Panel discussion in Cologne: Focus on women's rights after 30 years!

Panel discussion in Cologne: Focus on women's rights after 30 years!

On June 11, 2025, the city of Cologne is inviting you to an important lecture on the topic of sexual violence in war, and for good reason: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The conference, which took place in 1995, represented a real boost in knowledge for women's rights with the adoption of the Beijing Declaration. The declaration focuses in particular on combating sexual violence in armed conflicts, a topic that remains current and explosive. Loud Cologne City Gazette Experts such as Monika Hauser from medica mondiale and Anne-Kathrin Kreft from the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony will have their say at the panel discussion in the Volkshochschule am Neumarkt forum.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m., admission opens at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but prior registration by email to eurocologne@stadt-koeln.de is required. The discussion will not only address the structural causes of violence, but also the political and social challenges that women face along the way.

Focus on the Beijing Declaration

The Beijing Declaration is more than just a document; it is a commitment framework of 189 states. The central theme of the conference was: “Action for equality, development and peace”. In this context, 12 main problem areas have been defined that need to be urgently addressed. These include, among other things, combating women's poverty, education, health and, last but not least, the influence of armed conflicts on women. BMFWF highlights that the implementation of the Platform for Action will be reviewed every five years, with the next global review due in 2025.

What is particularly exciting is the fact that the current review process is giving rise to discussion in Cologne. In a globally linked framework, the topics discussed here could also become more relevant globally. In addition to combating sexual violence, the Beijing Declaration also mentions equality in economic aspects and thus forms a broad framework for women's rights.

Inclusion in current debates

The head of the marketing team at UNSA Hamburg, Jana Mortzeck, points out in a newsletter that the Beijing Declaration has also identified new challenges that are of central importance today. These include, among other things, securing leadership roles for women in politics and reducing the digital divide between the genders, which is becoming increasingly urgent. DGVN North highlights these challenges as significant issues inherent in these discussions.

The Cologne event is therefore an excellent opportunity to address important questions surrounding women's rights and combating violence. Whether you take action yourself to combat these grievances or simply listen with interest, one thing is certain: there are important topics and approaches on the table.