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At this year’s Commission on the Status of Women, Rutgers is not just looking back—we’re rallying forward. Now is the time to celebrate hard-won gains, protect them fiercely and push for equality where it’s still falling short and holding women back.
Thirty years ago, governments around the world committed to a simple but powerful truth: women’s rights are human rights. Tomorrow as we mark this milestone at International Women’s Day, that commitment feels more urgent than ever. While progress has been made, gender equality is under threat—from rollbacks on rights to rising inequality.
Rutgers will once again be at the Commission on Status of Women (10-21 March) at the UN in New York, celebrating 30 years of progress on women’s right while demanding further action. As we reflect on the achievements, we also face a pressing reality: a global pushback on equality threatens the safety, health, rights and well-being of women and girls. At this critical moment, a strong political declaration from Member States, reaffirming their commitment to women’s rights, is more urgent than ever.
What remains to be done? Plenty! First and foremost, all women and girls must access sexual and reproductive health and rights. Governments need to take stronger action to stop sexual and gender-based violence, including digital violence. And above all, every woman and girl must have the right to decide over their own body and health, free from fear or danger.
Sexual and gender-based violence in the digital age
In recent years, the digital landscape has brought new challenges to gender equality, many of which remain unaddressed. Emerging technologies have given rise to forms of sexual and gender-based violence that existing legal frameworks are often ill-equipped to tackle. Our 2024 study highlights the gap in current laws, underscoring the urgent need to update the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to address these evolving threats.
The funding gap for gender equality
Women’s rights organisations are currently facing unprecedented levels of pressure. To continue their vital work, women’s rights, feminist, and LGBTQI+ groups—along with cross-regional movements—need consistent and sustained funding. This financial support is crucial for ensuring that they can carry out advocacy, conduct research, train leaders and create effective strategies to address inequality. As space for advocacy shrinks, it’s even more critical to support these organisations, which are often the driving force behind progress.
Misinformation and its impact on women’s rights
There has been a growing attack on evidence-based information, with misinformation and disinformation spreading rapidly, especially around women’s rights and gender equality. These narratives, often spread by anti-rights groups or paid influencers, undermine decades of progress by distorting facts and spreading harmful stereotypes. This is particularly damaging for women and girls as misinformation can prevent them from seeking necessary evidence-based information and safe and reliable care. To secure progress for women and girls, the integrity of research and fact-based advocacy must be defended, ensuring that women’s rights are supported with accurate, reliable information that can shape policies and decisions.
Beyond celebration: don’t hit pause on progress
As we celebrate 30 years of the Beijing Declaration, Rutgers reaffirms its unwavering commitment to gender equality. The challenges we face today—such as dis and misinformation, digital violence, and shrinking civic space—demand more than just protection of what we’ve achieved. The commitment of governments to gender equality is more important than ever, not only to safeguard the gains made, but to accelerate progress in areas where women’s rights are under threat. We must move forward, there is no time to pause on progress.
“We must move forward, there is no time to pause on progress. ”