On 21-22 October 2024 in Geneva, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia hosted the Beijing +30 Regional Review Meeting.

The Bulgarian delegation was led by the Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Yuri Sterk, who reiterated Bulgaria’s commitment to the implementation of the UN Agenda 2030 and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action - two transformative programs that put human rights at the centre of development so that no one is left behind.

The regional review, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, outlined the main trends in the UNECE region, confirming the political commitment of the member States to progress in the 12 critical areas of the Beijing Platform and in the implementation of SDG 5 for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Ministers, national delegates, NGO representatives and experts from across the region contributed national speeches aimed at sharing achievements in implementing the messages of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, focusing on emerging challenges and innovative policy solutions for progress on the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development until 2030.

In his statement in the general debate Ambassador Sterk stressed that the promotion and advancement of gender equality is a fundamental condition and premise for the exercise of their human rights by all people, as well as an essential element of sustainable development. Bulgaria pays special attention to demographic issues, such as demographic sustainability and demographic diversity, addressing the main challenges and participating in the joint efforts to secure a world where human rights, especially those of women and girls, are respected free of discrimination, coercion and violence. Achieving this goal nowadays is complicated by geopolitical realities—the ongoing military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the aggravation of the conflict in the Middle East, and numerous other crises around the world. The Bulgarian diplomat called for joining the efforts of all stakeholders - governments, representatives of civil society and businesses, for the promotion and affirmation of gender equality in the realization of the SDGs.

The high-level panels addressed key issues such as women's economic empowerment, leadership, prevention of gender-based violence, financing and effective policies to achieve the UNECE Sustainable Development Goals in the region. The head of the Bulgarian delegation took part in the panel on Women in leadership and their full and equal participation in the decision-making in the UNECE region, and insisted that overcoming the still existing gender gap is crucial for achieving the SDGs; Ambassador Sterk also informed about the achievements of Bulgaria and the measures taken by the country in this regard.