In the modern day struggle for human rights for women, September 1995 marked a major turning point, when women’s rights advocates from across the globe congregated in Beijing for the opening of the fourth World Conference on Women. They gathered in support of one common goal—to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment globally.
25 years later, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) is still considered to have outlined the most comprehensive and progressive goals to advance women’s rights. A new era in women’s activism dawned as it became clear that promoting women’s health worldwide is the first step towards pursuing female empowerment. Without better nourishment, without protection from disease, without safety from sexual violence, women lack their basic human right to a healthy life -- let alone economic and social freedom.
And yet, though the framework of protecting women’s health has existed for 25 years, millions of women worldwide remain unprotected from disastrous health threats. In the developing world, young girls remain undernourished compared to their brothers, and families provide health care to sons over daughters. Women pursue unregulated, dangerous abortions when faced with a lack of birth control options. Child marriage and coerced sex makes millions of women vulnerable to sexual violence and HIV/AIDS, and human trafficking, of which women make up 70 percent, puts even more women at risk. The goals of the BPfA — better health education, access to health care, reducing sexual violence — have not been met.
But there is hope. Though the UN has not met its goal of reducing global maternal mortality to less than 70 per 100,000, we have seen significant declines — a 38 percent decline from 2000 to 2017. Average lifespans for women, too, have significantly increased over the last decades.
So how can we continue to improve the lives of women? How can we make sure that globally, women are protected? Is rapid progress possible?
I strongly believe that policy makers, UN agencies and civil society as a whole have the ability to accelerate progress in lowering global maternal mortality and ending preventable deaths in newborns and children down mortality by incorporating into their delivery service programs elements focused on empowering girls and improving women’s health.
I further believe that by incorporating programs which lift women and children out of poverty, create opportunities for women in power and decision making, eradicate violence against women, and elevate women’s human rights and eliminate systematic discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
These programs in order to be effective vehicles for service delivery need to focus on the United Nations sustainable Goal 3 – Is to Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well Being for All at All Ages and Goal 5- Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls .
It may seem like a tall order, but I believe it’s within our reach to empower all women worldwide through better access to healthcare. As we observe the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, we must honor the work of these women’s advocates 25 years ago and continue fighting for justice and equality . It’s up to us all.
Dr. Padmini (Mini) Murthy, MD, MPH, FAMWA is currently Professor and Global Health Director at New York Medical College School of Health Sciences and Practice. An internationally recognized leader in women’s health, Recipient of Elizabeth Blackwell medal, Global Health lead American Medical Women’s Association the First Vice President of The Global NGO Committee and NGO Representative of Medical Women's International Association to the UN and MWIA focal point to World Health Organization . A widely published author, she has made over 150 presentations to international audiences and has hosted a talk show on Millennium Development Goals on AV Blog Talk radio.