14508/09 ADD 1 PL/vk 1 DG G COUNCIL OF THE ... - Europa
14508/09 ADD 1 PL/vk 1 DG G COUNCIL OF THE ... - Europa
14508/09 ADD 1 PL/vk 1 DG G COUNCIL OF THE ... - Europa
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I. INTRODUCTION<br />
The official document adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing 1995 is<br />
called the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for Equality, Development and Peace (PfA).<br />
The PfA is an agenda for women’s empowerment that reaffirms the fundamental principle whereby<br />
the human rights of women and the girl child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of<br />
universal human rights. As an agenda for action, the platform seeks to promote and protect the full<br />
enjoyment of all human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all women throughout their life<br />
cycle.<br />
The PfA respects and values the full diversity of women’s situations and conditions and recognises<br />
that some women face particular barriers to their empowerment. The PfA recognises that<br />
broad-based and sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development is necessary<br />
to sustain social development and social justice.<br />
A thorough review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for<br />
Action has been carried out twice: at the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly of the<br />
United Nations in 2000 (Beijing + 5) and at the 49 th Session of the Commission on the Status of<br />
Women (CSW) in 2005 (Beijing + 10). The review and appraisal by the CSW in 2005 identified<br />
achievements, gaps and challenges and provided an indication of areas where further actions and<br />
initiatives were most urgently needed.<br />
Following the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, the Madrid European<br />
Council (December 1995) requested an annual review of the implementation in the Member States<br />
of the Beijing Platform for Action. Since 1999, sets of quantitative and qualitative indicators have<br />
been developed by subsequent Presidencies in 9 of the 12 critical areas of concern in the Beijing<br />
Platform for Action.<br />
In 2010, at its 54 th Session, the Commission on the Status of Women will review the<br />
implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the 23 rd<br />
Special Session of the General Assembly and its contribution to shaping a gender perspective<br />
towards the full realisation of the Millennium Development Goals.<br />
<strong>14508</strong>/<strong>09</strong> <strong>ADD</strong> 1 <strong>PL</strong>/<strong>vk</strong> 6<br />
ANNEX <strong>DG</strong> G EN