United Nations Conferences on Women

The United Nations has long constituted an arena in which issues of gender justice can be addressed. In particular, the four United Nations (UN) women's conferences, and the UN Decade for Women, have drawn attention to gender inequality. They have allowed women to voice their concerns and organize around these issues, thereby leading to more coherent strategies in overcoming the inequities faced by women all over the globe. The lasting effects of this activism and increased political presence are felt by women today. Women are able to benefit from specialist agencies dealing with gender inequality, gender-mainstreaming, heightened awareness of men's roles in redressing gendered imbalances of power, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the general highlighting of ...