In Geneva on February 25, 2020, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet made the following statement (excerpted):
"The adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was a comprehensive expression of States’ commitments to the human rights of women and girls. One hundred and eighty nine countries pledged to achieve gender equality, in practice and in law, so that all women and girls could fully enjoy their inalienable rights and freedoms as equal human beings. A remarkable achievement, product of decades of advocacy and unwavering commitment of civil society groups, feminist movements and women’s rights activists. Indeed, both the Beijing World Conference and preceding conferences on Human Rights in Vienna and on Population and Development in Cairo saw an extraordinary mobilization of women’s rights activists of all ages and backgrounds.
They were not asking for any concessions, privileges or entitlements. What they wanted from the international community was the recognition that as fellow human beings, women have exactly the same rights as men. They were calling for the end of pervasive and centuries-old gender-based discrimination that prevented them from enjoying these human rights on equal footing.
Twenty-five years ago, their clamour was heard and answered. The rights of women and girls were recognized as inalienable, integral and indivisible from universal human rights.
It was a historic step forward.... And there has been progress ever since... The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes women and girls’ human rights and gender equality as indispensable for building a better future for all. As High Commissioner of Human Rights, a woman and a lifelong feminist, I am happy to be here with you today to cherish this progress.
We should always celebrate Beijing, but we must also remind ourselves that the Beijing agenda is unfinished. This is no time for complacency. The risks of setbacks are real – and growing."