u.n. beijing + 15 conference and the 30% solution

FactSheet:

U.N.Beijing+15Conferenceandthe30%Solution

TheFourthUNConferenceontheStatusofWomen(Beijing,1995) Goal:toelevategenderparityontheinternationalpoliticalagenda

TheBeijingDeclarationandPlatformforAction Highlightswomen’sunequalshareofpoliticalpoweramong12critical

areasofconcern. Outlinesstrategicobjectives“toensurewomen’sequalaccesstoandfull

participationinpowerstructuresanddecision‐making,”whichweretoleadtofundamentalchangebytheyear2000.

Beijing+15 15‐yearreviewofprogressonthePlatformforActionbytheCommission

ontheStatusofWomen MeetinginNewYorkCity,Mar.1‐12,2010

TheUNBeijingConferenceandthe30%SolutionAnexcerptfromWomenLeadtheWaybyLindaTarr‐Whelan

“ ImmediatelyaftertheBeijingConference,theInter‐ParliamentaryUnion,anorganizationofnationalelectedofficialslikeourmembersofCongress,adoptedtheone‐thirdmarkerasthegoalfornationallegislatures.

23countriesnowmeetorexceedthegoal 101countrieshavechangedtheirconstitutions,laws,orpolitical

practicestoaimforit.TheU.S.governmentunderPresidentBushpromotedchangebyadoptinghardtargetsforwomeninoffice—butonlyoutsideU.S.borders.ThegovernmentrequiredthenewconstitutionsofAfghanistanandIraqtohavequotasforwomenintheirnationalparliaments.Afghanistanisnow28thintheworldinwomen’slegislativerepresentation,Iraqis35th.Instarkcontrast,theUnitedStateshasgreetedthe30%solutionwithsilenceandinaction.Itisbarelyhalfwayhometoreachtheone‐thirdmarkforwomeninCongress,andranks74thintheworld.”

–LindaTarr‐WhelanLindaTarr‐WhelanledtheU.S.delegationtotheBeijingConference,andservedastheU.S.AmbassadortotheU.N.CommissionontheStatusofWomen.SheisaDemosDistinguishedSeniorFellowandauthoroftheWomenLeadtheWay:YourGuidetoSteppingUptoLeadershipandChangingtheWorld(Berrett‐Koehler2009).

PERCENTAGEOFWOMENINNATIONALLEGISLATURE

FromtheInter‐ParliamentaryUnion’sworldranking,asofNovember30,2009.

1. Rwanda 56.3%2. Sweden 47.0%3. SouthAfrica 44.5%4. Cuba 43.2%5. Iceland 42.9%6. Argentina 41.6%7. Finland 41.5%24. Guyana 30.5%30. Afghanistan 27.7%39. Iraq 25.5%51. China 21.3%58. U.K. 19.5%65. Sudan 18.1%74. U.S.A. 16.8%

Data from the Inter‐ParliamentaryUnion,on thebasis of information provided on November 30,2009.

11.3 13.8 16.2 18.60

20406080100

1995 2000 2005 2009

PercentWomeninNaZonalLegislatures,WorldAverage

Althoughthe30%targetforwomen'sleadershipremainsadistantgoal,women’srepresentationinnationallegislatureshassteadilyincreasedsincetheBeijingConferenceandnowrestsatitshighesthistoricallevel.

The30%Solution: The critical tippingpointwhere enoughwomenat power tables canbeheard andheeded,positivelyaffectingpolicydecisions,changingthetermsoftheagenda,andimpactingthestyleofachievinggoals.The30%solutionwasabenchmarkforwomen’sleadershipatthe1995UNBeijingConferencein1995.