United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women

on Women in Beijing adopted a Declaration and Platform for Action, unanimously endorsed by 189 government delegations, including the United States.These governments thus created a powerful agenda for women's equality and human rights worldwide -and an important organizing and advocacy tool for social change.Indeed, feminist organizations, scholars, and policy makers in many countries have used their governments' endorsement of the Platform at Beijing to press their leaders to make its promises a centerpiece of public policy and social programs.The Platform for Action addresses 12 "critical areas of concern" that define obstacles to the full equality of women and girls: poverty, education and training, health, violence, armed conflict, the economy, decision making, institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, human rights, media, the environment, and the girl-child.The accompanying Declaration "reaffirmed the commitment of Governments to eliminate discrimination against women and to remove all obstacles to equality. . . .