LocationsTowards Beijing +30
March 8, 2025
This year, International Women's Day is being celebrated in the framework of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the central theme of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) to be held in New York from March 10-21, 2025. The Beijing +30 Declaration and Platform for Action, unanimously adopted by 189 countries in 1995, remains the most comprehensive international roadmap and policy framework for achieving gender equality and the human rights of women and girls worldwide.
The 1995 Beijing Platform for Action identified 12 important areas where action was urgently needed to ensure greater equality and opportunities for all. The CSW69 theme this year reminds us both of the progress we have made in gender equality and the persistence of inequalities and emerging setbacks that have surfaced in recent years.
UNDP recognizes the critical role women play in building developed, resilient, inclusive and sustainable societies. As Secretary-General António Guterres says “When the doors of equal opportunity are opened to women and girls, we all win... egalitarian societies are more prosperous and peaceful and are the foundation for sustainable development.”
This March 8, we share UNDP initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean that, in line with the 12 areas of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, seek to drive transformative change in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Costa Rica: Shared experiences of women peacebuilders
In Costa Rica, more than 15 women from Talamanca - among them indigenous Bribris, Cabécares and Ngäbes, Afro-descendants, migrants and community leaders from Talamanca, Upala and Los Chiles - traveled more than 220 km to Caño Negro, in Los Chiles, to share their experiences in the fight against gender violence with a common purpose: to exchange experiences, strengthen support networks and work together towards lasting peace in their territories, communities and homes.
The Meeting of Women Peacebuilders was a space to exchange experiences and strengthen networks between women leaders from different communities of Los Chiles and Upala with women from Talamanca. More than 30 women participated, including indigenous Bribris, Cabécares and Ngäbes, Afro-descendants, migrants, refugees and community leaders. The event aimed to generate strategies to prevent gender violence, strengthen social cohesion and promote peace in their communities. The women of Talamanca presented their Talamanca Agenda against gender violence, sharing their experiences in the creation of a similar agenda for women in the Northern Zone.
Cuba: Rural women for equality
In Cuba, the UNDP office works with partners to enhance the rights, equality and empowerment of rural women in sustainable economies in Cuba's agricultural sector. One of its most recent initiatives, implemented between 2022 and 2024 and coordinated by UNDP, is supported by the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture, the Federation of Cuban Women, the European Union and the Government of Canada. As part of this work, since 2022 they have implemented 23 measures that have benefited 4,374 women through capacity building and the creation of 187 jobs.
Within this framework, the miniseries “Rural Women, Stories for Equality” was also produced, which reveals the life stories of Cuban rural women who, through their example of perseverance, resilience, sisterhood and self-improvement, demonstrate the impact and potential they have on their families, their communities and society in general, a tribute to rural women.
Dominican Republic: UNDP Support for a National Caregiving Policy in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, the United Nations System (UNS) together with the government has been implementing the Joint Program “Communities of Care in the Dominican Republic” with the objective of promoting comprehensive solutions to care needs, while promoting women's economic autonomy and the right to care for children, people in situations of dependency or disability and the elderly.
Within the framework of this program, a series of efforts have been made to contribute to the construction of the National Care Policy, including a geo-referenced mapping of care services located in the pilot's priority areas, which made it possible to identify potential candidates for social benefits and to recognize the supply of private and community care in the prioritized territories. In terms of training, the technical-professional offer was improved with curricula for assistants for people with disabilities and training programs in early childhood and elderly care. In turn, specialized technical advice has strengthened governance and management mechanisms, including the creation of the Intersectoral Care Table Agreement. Finally, a methodological guide was created to establish the Non-Governmental Partnership Space, mobilizing support for the care policy.
The program is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), funded through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund.
Guatemala: Dignifying the Work of Midwives
Among the 12 priority areas of the Beijing Platform for Action there is inclusive development, shared prosperity and decent work with gender equality, which require transforming the sexual division of labor, reversing the unjust organization of care and promoting women's economic autonomy. In this context, the work of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Guatemala, in collaboration with the Project “Building Integral Participation of Indigenous Women”, has been fundamental.
UNDP has accompanied the Movimiento Nacional de Abuelas Comadronas Nim Alaxik, an organization representing more than 23,000 midwives throughout the country. With the support of a UNDP grant, the Movement has promoted national dialogues with midwives to update the National Policy of Midwives of the Four Peoples of Guatemala (2015-2025); advocacy training processes for the Grandmothers Midwives of Jutiapa, Chiquimula and Retalhuleu, using a participatory methodology based on four modules: context situation, cycle of history, the four paths and healing with Mother Earth and the Tree of Life - Good Living. This project has been funded thanks to the Government of Norway.
Haiti: 1st edition of the Women's Leadership Forum in Haiti
Historically, Haitian women have played a pivotal role in society, contributing significantly to the economy, driving social mobilisation and spearheading the country's recovery from major crises. Yet despite their undeniable contributions, they remain largely underrepresented in political and institutional decision-making, limiting their influence on national policies and strategic directions.
Statistics show the extent of the gender gap in leadership. Prior to the dissolution of Parliament in 2020, only 2.7% of deputies were women and there was no female representation in the Senate. At the municipal level, the most recent data show that out of a total of 420 councillors, only 12 mayors and 131 deputy mayors were women. As a result, women's political participation remains low, and those who do manage to reach positions of power often face discrimination and political violence.
However, the current political transition offers an opportunity to increase women's representation in decision-making. Nevertheless, several obstacles remain. In addition to financial constraints, women face entrenched cultural and institutional resistance, as well as a political climate marked by insecurity and violence. In this context, the First Forum on Women's Leadership in Haiti was held. This initiative brought together political actors, civil society organisations and international institutions to advocate for stronger and more inclusive governance, ensuring that women play a full and active role in shaping the country's future. During the forum, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of women in governance and implementing programmes to empower women leaders. While the Forum launched an in-depth reflection on women's leadership, its true impact will be measured by the actions that follow. The declaration of the "1er Forum du leadership feminin en Haiti" adopted at the First Forum on Women's Leadership in Haiti serves as a roadmap for the next steps and is expected to guide public policies on gender equality.
Honduras: Local women entrepreneurs receive UNDP support
The project “Strengthening Local Capacities to Anticipate and Prevent Multidimensional Risk Scenarios in the Sula Valley” was focused on strengthening the capacities of actors in the governance system to Anticipate and Prevent Multidimensional Risk Scenarios of Climate Change, Violence and Migration (CVM), with a gender differential approach, developing a gender-sensitive strategy to anticipate and prevent multidimensional risk scenarios CVM; a system of gender-sensitive indicators; a strategy to support women heads of household for the development of resilient livelihoods, improving women's access and capacities to manage productive activities in safe conditions; and the physical infrastructure conditions in community environments were improved to provide safe, resilient and supportive spaces, oriented to meet the specific needs of the most vulnerable women.
It focused on improving women's lives by promoting the development of inclusive economies and generating equal opportunities for the most vulnerable women, considering their specific needs and demands. One of the first actions was to carry out a diagnosis of Multidimensional Risk Scenarios of Climate Change, Violence and Migration (CVM), allowing to analyze how gender inequalities affect women differently in risk scenarios, which had a strong component linking economic autonomy in the context of DRR. From these actions, various actors were identified (women's networks, community leaders) who could continue to contribute to the advancement of gender equality at the local level.
Mexico: Conservation, protection and rehabilitation of the environment require a sustained effort of cross-cutting and intersectoral articulation.
Women play crucial roles in the management of natural resources and food security in their communities. However, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation directly affect their livelihoods, as many of their economic activities, such as agriculture, water harvesting and forest management, depend on environmental stability.
In recent years, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mexico has supported small women's organizations located in indigenous regions of the Yucatan Peninsula, Oaxaca and Chiapas, to accelerate and generate conditions that allow for an egalitarian and environmentally sustainable recovery. One of these initiatives is the “Green Sorority Networks (RSV)” project, which seeks to strengthen environmental autonomy and community resilience with a gender focus, through activities such as participatory diagnostics, training in financial resilience and biodiversity conservation, and the creation of solidarity savings groups managed by indigenous and rural women. Panama: Women for equality in politics. As a result of this project, in Oaxaca, Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula, 198 women, including 36 young women, formed 10 networks that increased their savings by 94.3% and gained access to various financial products. Since its beginnings, the project has strengthened women's capacities as agents of change and as guardians of biodiversity.
The RSVs are a holistic approach that pays tribute to the strength and determination of women in building a more equal and sustainable future. This initiative seeks to ensure that solutions to global challenges are inclusive, effective and local, reflecting the transformative potential of women as leaders in transforming their communities.
Panama: Women seek equality in politics
For four months, Panama's Ministry of Women conducted nationwide consultations to gather data on women's experiences and challenges in politics. Despite advances in political rights, women continue to face significant barriers, such as gender-based violence, lack of funding and low representation in public office. In 2024, women represented 50% of the electoral roll, but only obtained 22% of the seats in the National Assembly, 14% of the mayoralties and 10% of the posts in the townships. These data highlight the need to strengthen legal mechanisms for more equitable political participation.
The Ministry of Women, in conjunction with the Electoral Tribunal and the United Nations Development Programme, is working on a proposal for reforms to the Electoral Code to guarantee equal opportunities. These reforms seek to include women's perspectives in decision-making and strengthen democracy.
The consultations, with the participation of more than 150 women from various provinces and counties, identified the main obstacles to women's political participation. The resulting proposal will be validated by the women themselves before being submitted to the Electoral Reforms Commission.
Uruguay: Women leadership from rural communities
In Uruguay, the Women's Climate Change Network - Vigías - is leading a transformative movement in rural communities. Women in these communities face both gender inequalities and climate challenges in their area. The Network, promoted by the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) and supported by UNDP, has trained and highlighted the leadership of rural women as agents of change. Examples of this leadership include Adriana in Rivera, Karen in Lavalleja and Rosina in San José, who combine production, conservation and innovation. These women not only work the land; they also support and care for their families, care for their communities, while challenging traditional gender roles that make their work invisible and dedicate their time to the transformation of a historically unequal agriculture.
With each action, the Vigías demonstrate that sustainability, equity and care are fundamental to building a more just future. Their stories are a call to recognize and value the work of rural women in building a more equitable, resilient and sustainable agriculture.
Venezuela: Community Roundtables of Women Peacebuilders
In Venezuela, the “Community Roundtables of Women Peacebuilders” are spaces for strengthening leadership and participation in public life with a gender perspective of women community leaders through a formative process of empowerment and dialogue with integrated approaches that leads to the collaborative construction and implementation of agendas with gender-transformative initiatives, agency capacity and strategic relationships as a network with key actors that ensure the sustainability of community initiatives.
Through the “Community Roundtables of Women Peace Builders”, alongside UN Women, four community organizations led by women have been strengthened by transferring capacities through the methodology of Community Roundtables of Women Peace Builders in communities in Caracas, Miranda and Zulia states. In turn, 70 women have been trained and identified with skills for action planning in the construction of safe spaces for the exercise of their inclusive leadership and promotion of women's rights with an integrated approach to peace, gender and development sensitive to crisis and conflict environments.
On the 30th anniversary of the review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action we celebrate the strides made by countries on gender equality and women’s empowerment, from banning discrimination in employment to adopting gender-responsive climate action plans. However, 2025 is a year to reflect on the discrimination that remains deeply embedded in the region and the effects and constraints it has on the rights of women and girls. These initiatives reflect UNDP's unwavering commitment to working with a variety of actors across the region with the aim of reducing inequalities, promoting resilience and ensuring no one is left behind.
