The Beijing Platform for Action defined a set of strategic objectives and spelled out actions to be taken by governments, the international community, non-governmental organizations and the private sector for the removal of the existing obstacles to women's advancement. The commitments made by governments in Beijing reflected the understanding that women's equality to men must be a central component of any attempt to solve the world's social, economic and political problems. Thus, where once women fought to put gender equality on the international agenda, gender equality is now one of the primary factors shaping that agenda. Despite the advances women have made in many societies, progress made towards achieving gender equality has been slow and erratic. Women's concerns are still given second priority almost everywhere.
Women continue to face discrimination and marginalization, both subtle and blatant.
Women do not share equally in the fruits of development. Women constitute 70 per cent of the world's poor. It will focus on examples of good practices, positive actions, lessons learned, and the obstacles and key challenges remaining. It will also consider further actions and initiatives for achieving gender equality in the new millennium. At the end of the special session, governments are expected to issue a political declaration calling for a recommitment to the Beijing Platform for Action.