In the last 25 years, WHO has made progress on several aspects of women’s rights, health and gender equality as laid out in the visionary global policy framework from 1995, the Beijing Platform for Action on Women.

Advances have been made in recognizing the importance of women as healthcare providers and leaders in global health; reducing maternal mortality worldwide and barriers women face in accessing quality health services; and improving understanding of how risk factors for communicable and noncommunicable diseases affect women differently. The development of medical abortion methods has also contributed to a reduction in the number of unsafe abortions, saving thousands of women’s lives. Advocating for women’s voices, WHO’s work takes into account women’s values and preferences in addition to clinical considerations. These advances are also contributing to advancing the 17 interconnected Sustainable Development Goals.  

Supporting feminist movements to hold governments accountable and drive change in communities while applying a human rights-based approach is essential to continue advancing the health and well-being of women everywhere, in all their diversity.

Challenges remain and new ones continue to arise. Women often face multiple forms of discrimination and marginalization, visible in pay gaps, especially in the health workforce; the prevalence of violence against women and gender-based violence, including harassment; and limited access to opportunities such as education, employment and decision-making. Women of specific ethnic origins, women living with disabilities, trans women and migrant women face specific and unique challenges and marginalization impacting their health and wellbeing. Meaningful investment in, political commitment to and prioritization of urgent issues affecting women, their health, leadership and gender justice – like gender equality, reproductive health and violence against women – are still lacking.

In 2021, WHO will be leading the Action Coalition on Gender-based violence ahead of the Generation Equality Forum in Paris to recommit to the Beijing Platform for Action.