Beijing hosts the 2025 Global Leaders' Meeting on Women

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By Katherin Hormigó Rubio, translated from the Spanish

Beijing, October 13, 2025 — Around 800 guests from 110 countries, regions and international organizations gathered in Beijing October 13 to participate in the 2025 Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, a key event that seeks to boost gender equality, promote female leadership and strengthen global commitment to women's rights. This annual forum has become an essential gathering place for women dedicated to transforming society and ensuring a more equitable future for everyone.

Co-organized by China and UN Women, the event was attended by international figures such as Malala Yousafzai, an advocate for women's education; Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, activist and writer; Dilma Rousseff, former president of Brazil, among others. The Cuban delegation was represented by Teresa Amarelle Boué, secretary general of the Federation of Cuban Women.

The forum also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, an event that was pivotal in the global struggle for gender equality. Within this framework, an assessment was conducted on the advancements achieved and the ongoing challenges, including the gender pay gap, gender violence, and the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles in politics and business.

Voices from the forum

At the event, we had the chance to speak with several participants, who shared their insights and thoughts on the significance of this gathering.

Mayra Jiménez, the Minister of Women of the Dominican Republic, emphasized the significance of hosting this meeting in Beijing, a symbolic city where the roadmap for the global advancement of women's rights was laid 30 years ago. Jiménez noted that this "global gathering of leaders will enable us to review the progress made over these 30 years and examine the ongoing challenges to achieving complete equality between men and women."

Among the objectives mentioned by the minister are: "to achieve full equality, economic autonomy for women, eradicate gender based and intra-family violence, and advance our sexual and reproductive rights."

Bibiana Aido, the Director General of UN Women for Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed her thoughts on the event. Aido emphasized the advancements achieved over the past thirty years, including increased political involvement of women and greater economic independence. Nevertheless, she pointed out that numerous challenges persist. "Women continue to suffer gender-based violence just because they are women, their involvement in decision-making spaces is not yet equal, and gender disparities persist in various domains, such as employment, digital access, and caregiving responsibilities," she stated.

Regarding the role of women in Latin America and the Caribbean, Aido emphasized that "we are a region to be proud of. Women here have a stronger political presence, holding 35% of parliamentary seats, which is above the global average. Additionally, we have a solid regulatory framework." However, she cautioned against complacency: "We must keep advancing towards a more egalitarian society, which ultimately is a fairer society for everyone," she concluded.

Camila Ortega Murillo, who leads the National Commission of Creative Economy of Nicaragua, emphasized her delegation's high expectations for the event. "This is a space that helps to continue the ongoing development of areas where women can progress, play a leading role and strengthen our rights," she said.

Similarly, Lucía Nahima Guevara Agüero, Nicaragua's Minister of Women, stressed that her country serves as a model in the recognition of women. "Nicaragua is an example worldwide for the presence of women in ministerial positions, demonstrating female leadership in decision-making," she noted.

The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, which is being held in the capital of China, will continue its sessions on October 13 and 14. This dialogue platform is essential for renewing commitments and speeding up actions toward gender equality and women's advancement. It urges genuine efforts to enhance development-focused strategies and to further implement the Beijing Declaration and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC