The Beijing Declaration was a watershed moment, uniting
countries to advance gender equality and further the
empowerment of women and girls.
25 years on, we have made great strides. So at the
start of 2020, more girls were in school than ever
before. Fewer were dying during pregnancy and
childbirth.
But COVID-19 has halted that progress.
We’ve seen a global surge in gender-based violence.
On top of that, an estimated 20 million adolescent
girls who may not return to school, which in turn
increases the risk of harm, including from things like
female genital mutilation and child marriage.
We can’t build back better without focusing on gender
equality and without the empowerment of women and
girls.
So the UK is working with our international partners to
ensure gender equality is a central element of the
COVID-19 recovery. We will continue to champion 12
years of quality education for every girl in the world.
And as co-leaders of the Action Coalition on
Gender-Based Violence, we will tackle the root causes
of violence, including using education to stop violence
before it starts.
We will continue our work on Preventing Sexual Violence
in Conflict, supporting survivors and holding the
perpetrators accountable.
Next we will champion women’s rights, so at the most
basic level, women can decide for themselves when to
have children, and how many to have.
Next year, through our Presidency of COP26, we will be
promoting a clean, inclusive and resilient recovery
from COVID-19.
And we want to give a voice to the most affected by
climate change, including women and girls.
Global Britain is proud to be a force for good in the
world, holding up democracy and human rights as our
guiding lights.
We must use this moment as a catalyst for change, so
that all women and girls have equal rights, so that
they can fulfil their potential.
