The Generation Equality Forum Paris concluded today with the announcement of bold gender equality commitments and launch of a global 5-year action journey to accelerate gender equality by 2026. The Forum\u2019s bold, action-oriented agenda will be under-written by nearly USD 40 Billion of confirmed investments as well as ambitious policy and programme commitments from governments, philanthropy, civil society, youth organizations and the private sector. The monumental conclusion comes at a critical moment as the world assesses the disproportionate and negative impact that COVID-19 has had on women and girls. Gender equality advocates have pressed for gender-responsive stimulus and recovery plans to ensure that women and girls are not left behind as the world re-builds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Generation Equality Forum marks a positive, historic shift in power and perspective. Together we have mobilized across different sectors of society, from south to north, to become a formidable force, ready to open a new chapter in gender equality,\u201d said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women. \u201cThe Forum\u2019s ecosystem of partners \u2013 and the investments, commitments and energy they are bringing to confront the greatest barriers to gender equality \u2013 will ensure faster progress for the world\u2019s women and girls than we have seen before.\u201d UN Women will maintain a critical role in driving the Forum\u2019s 5-year action journey, overseeing the implementation of commitments to ensure accountability and progress over the next five years.<\/p>\n
Speaking to mark the close of the Forum for the Government of France, the host of the Paris Forum, Ambassador and Secretary-General of the Generation Equality Forum Delphine O said, \u201cAfter two years of collective work with the Member States, civil society and philanthropic and private organizations, we succeeded in raising the largest amount of investment to advance gender equality and women\u2019s rights ever. By implementing a new way of tackling global issues through efficient multilateralism, the Generation Equality Forum reversed the priorities on the international agenda and made gender equality, for too long underestimated, a long-term issue for the international community, along with climate, education and health. France will continue to be at the forefront to accelerate gender equality progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
The USD 40 Billion of investments confirmed at the Forum\u2019s close represent a major step-change in resourcing for women\u2019s and girls\u2019 rights. Lack of financing is widely understood to be a major reason for slow progress in advancing gender equality and in enacting the women\u2019s rights agenda of the milestone 1995 Beijing Conference. By the close of the Forum, governments and public sector institutions had committed to USD 21 Billion in gender equality investments, the private sector USD 13 Billion, and Philanthropy USD 4.5 Billion. UN entities, international and regional organizations committed an aggregate of USD 1.3 Billion. In addition to these bold investments, many organizations made strong policy and program commitments, including 440 civil society organizations and 94 youth-led organizations. Forum organizers expect that the approximately 1,000 commitment-makers confirmed to date will be joined by many others over the next five years.<\/p>\n