"The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and should not be seen in isolation as a women's issue" according to the Beijing Platform for Action.

The year 2005 will mark the 10th anniversary of 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, where the Beijing Platform for Action was adopted. It is an important milestone for international women's rights. This e-Alert will provide links to the various documents and resources relating to the various milestones from the proclamation of the UN Day for Women’s Rights in 1972, and preparations for the Beijing +10 in 2005.

In December 1972 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. Four global United Nations women's conferences have helped make the demand for women's rights and participation in the political and economic process.

In 1975, the UN drew global attention to women's concerns by calling for an International Women's year and convening the first conference on women in Mexico City.

In 1980, the second World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace was held in Copenhagen. The conference report, U.N. Doc A/CONF.94/35 (80.IV.30) was the first official document of the United Nations where domestic violence was explicitly mentioned.

In 1985, the UN convened a third conference on women in Nairobi, Kenya, to look at what had been achieved at the end of the decade.

In 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing. Representatives from 189 countries agreed that inequalities between women and men have serious consequences for the well being of all people. The conference declared a set of goals for progress of women in various areas including politics, health, and education.

Five years later, in a 23rd special session of the United Nations General Assembly, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century" reviewed the progress the world has made towards achieving the goals set out by the Beijing conference. This conference is known as the "Beijing +5" conference.

The international community has been preparing for Beijing +10 by undertaking extensive consultations, both across the government and NGO sectors. Governments in the 'Beijing Plus 5 Special Session' agreed in the Political Declaration that they will regularly assess the ongoing implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and it was agreed that all parties involved will come together again in 2005 to assess progress. It is not yet decided whether Beijing Plus 10 will take the form of another Special Session of the General Assembly like Beijing Plus 5 or a World Conference like in Beijing in 1995.

The fourth issue of our e-Alert service, under the British Council's project for Commonwealth National Human Rights Commissions Institutions, is an effort to take you through a journey from the First International Women's year to Beijing Plus 10. It’s an attempt to collate available online resources for your ready reference.

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A Journey to 'Beijing + 10' from 1972 to 2005 --------------------------------------------------
"The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and should not be seen in isolation as a women's issue" according to the Beijing Platform for Action. The year 2005 will mark the 10th anniversary of 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, where the Beijing Platform for Action was adopted. It is an important milestone for international women's rights. This e-Alert will provide links to the various documents and resources relating to the various milestones from the proclamation of the UN Day for Women’s Rights in 1972, and preparations for the Beijing +10 in 2005. In December 1972 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. Four global United Nations women's conferences have helped make the demand for women's rights and participation in the political and economic process. In 1975, the UN drew global attention to women's concerns by calling for an International Women's year and convening the first conference on women in Mexico City. In 1980, the second World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace was held in Copenhagen. The conference report, U.N. Doc A/CONF.94/35 (80.IV.30) was the first official document of the United Nations where domestic violence was explicitly mentioned. In 1985, the UN convened a third conference on women in Nairobi, Kenya, to look at what had been achieved at the end of the decade. In 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing. Representatives from 189 countries agreed that inequalities between women and men have serious consequences for the well being of all people. The conference declared a set of goals for progress of women in various areas including politics, health, and education. Five years later, in a 23rd special session of the United Nations General Assembly, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century" reviewed the progress the world has made towards achieving the goals set out by the Beijing conference. This conference is known as the "Beijing +5" conference. The international community has been preparing for Beijing +10 by undertaking extensive consultations, both across the government and NGO sectors. Governments in the 'Beijing Plus 5 Special Session' agreed in the Political Declaration that they will regularly assess the ongoing implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and it was agreed that all parties involved will come together again in 2005 to assess progress. It is not yet decided whether Beijing Plus 10 will take the form of another Special Session of the General Assembly like Beijing Plus 5 or a World Conference like in Beijing in 1995. The fourth issue of our e-Alert service, under the British Council's project for Commonwealth National Human Rights Commissions Institutions, is an effort to take you through a journey from the First International Women's year to Beijing Plus 10. It’s an attempt to collate available online resources for your ready reference.

1.	UN Action for Women
2.	1972:First session of the United Nations General Assembly
3.	1975:1st World Women's Conference in Mexico
4.	1979:Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
5.	1980: Second World Conference on Women in Copenhagen
6.	1985: Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi
6a.	Second review and appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women
6b.	10 Critical Areas of Concern: Report of the Secretary-General
7.	1995: Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace in Beijing
7a.	Beijing: Draft Platform for Action
7b.	Beijing: Platform for Action
7c.	Internationally agreed plan for achieving equality for women across 12 critical areas
7d.	Beijing Declaration
8.	2000:Fifth World Conference on Women in New York from 5-9 June - Beijing + 5
9.	2005: Sixth World Conference on Women in New York from 5-9 June
9a.	UN Regional Commissions : Beijing +10 Regional and Global Processes
10.	Other UN Conferences that addressed Women's issues
10a.	1992: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro 3-14 June
10b.	1993: World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna from 14-25 June
10c.	1994:International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo from 5-13 September
10d.	1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen from 5-12 March
11.	RESOURCES : The UN Working for Women
11a..	United Nations Secretariat
11b.	Intergovernmental and treaty bodies


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