2015 represents an important moment for gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights. It is twenty years since the landmark Beijing Conference on Women and fifteen years since the ground-breaking United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was adopted. In light of these key milestones and as the post-2015 development framework is agreed and implemented, three UK Networks – WIDE+ member GADN, GAPS and the UK SRHR network have come together to assess progress.
Over the last two decades there have been many new commitments and increasing political rhetoric on gender equality and the realisation of rights for women and girls, but limited real progress in achieving either. In the report, Turning Promises to Progress, the networks conclude that this is, in part, because the underlying causes of gender equality have not been addressed and there was insufficient political will to make the changes needed on the ground. Detailed recommendations for concrete action to turn rhetoric into change are outlined throughout the report.
A copy of Turning Promises into Progress can be found on GADN websites: www.gadnetwork.org/turning-promises-into-progress and www.gaps-uk.org/2015-report. Attached is a copy of the Summary Briefing. For a printed briefing, please contact: info[at]gadnetwork.org.