Day One of the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum: Reflecting on 30 Years Since the Beijing Platform for Action

More than 300 civil society representatives from across Asia and the Pacific gathered in Bangkok for the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum, including delegates from Mongolia.

The Forum was convened to reflect on the progress made over the past 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, while also examining current and emerging challenges to gender equality and human rights across the region.

Held in the lead-up to the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review, taking place from 19–21 November, the Forum brought together representatives from diverse communities and social movements under the call to action: “Resist, Claim Rights, Create Change.”

Throughout the first day, participants reflected on both achievements and persistent gaps in advancing women’s rights and gender equality. Discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening collective advocacy, building solidarity across movements, and developing shared positions and recommendations for regional policy processes.

The Forum also reaffirmed that all people have the right to live free from discrimination, regardless of sex, class, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, or social status.

Participants stressed the urgent need to challenge harmful social norms, discriminatory laws, and structural barriers that continue to reproduce inequality and limit the rights, opportunities, and participation of marginalised groups.

MONFEMNET is pleased to be part of this regional movement and to contribute to collective efforts to advance rights, equality, and social justice across the Asia-Pacific region.