UN Women Supports Belize Parliamentary Forum, Linking CEDAW to Gender Equality Goals

UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean presented at a landmark forum hosted by Belize’s Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, emphasising strategies to combat discrimination, violence against women, and linking CEDAW to gender equality goals.

The forum, centered on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, emphasized actionable strategies for advancing women’s rights and inclusion in governance.

With women representing under 20% of the National Assembly, the forum spotlighted the need for greater equality, both in leadership and across society.  The Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA)  sets the critical mass for women’s political participation at 30%. 

Tonni Brodber, Representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean fields questions from the moderator Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries

Tonni Brodber, Representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, presented on Beijing +30, the 30 years journey since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995. The platform remains one of the most comprehensive global policy frameworks for achieving gender equality, identifying 12 critical areas of concern, including women’s leadership and participation, violence against women, and women’s economic empowerment.

“As we look at CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action, we see a powerful connection that is central to achieving gender equality. While CEDAW provides the legal framework for eliminating discrimination against women, the Beijing Platform for Action outlines the concrete steps and priorities that are necessary to put those principles into practice. Together, they offer a roadmap for change that empowers women and ensures their full participation in all areas of society, including politics and decision-making,” Ms. Brodber explained.  

Ms. Brodber presents on the Beijing +30 strategy

The one-day forum brought together parliamentarians, civil society leaders, and gender experts to: 

• Deepen understanding of the human rights standards enshrined in CEDAW.
• Highlight regional achievements and ongoing challenges in addressing gender-based violence and discrimination.
• Foster alliances among stakeholders to advance women’s leadership and human rights. 

The forum was held during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that calls for action to end violence against women and girls. In the Caribbean, this year’s theme is “Push Forward: Invest to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” underscoring the urgent need for sustained investments in efforts to address gender-based violence across the region.