Today, as we commemorate International Women’s Day, we reflect on both the remarkable progress and persistent challenges in the global journey toward gender equality. The landmark 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action unanimously adopted by 189 governments set forth the most comprehensive agenda for gender equality in history. Nearly three decades later, its vision of peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive societies for all remains both a guiding light and an unfinished mission.
The Beijing Platform represented a moment of hope and solidarity when democratic institutions were strengthening and social movements were on the march for rights and justice. Among the influential voices at this historic gathering was Ghana’s then-First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who addressed correspondents at a meeting focused on Education, Health, and Sustainable Development critical pillars for women’s advancement.
Today, this anniversary arrives amid severe global challenges: fragile economies, climate emergency, unprecedented conflict, democratic erosion, and alarming backlash against gender equality. As the UN’s comprehensive review of 159 countries reveals, progress has been made, but gender discrimination remains deeply embedded in social and economic structures worldwide.
The data paints a picture of significant but incomplete progress:
Laws and Representation: Between 1995 and 2024, 1,531 legal reforms worldwide sought to advance gender equality. Yet women still have only 64% of the legal rights of men. While women’s representation in parliaments has more than doubled since 1995, today almost three-quarters of parliamentarians remain men.
Education and Poverty: While girls surpass boys in upper-secondary completion rates in most regions, 59.5 million adolescent girls still miss this fundamental right, with Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia lagging behind. Poverty continues to have a gendered face 24% of women aged 18-34 live in extremely poor households, making them most vulnerable.
Work and Care: Global labour force participation shows persistent gaps 63% of working-age women compared to 92% of men. Women still perform 2.5 times more unpaid care work than men, severely limiting their economic opportunities.
Violence: The statistics remain alarming 736 million women (1 in 3) experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Since 2022, conflict-related sexual violence has risen by 50%, with women and girls suffering 95% of these crimes. In the digital realm, 53% of adult women in surveyed countries have experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings stands as one of Africa’s most persistent advocates for women’s rights and empowerment. As First Lady of Ghana (1979-2001), she transformed the role from ceremonial to substantive, using her position to advance women’s causes throughout the continent.
Her presence at the 1995 Beijing Conference marked a crucial moment in her decades-long advocacy journey. Addressing international correspondents about education, health, and sustainable development, she emphasized the interconnection between these sectors and women’s advancement in African contexts.
Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings founded the 31st December Women’s Movement in Ghana, one of Africa’s largest women’s organizations, which established numerous educational programs, health initiatives, and economic empowerment projects across the country. Through this movement, she helped thousands of rural women gain access to microcredit, skills training, and agricultural resources.
Her approach to women’s empowerment was distinctly African and pragmatic recognizing that gender equality in Ghana required addressing fundamental needs while challenging traditional power structures. She consistently advocated for constitutional reforms that would protect women’s rights and increase their political participation.
Today’s data shows both progress and persistent gaps that Rawlings and other pioneers have worked to address:
– Social protection has improved, but 2 billion women and girls still had no social protection coverage at all in 2023
– Maternal mortality declined by one-third globally from 2000 to 2015 but has remained almost unchanged since then
– Digital access has improved, with women’s internet usage increasing from 50% to 65% between 2019 and 2024, though 277 million more men than women used the internet in 2024
– Child marriage has declined from 24% to 19% between 2003 and 2023, yet gains are 3 times higher in the richest households than the poorest
The legacy of leaders like Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings continues to inspire new generations of feminist voices. As the UN Women report highlights, five key priorities must guide future action:
1. Inclusive development, shared prosperity, and decent work
2. Freedom from violence, stigma, and stereotypes
3. Participation, accountability, and gender-responsive institutions
4. Peaceful and inclusive societies
5. Environmental conservation, climate action, and resilience-building
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we honour both the groundbreaking work of pioneers like Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and the ongoing efforts of today’s activists. Their collective vision of a world where women and girls can claim their rights and shape their futures with dignity and equality remains our guiding light as we confront both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities in the continuing journey toward gender equality.
Written by Bridget Mensah
