Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Asia and the Pacific

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental human rights issues and cornerstones of sustainable and equitable development. For the last 20 years, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action have guided the realization of these essential elements of the future we want.

In recognition of the significance of gender equality, especially for the new global development agenda, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in cooperation with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), conducted a study of the perspectives of Governments in the Asia-Pacific region with respect to progress in implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

This report is the result of the analytical review, outlining the perspectives of ESCAP members and associate members with respect to progress towards, and fundamental requirements for, the realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment in Asia and the Pacific.