Nairobi Conference

Definition

The Nairobi Conference, formally known as the United Nations World Conference on Women, took place in 1985 in Nairobi, Kenya. It was a landmark event that aimed to address the global issues facing women and to set a framework for action to improve their rights and status worldwide, marking a significant moment for international women's organizations and movements.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Nairobi Conference brought together over 15,000 participants, including delegates from 157 countries, NGOs, and activists focused on women's issues.
2. One of the key outcomes of the conference was the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, which outlined specific actions to promote gender equality and empower women globally.
3. The conference highlighted critical issues such as violence against women, education, health, and economic participation, emphasizing that these areas were interconnected.
4. It was at this conference that the importance of involving women in decision-making processes at all levels was strongly advocated for, recognizing their crucial role in society.
5. The Nairobi Conference laid the groundwork for future international discussions on women's rights and influenced subsequent events like the Beijing Conference in 1995.

Review Questions

• What were some of the major themes addressed during the Nairobi Conference, and how did they shape the agenda for future women's rights initiatives?
  • The Nairobi Conference addressed critical themes such as violence against women, education, health care access, and economic empowerment. These issues were recognized as interconnected challenges that needed to be tackled together to promote gender equality effectively. The outcomes of the conference shaped future initiatives by establishing a clear agenda through the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, which became a foundation for further discussions and actions in subsequent international gatherings on women's rights.
• Analyze how the outcomes of the Nairobi Conference influenced later events like the Beijing Conference in 1995.
  • The outcomes of the Nairobi Conference significantly influenced the Beijing Conference by providing a foundational framework that prioritized women's empowerment and rights on a global scale. The strategies developed in Nairobi addressed various aspects of women's lives and served as a guiding document for discussions at Beijing. As a result, many of the goals set at Nairobi were further advanced at Beijing, where a more comprehensive agenda was adopted, solidifying commitments from nations worldwide to achieve gender equality.
• Evaluate the impact of the Nairobi Conference on contemporary discussions around gender equality and women's rights globally.
  • The impact of the Nairobi Conference on contemporary discussions around gender equality is profound and far-reaching. It established a global platform where women's issues could be discussed at high levels of government and civil society. The conference's emphasis on intersectional issues like violence against women and economic inequality continues to resonate today. Current global movements for gender equality often reference the frameworks set forth during Nairobi as foundational elements that guide policy-making and advocacy efforts. This legacy reflects a growing recognition that sustainable progress requires addressing systemic inequalities affecting women across various contexts.

Related terms

Beijing Declaration: A comprehensive policy agenda adopted at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, building on the frameworks established at earlier conferences like the Nairobi Conference.

CEDAW: The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted in 1979, which serves as an international bill of rights for women.

Women’s Rights Movement: A social and political movement advocating for the rights and equality of women in various aspects of life, including legal, social, and economic rights.