Breathe
By Karla Urriola
Thirty years after the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, an event where opinion leaders from more than 189 countries and activists participated with the aim of establishing a clear path for gender equality.
At that time, 12 critical areas were identified for focusing actions to promote gender equality. These areas covered poverty reduction, education and training, girls' well-being, participation in the economy and working life, health, equity in the media, environments free of violence, including armed conflict, the development of inclusive public policies and the protection of human rights.
Significant progress has been made in access to education and training. In many countries, reforms have been implemented that have enabled girls and women to have greater opportunities, gradually closing the gender gap in this area.
Likewise, thanks to equality measures, the participation of women in political decision-making positions has increased, achieving visibility in some countries.
Despite the achievements of the past three decades, the current international panorama shows us that it is necessary to reflect on the persistent challenges and setbacks that threaten to halt progress.
Although women are increasingly active participants in the economy and the world of work, it is crucial to focus on the care economy. These tasks, which include unpaid care for others, are still seen as an option for men and a socially obligatory responsibility for women. This unequal burden has a profound impact on women's well-being and personal and professional development, perpetuating structural barriers that hinder their full equality.
On the other hand, two-thirds of the countries have now enacted laws to combat violence against women. However, despite these legislative advances, the main challenge lies in their effective implementation. As a result, 70% of women in the world continue to face some form of violence, which in most cases is perpetrated by their partners or close associates.
In the armed conflicts we have witnessed throughout the world, where the struggle for power prevails, women and girls are often the main victims. They are assaulted, used as weapons of war and subjected to various forms of physical, sexual and psychological violence.
In terms of human rights, women now have access to vote, there are laws prohibiting practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage, and in some countries equal marriage has been recognized.
However, in recent years, sexual and reproductive rights have suffered a serious setback. Fundamental decisions about our bodies continue to be discussed, denied and controlled by others. Taboo and limited access to menstrual hygiene products remain a reality in many regions, obstetric violence persists in health systems, and all of this directly impacts our freedom to decide who we want to be.
In the area of mental health, there is still a worrying stigmatization and pathologization of certain conditions, such as the erroneous belief that only women tend to suffer from depression, without taking into account the context that limits our life options, given inequality. This gender bias not only perpetuates prejudice, but also limits access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
On the other hand, poverty and other intersectionalities -such as disabilities, belonging to indigenous peoples, age, sexuality or spiritual beliefs- continue to be invisibilized and ignored in public agendas.
It is essential - even if it makes us uncomfortable - to recognize that, 30 years after the Beijing Declaration, we are facing new challenges and setbacks that threaten to strip women and girls of the rights we have achieved. Governments, educational institutions, businesses and civil society must continue to work to ensure that equality policies are effective and sustainable in the long term.
For the sake of social justice, the struggle for gender equality must go forward without stopping or backing down. The Beijing Declaration remains more relevant than ever.
This March 8, we must commemorate past struggles and reaffirm our commitment to a future where gender equality is a tangible reality for all.
Karla E. Urriola Gonzalez
She is leader of Equality, Inclusion and Belonging in the Center for the Recognition of Human Dignity of the Vice-Presidency of Inclusion, Social Impact and Sustainability of the Tec de Monterrey. She teaches in the Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at Tec de Monterrey. She is a psychologist, educational and clinical sexologist. She was a finalist for the National Human Rights Award (National Human Rights Commission Mexico City 2012).
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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