Un Decade for Women

Definition

The Un Decade for Women refers to a series of international conferences and initiatives from 1976 to 1985 aimed at promoting women's rights and gender equality globally. This period marked significant global recognition of the issues women face, leading to the establishment of various international women's organizations and fostering dialogue among nations regarding policies that support women's empowerment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Un Decade for Women began with the first conference in Mexico City in 1975 and was followed by subsequent meetings in Copenhagen (1980) and Nairobi (1985).
2. These conferences led to the creation of action plans aimed at improving women's status in areas such as education, employment, health care, and political participation.
3. The decade focused on raising awareness about issues such as violence against women and discrimination in various spheres of life.
4. One significant outcome was the increased funding for programs addressing women's rights and empowerment from various international organizations and governments.
5. The Un Decade for Women laid the groundwork for future global initiatives, including the Beijing Platform for Action, which further advanced women's rights.

Review Questions

• What were the key objectives of the Un Decade for Women, and how did they aim to address women's issues globally?
  • The key objectives of the Un Decade for Women included promoting women's rights, eliminating discrimination, and enhancing women's roles in society. The conferences sought to address a wide range of issues affecting women globally, such as health care access, education opportunities, economic participation, and political representation. By establishing action plans and fostering international cooperation, the Un Decade aimed to create a unified approach towards improving the status of women around the world.
• Discuss the significance of the 1985 Nairobi Conference within the framework of the Un Decade for Women and its impact on future international policies.
  • The 1985 Nairobi Conference was significant as it culminated the Un Decade for Women with a comprehensive plan of action that emphasized not just women's rights but also their active participation in development. This conference recognized that gender equality was essential for social justice and sustainable development. The outcomes set new international standards for gender equality initiatives and influenced future frameworks like the Beijing Declaration by building momentum towards systemic change in women's rights globally.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of the Un Decade for Women on contemporary discussions about gender equality and women's rights on a global scale.
  • The Un Decade for Women had lasting impacts on contemporary discussions about gender equality by establishing a foundational framework that highlighted systemic issues affecting women worldwide. It raised awareness on critical topics such as violence against women and discrimination while advocating for policy changes across nations. The decade's influence is evident today in ongoing global efforts towards gender equality, including initiatives like CEDAW and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which prioritize gender equality as a crucial component of development strategies.

Related terms

CEDAW: The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, an international treaty adopted in 1979 aimed at ending discrimination against women and promoting gender equality.

Beijing Declaration: A landmark policy agenda adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, focusing on achieving gender equality, development, and peace.

Women’s Empowerment: The process of increasing the spiritual, political, social, educational, gender, or economic strength of individuals and communities, particularly women.