30 Years of the Beijing Platform for Action: A Visual Journey for Gender Justice

We reflect on Australia’s progress in advancing gender equality. From leadership representation to economic participation, significant strides have been made—but challenges persist.

Progress Made:

• Women’s representation in Parliament increased from 27% in 1995 to 47% in 2024.
• The Gender Equality Act 2020 and policies like “Women in Leadership” promote gender parity.
• Women’s labour force participation has risen to 61%, with efforts to close the gender pay gap.
• Workplace gender equality strategies, including paid parental leave and superannuation reforms, support women’s economic security.
• $2.3 billion government investment in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children (2022–2032).

Persistent Challenges:

• The gender pay gap remains at 13.4% despite improvements.
• Women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles, with only 30% of board positions held by women.
• Gender inequalities in unpaid care work continue to impact economic participation.
• The justice system struggles with low prosecution and conviction rates for gender-based violence.

The Way Forward:

• Strengthen policies to close the wage gap and address economic insecurity.
• Expand protections and justice access for survivors of violence.
• Promote gender-inclusive education and workplace policies.
• Address systemic barriers that hinder leadership opportunities for women.
• Hold the line against backlash — and push for transformative change.

We look back at Bangladesh’s 30-year journey – celebrating progress, recognizing challenges, and exploring actions to accelerate gender equality.

Progress Made:

• Women’s representation in parliament has increased, with 50 seats reserved and one-third of local government seats held by women.
• Over 60% of the workforce in the garment sector consists of women, ensuring their economic participation.
• The Domestic Violence Act (2010) and the Gender Equality Act (2018) have strengthened legal protections.
• Gender-responsive budgeting and microfinance programs are expanding women’s economic empowerment.

Persistent Challenges:

• Women’s leadership remains limited, with patriarchal norms restricting their opportunities.
• The gender pay gap and lack of senior leadership roles for women persist.
• Weak law enforcement hampers justice for survivors of gender-based violence.
• Inadequate workplace protections, including lack of safe transport and childcare, hinder economic participation.

The Way Forward:

• Enforce equal pay policies and gender-responsive workplaces.
• Strengthen women’s leadership beyond quotas.
• Improve access to justice and law enforcement for gender-based violence cases.
• Expand economic opportunities with better access to credit and leadership roles.

As we reflect on three decades of progress, China has made significant strides in gender equality—yet challenges remain, and the road ahead requires continued action.

Women in Power and Decision-Making: The proportion of female judges nationwide has increased from 16.7% in 1995 to 40.2% in 2023, and 26.5% of members in the Chinese National People´s Congress (NPC) were women in 2023. However, women’s equal participation in politics is still underrepresented, and there are no specific quantitative targets for participation in decision-making roles.

Women & Economy: Women entrepreneurs now lead 55% of microcredit-funded businesses, and women account for 41.9% of supervisory roles. However, employment discrimination persists, and gender gaps in pay and retirement benefits still exist.

Education & Training: The proportion of female teachers exceeded 50% for the first time in 2018, and gender-focused education is expanding. Yet, gender stereotyping remains embedded in the education system, and women’s participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields is still low.

The Way Forward:

• Establish clear targets for women’s representation in decision-making roles.
• Strengthen policies to eliminate employment discrimination and close the gender pay gap.
• Expand access to STEM education and challenge gender stereotypes in schools.
• Promote shared responsibility for unpaid care work to support women’s economic participation.

We look back at India’s 30-year journey – celebrating progress, recognizing challenges and exploring actions to accelerate progress.

Progress Made:

• The 2023 Women’s Reservation Bill [Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam] promises 33% of seats for women in Parliament, building on the 50% reservation in local governance across 20 states.
• India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate has risen to 41.7% (2024), and gender budgeting now accounts for 8.86% of the Union Budget.
• The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005) and post-Nirbhaya legal reforms have strengthened justice mechanisms.
• Women-led initiatives like Khabar Lahariya amplify rural women’s voices, while cybercrime reporting platforms provide recourse against online violence.

Persistent Challenges:

• Women hold only 13.63% of seats in Parliament—far below global and regional averages.
• Unpaid care work disproportionally burdens Indian women, limiting their participation in the formal workforce.
• Gender-based violence remains widespread, with reported cases rising by 26% (2016-2022).
• Women’s representation in media and leadership remains low, reinforcing gender stereotypes and limiting their influence.

The Way Forward:

• Implement the Women’s Reservation Bill to accelerate political participation.
• Reduce the unpaid care burden through policies supporting childcare, flexible work arrangements, and equal household responsibilities.
• Strengthen legal protections for women’s safety by increasing funds for support structures, shelter homes, and ensuring swift justice.
• Close the digital gender divide by ensuring equitable access to information, leadership, and representation in media.

We look back at Indonesia’s 30-year journey – celebrating progress, recognizing challenges, and exploring actions to accelerate gender equality.

Progress Made:

• Women’s representation in parliament has increased from 8.2% (1999) to 21.9% (2024), with 4,120 women village heads now in leadership.
• 64.5% of MSMEs are now owned by women, strengthening economic independence.
• The Sexual Violence Crime Law (2022) provides a legal framework to protect survivors and prosecute perpetrators.
• Women’s participation in social forestry programs grew from 15% (2022) to 18% (2023), enhancing environmental leadership.

Persistent Challenges:

• Women’s political participation remains hindered by money politics, cultural barriers, and unpaid care work.
• Women’s labor force participation stagnates at 51%-53.4%, with many trapped in informal, low-paying jobs.
• Gender-based violence remains widespread, with gaps in enforcement and protection.
• Indigenous women face exclusion from decision-making, limiting their role in environmental governance.

The Way Forward:

• Strengthen women’s leadership and ensure meaningful political participation beyond quotas.
• Expand gender-responsive economic policies and access to resources.
• Improve enforcement of laws protecting women from violence and discrimination.
• Promote inclusive climate policies that empower women in environmental leadership.
• Promote fair tax system and ensure women are not disproportionately burdened by taxation policies

We look back at Mongolia’s 30-year journey – celebrating progress, recognizing challenges, and identifying actions to accelerate gender equality.

Progress Made:

• Women’s representation in Parliament grew from 3.9% in 1992 to 17.1% in 2020, and to 25% in 2024, following the amendment to the Election Law (2012), which set a 20% minimum for political candidates.This was increased in 2023 to 30% for the 2024 election, and up to 40% for 2028 election.
• The EQUANOMICS initiative promotes gender equity in public institutions, aiming to close workforce disparities.
• Parental leave policies and workplace protections have been strengthened under labor law reforms, supporting work-life balance.
• Political parties have pledged to support legal reforms that increase women’s candidacy in elections.

Persistent Challenges:

• Social norms and stereotypes still limit women’s leadership and economic participation, despite legal progress.
• Gender pay gaps and workplace discrimination remain widespread, particularly in the private sector.
• Limited gender-sensitive media coverage and lack of gender data hinder evidence-based policymaking.
• Women continue to shoulder disproportionate unpaid care work, restricting their career advancement.

The Way Forward:

• Ensure effective implementation of the 40% gender quota as a basis and promote women’s leadership beyond politics.
• Strengthen gender-responsive labor policies, tackling wage gaps and discrimination.
• Increase gender-sensitive education and media representation to challenge harmful stereotypes.
• Expand data collection on gender disparities to inform policy and accountability. 

We reflect on Nepal’s 30-year journey—celebrating progress, recognizing challenges, and accelerating action for gender equality.

Progress Made:

• Election Law mandates 33% representation for women in federal bodies, strengthening their role in governance.
• Women’s participation in local government has increased, with many serving as mayors and deputy mayors.
• Legal frameworks, including the Workplace Harassment Act (2015) and Criminal Code reforms, have enhanced protections against gender-based violence.
• The Palermo Protocol (2020) has been ratified to combat human trafficking, with 21 safe houses and 2 long-term rehabilitation centers established.

Persistent Challenges:

• Despite quotas, women’s leadership remains largely symbolic, with limited decision-making power in key sectors.
• 66.5% of women work in informal, unprotected jobs, and their control over economic assets remains low.
• 27% of women face physical, sexual, or emotional violence from intimate partners, and harmful practices like Chhaupadi (menstrual exile) persist despite being outlawed.
• Gender-responsive budgeting remains weak, with insufficient allocation for women’s programs.

The Way Forward:

• Ensure real political empowerment for women, beyond symbolic quotas.
• Expand economic opportunities & social protections for women in informal work.
• Strengthen enforcement of gender laws and eliminate discriminatory practices.
• Invest in gender data collection to inform policies and close the equality gap.

We look back at New Zealand’s 30-year journey. With women at the helm of leadership for 16 of the last 30 years, progress has been made across political participation, economic inclusion, health, and legal reforms. Still, deep-seated challenges require sustained action.

Progress Made:

• New Zealand achieved gender parity in Cabinet in 2023, and in 2022, women nearly equaled men in Parliament (60 women, 59 men).
• Women’s labour force participation rose from 54.3% in 1991 to 67.1% in 2022; over 53% of public board positions are held by women.
• Initiatives like the Gender Pay Gap Action Plan and Women’s Employment Action Plan are promoting inclusion.
• Abortion was decriminalised in 2020, marking a major win for women’s health rights.

Persistent Challenges:

• Wage disparities and undervaluation of care work continue across sectors.
• 93% of sexual assaults are estimated to go unreported, and family violence has risen over the past five years.
• Structural barriers hinder access to justice and health services for rural, migrant, and minority women.
• Intersectional approaches remain limited, and traditional gender roles persist in social attitudes.

The Way Forward:

• Enforce gender pay equity and invest in care infrastructure.
• Expand protections and justice access for survivors of violence.
• Focus on need for dedicated health services for women from marginalised groups.
• Promote intersectional education from early childhood to challenge stereotypes and transform norms.

We reflect on South Korea’s progress, challenges, and the path ahead in achieving gender equality.

Women in Power & Decision-Making: From 1% female representation in 1996 to 20% in 2024, South Korea has made strides in political participation. The Judge Quota System (2003) and the first female Minister of Gender Equality & Family (2001) were key milestones. Yet, disparities persist, and stronger policies are needed to bridge the gap.

Women & Economy: Women’s labour force participation has increased over the last 30 years, but female directors remain largely in support roles rather than leadership. The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (2022) aims to improve gender equity, yet implementation challenges remain.

Violence Against Women: Legal advancements such as the Sexual Violence Prevention & Victims Protection Act (2010) and the Prevention of Stalking & Protection of Victims Act (2023) have strengthened protections. However, digital sexual violence and extreme fascist threats highlight the urgent need for stronger enforcement and cultural change.

Women & Media: South Korea has seen a rise in women-led productions and greater representation in film and documentaries. However, fake news and hate speech targeting women through social media remain major concerns. The Digital Services Act (DSA) aims to combat this, alongside ongoing efforts to promote gender-sensitive media.

The Way Forward:

• Strengthen women’s leadership through strict monitoring and policy enforcement.
• Ensure equal opportunities in decision-making roles across industries.
• Improve legal frameworks to address gender-based violence and digital safety.
• Promote diverse and empowering representation of women in media.

We reflect on Thailand’s 30-year journey – celebrating progress, recognizing challenges, and identifying actions to accelerate gender equality.

Progress Made:

• Women’s representation in Parliament has grown from 4.5% (1995) to 19.2% (2023), showing steady progress in political inclusion.
• Female CEOs now make up 24% of business leaders, surpassing both the global (20%) and Asia-Pacific (13%) averages.
• Women-led labor movements have secured stronger rights, including extended maternity leave from 90 to 98 days, with a proposal for 120 days.
• The 2025 legalization of same-sex marriage marks a key milestone for gender and LGBTQ+ equality.

Persistent Challenges:

• Women remain underrepresented in senior government roles, with only 23.9% in high-ranking civil service positions.
• 54% of women work in the informal sector, lacking social protections such as paid leave and retirement benefits.
• Strong gender norms continue to burden women with unpaid care work, limiting their economic participation.
• Automation threatens female-dominated jobs, as many women work in roles vulnerable to replacement by technology.

The Way Forward:

• Expand social protections for informal and low-wage workers.
• Strengthen women’s political representation through targeted policies and gender quotas.
• Support childcare and eldercare services to ease unpaid care responsibilities.
• Promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and digital skills to prepare women for the future workforce.

We look back at Vietnam’s 30-year journey – celebrating progress, recognizing challenges, and exploring actions to accelerate gender equality.

Progress Made:

• Women’s representation in the 15th National Assembly reached 30.26% (2021-2026), one of the highest in the region.
• Women account for 47.3% of Vietnam’s workforce, with 50% of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students being female.
• The Law on Gender Equality (2006) and the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention & Control (2007) have strengthened legal protections.
• Women-led environmental and disaster risk reduction initiatives are shaping climate resilience and sustainability efforts.

Persistent Challenges:

• Women remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles. Key political and economic positions continue to be male-dominated.
• Barriers to economic empowerment persist, with many women in informal, low-paying jobs without social protections.
• Gender-based violence remains a critical issue, with low prosecution rates and a persisting culture of silence.
• Women face limited access to financial resources and digital inclusion, restricting their ability to advance in high-growth industries.

The Way Forward:

• Strengthen women’s leadership and political participation beyond quotas.
• Expand social protections and financial inclusion for women in informal and rural sectors.
• Improve legal enforcement to combat gender-based violence and discrimination.
• Invest in STEM education, digital literacy, and gender-sensitive climate policies.