On 31 January 2025, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Heba Hagrass, submits the report titled "Thirty years of implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Potential for Women and Girls with Disabilities" (report A/HRC/58/56) to the Human Rights Council pursuant to Council resolution 53/14. 

The report contributes to the 30th anniversary debate on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and analyzes its impact on women and girls with disabilities. It explores synergies between the Beijing Declaration, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to strengthen gender equality, with a thematic study of the potential for advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls with disabilities.

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 with the participation of 189 countries, is the most widely recognised global roadmap for women's rights. The platform called for action in 12 critical areas, including:

• Ending violence against women,
• Ensuring women’s full participation in decision-making,
• Promoting economic empowerment and legal equality.

The report highlights a major success in the growing awareness of gender equality and significant advancements in law and policy, noting that since 1995, 1,531 legal reforms have been implemented worldwide, resulting in increased leadership opportunities for women, including women with disabilities in decision-making.

Improved access to education for girls has led to higher literacy rates and better economic opportunities. In many regions, girls complete upper secondary education at higher rates than boys. Legal frameworks to combat domestic violence, harassment, and trafficking have strengthened protections. Maternity leave and childcare policies have enhanced work-family balance.

Despite these progresses, challenges remain. The Women’s Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing report by UN-Women provides key data:

• 63% of women aged 25-54 are in the labor force, compared to 92% of men.
• 24% of women aged 18-34 with young children are living in extreme poverty.
• 95% of victims of sexual violence during conflict are women and girls.
• 2 billion women and girls lacked social protection in 2023.
• 736 million women have experienced physical or sexual violence.
• Only 28% of women are ministers influencing climate policies

Gender inequalities persist, particularly in rural areas. Women face wage inequality, limited access to capital, and political barriers. Women and girls with disabilities experience discrimination in education, employment, and healthcare and are often excluded from gender equality initiatives. Cultural norms hinder policy implementation in some regions, while conflicts and humanitarian crises worsen inequalities. 

The report calls for strengthening institutional mechanisms, increasing government funding, and enhancing international cooperation. States should engage in meaningful consultation with women and girls with disabilities, ensuring that all processes at the national, regional, and international levels are fully accessible and inclusive. As women, especially mothers, often bear the caregiving burden, they should receive adequate financial, psychological, and informational support. United Nations agencies must ensure all gender equality-related events are fully accessible, including sign language interpretation, captions, and alternative formats. This will safeguard the rights of women and girls with disabilities and promote social equality.