Overview : In September 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women made a historic announcement, remarkably producing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted by 189 countries, which paved the way for advancing women’s rights. The Platform for Action identified 12 areas of concern; which basically covers all aspects of life that influence women and girls in their daily struggles. The 12 areas of concern presented a clear roadmap to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. As the world celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the declaration this year, international and national efforts stands out, manifesting the key milestones and further steps needed to reach the full empowerment of women and girls. In Egypt, since the announcement of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, great efforts and enormous achievements have been reached over the course of 20 years. New legislations, women movements, feminist unions, and equal representation are some of the examples that highlight progress towards women’s empowerment and potential opportunities available to address the remaining persisting challenges in the country. Although a lot has been achieved, yet there are still actions needed to address the persisting challenges facing women among which is women’s representation and participation in leadership and decision-making. Women continue to be underrepresented in leading positions of businesses, organizations, boards of directors, public and private institutions, etc. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to women’s empowerment and considers 2015 an important year for gender equality, women’s empowerment and development. Through a number of ways, UNDP supported ending violence against women and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in particular, advocated for women’s representation and inclusion in decision-making as well as full participation in the economy and labor force. In appreciation and recognition of efforts and achievements earned by Egyptian women, national counterparts, women’s rights advocates and supporters, UNDP will mark the year through a one year-long communications and advocacy campaign to engage the general public in the issue and advocate for the advancement of gender equality and women’s empowerment especially for women’s representation and participation in leadership and decision-making. The campaign will be held in partnership with national counterparts. The campaign is designed to highlight the celebration of the twentieth year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and to showcase and applaud Egyptian women’s achievements in those 20 years, aiming to have a big and widely disseminated campaign on women’s empowerment in Egypt. The campaign will also send messages related to the gender gaps that still persist and hinder women’s full representation and participation in the public and private spheres. |