[2025-05-14] Ban Ki-moon calls for bold, urgent action to realize the promises of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Author: Ahjung Lee
Ban Ki-moon delivers the keynote address at the International Women’s Day 2025 commemoration event, hosted by UN Women’s Knowledge and Partnerships Centre in the Republic of Korea, on 12 March in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Photo: UN Women/Jaeyeon Jeong
As the world marks three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), former United Nations Chief Ban Ki-moon delivered a powerful message of reflection, accountability and urgent action at the 2025 International Women’s Day Commemoration in the Republic of Korea. Organized by the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre, the event brought together government officials, civil society leaders, private sector representatives and members of the diplomatic community, all united by a shared commitment to gender equality.
Ban, who served as the eighth UN Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016 and created UN Women, reminded the audience that, while gender equality is critical to development and peace, “we are still very far from where we need to be.”
Ban Ki-moon is warmly welcomed by participants at the International Women’s Day 2025 commemoration event. Photo: UN Women/Jaeyeon Jeong and Changkyu Hwang
Reflecting on three decades of progress — and persistent gaps
Ban urged participants to take stock of the progress made since 1995, when 189 governments committed to the BPfA, the most comprehensive global blueprint for achieving gender equality. “It is not just a framework,” he said. “It is a call to action that demands the full participation of women and girls in every aspect of life.”
While acknowledging that there is much to celebrate – including increased access to education, greater political representation and stronger global recognition of gender equality as a fundamental human right – Ban did not shy away from confronting the harsh realities that persist.
Citing UN Women’s latest data, he pointed to the ongoing prevalence of gender-based violence, the enduring global gender pay gap and the alarming number of girls still denied access to education.
“We are still struggling with entrenched inequalities,” he noted. “And the gap between our commitments and our actions remains wide.”
Gender equality is a smart investment for global progress
At the heart of Ban’s message was a compelling case for why gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also a smart investment for sustainable development and global peace. Citing recent economic studies, he underscored that closing gender gaps could add trillions of dollars to global GDP. He also emphasized the critical role of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
“This is not just about fairness,” Ban explained. “Empowering women and girls is essential for building prosperous, peaceful societies. Until women are fully integrated into decision-making processes, our economies and our communities will never reach their full potential.”
He pointed to the devastating situation in Afghanistan as a stark example of what happens when women’s rights are stripped away, commending UN Women’s ongoing work in the country while calling on the global community to act with urgency.
Priority areas for accelerating progress
Ban highlighted five priority areas requiring immediate attention: empowering women and girls with disabilities; recognizing and redistributing unpaid care work; engaging men and boys as allies; private sector leadership; and increasing investment in multilateralism and international development cooperation.
He also commended the Republic of Korea for its growing leadership in advancing gender equality, particularly through its support for UN Women’s Knowledge & Partnerships Centre in Seoul, which organized this important commemoration.
A call for collective action
In closing, Ban delivered a heartfelt appeal to all present – and to the international community at large – to seize this moment as a turning point.
“The next generation is counting on us,” he said. “Let us not just celebrate today’s event, but go out and put our words into action, for the rights, equality, and empowerment of ALL women and girls.”
His message was clear: three decades after the promises of Beijing, the work remains unfinished — and now is the time to deliver.
Ban Ki-moon delivers remarks during the International Women’s Day 2025 commemoration event. Photo: UN Women/Hwang Chang kyu
Souce: UN Women
Link: https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/stories/feature-story/2025/05/ban-ki-moon-calls-for-bold-urgent-action-to-realize-the-promises-of-b30
