United Nations Decade for Women

Contents

United Nations Decade for Women was a period from 1975 to 1985, declared by the United Nations General Assembly to focus on the International Women's Year and the World Conference on Women held in Mexico City. This decade was a significant milestone in the history of feminism, with the participation of prominent figures such as Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, and Shirin Ebadi. The decade was also marked by the establishment of the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. The Commission on the Status of Women played a crucial role in promoting the objectives of the decade, with the support of organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the International Labour Organization.

Introduction

The United Nations Decade for Women was launched in 1975, following the International Women's Year conference in Mexico City, which was attended by Indira Gandhi, Imelda Marcos, and other prominent female leaders. The decade aimed to promote the equality and empowerment of women, with a focus on reproductive rights, education, and economic development. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization were among the organizations that contributed to the decade's objectives, along with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The decade also saw the establishment of the UNIFEM and the Division for the Advancement of Women, which worked closely with the European Union, the African Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The United Nations Decade for Women was preceded by the International Women's Year in 1975, which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the equality and empowerment of women. The decade was also influenced by the Women's Liberation Movement, which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, with key figures such as Simone de Beauvoir, Germaine Greer, and Kate Millett. The decade saw the participation of prominent women's rights activists, including Malala Yousafzai, Angela Davis, and Wangari Maathai, who worked closely with organizations such as the Amnesty International, the Human Rights Watch, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The decade also coincided with the Cold War, with the Soviet Union and the United States competing for influence in the United Nations and other international organizations, including the European Council, the G8, and the G20.

The main objectives of the United Nations Decade for Women were to promote the equality and empowerment of women, with a focus on reproductive health, education, and economic development. The decade aimed to achieve these objectives through the implementation of policies and programs at the national and international levels, with the support of organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, and the Universal Postal Union. The decade also aimed to promote the participation of women in politics, economics, and society, with the support of organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the World Economic Forum. The United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Population Fund were among the organizations that contributed to the decade's objectives, along with the World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The United Nations Decade for Women was marked by several international conferences, including the World Conference on Women in Mexico City in 1975, which was attended by Helena Zelenko, Mildred Persinger, and other prominent female leaders. The conference was followed by the World Conference on Women in Copenhagen in 1980, which was attended by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Margaret Thatcher, and other prominent female leaders. The decade also saw the holding of the World Conference on Women in Nairobi in 1985, which was attended by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other prominent female leaders. The conferences were supported by organizations such as the European Commission, the African Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.

The United Nations Decade for Women has left a lasting legacy in the promotion of women's rights and empowerment, with the establishment of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The decade also contributed to the promotion of sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, with the support of organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. The decade also saw the emergence of prominent women's rights activists, including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sheryl Sandberg, and Melinda Gates, who have continued to promote the empowerment of women and girls, with the support of organizations such as the Global Fund for Women, the Women's Refugee Commission, and the International Women's Media Foundation. The Category:United Nations and the Category:Women's rights are among the categories that are relevant to the legacy of the decade, along with the Category:Feminism and the Category:Human rights.