China and
Kenya co-sponsored discussion on gender equality during a Human Rights Council
(HRC) session. The "Beijing+20: Gender Equality” discussion is part of the
HRC's 29th session taking place from June 15 to July 3 this year in Geneva
Switzerland.
The discussion
is meant to take stock of progress made since the adoption of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA) in 1995 while identifying remaining
challenges. Kenya and China were some of the main countries that contributed to
the adoption of (BDPA) in 1995.
Participants
and panelists including a number of NGOs applauded the progress made since the
BDPA was adopted 20 years ago, and highlighted the continued relevance of
BDPA's guidelines in today's gender equality agenda.
Zhao
Hongju, deputy director general of international department under All China
Women's Federation, warned that despite the significant progress made in terms
of women's economic empowerment, education, participation and decision making,
"greater efforts and resources are needed."
Maryann
Njau-Kimani, Kenya's Secretary of Justice, said "No country has achieved
full gender equality in all spheres of life," adding that political will
on a national, regional and global level is needed to address the remaining
gaps in gender equality.
Panelists
further condemned the protracted use of gender stereotypes and violence against
women endemic to all societies, and highlighted the importance of including
women's rights and gender equality in the post-2015 sustainable development
goals agenda.
