A/HRC/45/25 conference, held in 1995. She noted that women from Latin America and the Caribbean had developed strategic unity when they went to the Fourth World Conference on Women, as a result of their cooperation on the Mar del Plata action plan, a crucial milestone in the fight. Unfortunately, the broad vision of the Beijing conference had narrowed over time, with some aspects getting a great deal of attention while others were ignored or attracted limited visibility and resources. In particular, the issue of peace had become distorted and reduced to the women, peace and security agenda of the Security Council. The understanding of conflict and insecurity that had been articulated in Beijing, including in respect of militarization, occupation, coercive measures and economic sanctions, had been forgotten, with problematic repercussions. Ms. Arocha Dominguez stressed that inequality had grown, leading to social consequences such as the protests taking place on the streets of Latin America. Women had been at the forefront of those protests and were demanding change. She noted that poverty had led to women working in slavery-like conditions in some parts of the world. Child pregnancies were still an issue, and the chauvinist and harmful stereotypes that underpinned sexual violence against women remained unaddressed across the world. Ms. Arocha Dominguez urged States to take a position against the increasing number of conservative religious, cultural and political forces whose rhetoric, harassment and threats delegitimized the feminist movement, for example by pushing for the prohibition of gender studies. Women’s equality could not be achieved in isolation but, rather, required action within the right social frameworks. In conclusion, as long as there were chauvinist, racist and male-dominated societies and as long as the dominant economic and social model was centred on profit, there would be no gender equality. C. Statements by representatives of States and observers 20. During the ensuing discussion, speakers from the floor welcomed the opportunity to mark the progress made in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 25 years since its adoption, and to address the remaining challenges to achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment. It was highlighted that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action continued to represent the most comprehensive commitment to gender equality, women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of all human rights and their empowerment. The speakers especially appreciated the important normative work done by the Human Rights Council to support the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Some speakers emphasized the importance and relevance of the legally binding Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which offered a human rights-based foundation for furthering the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as related commitments, such as those contained in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Sustainable Development Goals and the women, peace and security agenda. 21. The speakers noted that the global efforts made to advance gender equality since 1995 had resulted in significant progress in ensuring women’s rights in areas such as education, health, political representation, decision-making and economic empowerment. Speakers noted that women’s empowerment and equality were national priorities. In particular, speakers reported on national laws and policies adopted or amended to combat violence against women and girls in all its forms and manifestations. Some speakers pointed to the efforts made by Governments to promote the full participation of women in positions of power and key decision-making institutions. As for the representation of women in decision-making bodies, speakers cited measures and laws to strengthen their presence in high-ranking positions, noting that real empowerment started at the very top. Women should be able to occupy leadership positions without any discrimination. Measures should be taken in the areas of socioeconomics and politics to fast-track programmes for women’s empowerment and gender equality. For example, some speakers explained that national strategic plans targeting the prevention of gender-based violence and femicide had been established. 22. The speakers recognized that, despite those achievements, implementation had been slow and uneven and significant challenges on the path towards gender equality remained, in each and every area of action, from quality education and health to the economy and decision-making. Some stressed the collective responsibility to protect the agreed normative framework and to ensure that achievements were used to strengthen and extend 5