By Hamu Madzedze

Online Health Editor-Zimbabwe

As the World commemorated this year's International Women's Day on the 8th of March a growing call for accountability is echoing globally, particularly in relation to the promises made in the Beijing Declaration 30 years ago.

The Declaration, adopted in 1995 at the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, outlined a plan to achieve gender equality and women's rights.

Addressing participants during the 5th session of the Sexual Health with Equity and Rights (SHE and Rights) Media Initiative ,Shobha Shukla, a feminist and development justice leader from CNS said women's rights are fundamental human rights and a bedrock to advancing progress on all other UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She added that it is time for accountability for not delivering on promises of gender equality and human rights.

"Maintaining good health is crucial for older people to remain independent and actively participate in family and community life" said Shukla

She added that public health initiatives can leverage the capacities and abilities of older people.

Anjali Shenoi, from the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), highlights the significance of the Beijing Declaration, saying it was pivotal in the feminist advocacy and that its adoption by 189 countries made it a crucial promise to advance gender equality and women's rights.

However, despite progress in some areas, many experts agree that there is still a long way to go.

Siyane Aniley, an expert in gender equality and social inclusion from the Centre for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT), Ethiopia, notes that Africa still has a long way to go in fully realising the commitments of the Beijing Declaration. She cites systemic barriers in employment, political leadership, and access to resources as major obstacles.

Kavutha Mutua, a lawyer and Founder-Director of The Legal Caravan, Kenya, emphasizes the need for stronger accountability to hold governments answerability for their commitments.

"We need to ensure that governments are held accountable for the promises they made in Beijing," Mutua said

CEO of Ageing in Nepal Sanju Thapa Magar, pointed out that older women are often left behind in policies and programmes addressing gender inequalities and social injustices.

She stressed the importance of ensuring equitable access to benefits, addressing gender-specific healthcare needs, and bolstering social support system

The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women(CSW69) is currently underway reviewing progress made on the Beijing Declaration and it's Platform of Action.

Experts are calling for increased action and accountability to address persistent gaps in gender equality and women's rights.