On the opening day on Monday, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, warned that women’s rights are currently ‘under siege’ before thousands of diplomats, business and civil society delegates gathered at the headquarters of the multinational organization.

She called for prioritizing investments in education, the fight to eradicate violence against women and girls, supporting women’s organizations and human rights defenders, promoting women’s leadership in technology and ensuring their full participation, from politics to peacemaking.

The world’s largest conference focused on women’s issues reviews, until March 21, the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, as well as the historic Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

For Loretta Jeff Combs of the Tlesqox First Nations of Canada, the Beijing Declaration marks a key moment in history, paving the way for the recognition of the rights of indigenous women and girls.

“Misogyny is on the rise” at a time when women bear the brunt of crises and conflicts around the world, warned Sima Bahous, head of UN Women, a UN organization that advocates for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Bahous called for action to close the digital gap, invest in the eradication of poverty and strengthen laws to break the cycle of violence against women and girls.

Among the dozens of side events, POWER4Girls: Investing in Girls, Transforming the World, which explores how the global community can intensify strategies to integrate policy solutions and multi-sectoral service delivery into the realities of girls’ lives, stands out.

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