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25 November 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the international campaign '16 days of activism against gender-based violence'. This campaign runs from 25 November (International Day against Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day) and aims at eradicating violence against women and girls worldwide.

In 1995, an ambitious agreement was reached on twelve domains for action to promote the rights of women and girls - the "Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action". Since then, many initiatives and concrete policy measures have been taken to implement the Platform for Action. Over the years, Belgium has been actively working, both domestically and internationally, to promote gender equality.

To the day 20 years ago, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the landmark resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. By doing so, the Security Council recognized that armed conflict has a different impact on women than on men. For example, conflict-related sexual violence mainly affects women, women do not participate in conflicts in the same way or are barely involved in their resolution. Women are given far less opportunity than men to weigh in on decision making during peace talks and reconstruction, so their perspectives and specific needs are often not heard and overlooked.

We, the Ministers of South Africa, Sweden, Argentina, Australia, Albania, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, are honored to issue this joint statement on behalf of the people and governments of 58 countries.

At the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence Didier Reynders organized a conference on the topic: "Global approach in security: Diplomacy - Defence - Development: word to the women" at the Egmont Palace in Brussels today.

In the coming years, Belgium will invest an additional 43 million euros in the rights of girls and women around the world. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo announced this at the “Global Citizen Mandela 100” international charity concert in Johannesburg. Minister De Croo shared the stage with African heads of state and government, and music stars such as Chris Martin, Ed Sheeran, Usher, Pharrell Williams, Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

Youth representatives from all over the world will discuss gender equality today in the margins of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The debate takes place under the impetus of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo. Together with a few UNICEF youth leaders, the presidents of the Flemish and Francophone Youth Council will also join the debate. Queen Mathilde will address the youth delegates.