efforts to eliminate gender discrimination and inequality, as a matter of human rights and for development and prosperity of the region.
Through Thursday's adoption of the 'Asia-Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment', governments from across the region pledged to strengthen institutions, enhance accountability, increase resources, forge stronger partnership and support regional cooperation in order to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.
According to a United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) press release issued after conclusion of the conference, governments will also pursue strong, inclusive and mutually accountable partnerships for full and effective implementation of the Ministerial Declaration, alongside the global agenda for gender equality, namely the Beijing Platform for Action.
Significantly, governments will also explore dedicated funding mechanisms and programmes to advance gender equality and women's empowerment, from local to the national levels, it added.
Over 700 Ministers, policy-makers and civil society representatives from across the region came together at the 'Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: Beijing +20 Review', organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
During the conference, they reviewed progress, remaining challenges and priorities in advancing gender equality.
Eliminating violence against women and girls, empowering women economically, increasing women's political participation and leadership, addressing emerging environmental challenges andadvancing peace and security for women and girls, were just some of the issues addressed.
The conference delegates applauded gains in advancing the status of women and girls in Asia and the Pacific, from progress in education and employment, to gains in health, political representation and rights but came to the conclusion from the high level discussions that challenges remain, with accelerated action needed for all women and girls to be able to fully and freely exercise their fundamental human rights, exercising choice and taking advantage of opportunities.
"We stand together today as guarantors of the rights and opportunities which vest in every woman and every girl - as equal, valuable and valued partners in shaping the future prosperity and destiny of our region," said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar in her closing remarks.
"This action-oriented document will help us consolidate our achievements, identify the gaps and priorities which remain, and tackle these through stronger institutions and partnerships, with greater financing and accountability, for gender equality and women's empowerment in Asia and the Pacific."
In closing remarks, Roberta Clarke, Regional Director of UN Women Asia and the Pacific and Representative in Thailand emphasised on connecting the Beijing review therefore to the other ongoing development discourses on post 2015 and the sustainable development goals which culminate in September 2015.
The Asia-Pacific Conference was held in advance of the historic and global commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which will take place next year in New York. During
its 59th session, the Commission on the Status of Women will review the progress and remaining challenges in realising gender equality and women's empowerment across the globe.
The 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from March 9 to March 20, 2015.
smunima@yahoo.com