Blog by Hana Smith, Global Policy Advisor, SI 

International mechanisms exist across governance, justice, environmental protection and beyond. 

The Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) dedicated an entire section to its implementation, including instructions for international institutions, local government, civil society, and the United Nations. However, the BPfA is only one catalyst to achieve gender equality; it must work alongside other rights Conventions like CEDAW. International mechanisms must be backed by law to effect the intended change. 

Yet, institutional mechanisms face several challenges: 

• Invisibility of women: the gender agenda is readily forgotten. We need policy, decision-making, budgeting processes and institutional structures to ensure that gender is always on the agenda. 

• Resource constraints: many institutions lack adequate funding and personnel to function effectively. Institutional mechanisms must recognise the work of grassroots organisations to ensure they are funded and resourced adequately to create change from the bottom, up. 

• Political interference: institutional mechanisms should be able to function independently. 

• Slow adaptation to change: institutional mechanisms struggle to evolve with new realities like the serious challenges of online safety, artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and global migration crises. 

 

To remain effective, institutional mechanisms must therefore adapt to meet the realities of today. 

Key transformations include: 

• Digital transformation and integration of AI. 

• Inclusive and participatory governance: the ability to engage with marginalised communities to ensure diverse perspectives in decision-making. 

• Climate-responsive institutions: institutional mechanisms must regulate carbon emissions and work to ensure a cross-border response to the climate crisis. 

• Performance-based evaluations and transparency: must become standard. 

The adaptability of these mechanisms can ensure that these processes are equitable and address challenges faced by different communities. 

Success Stories 

1. Trade Union Movement (UK) 

The two largest trade unions in the United Kingdom – UNISON and UNITE – have both elected female Secretary-Generals for the first time. This historical election has led to transformative policies and improvements in maternity leave, working terms and conditions, and holidays. 

The ripple effect of the female-elected leadership in these unions has had positive implications for the future: now, 40 per cent of elected National Committees are required to be women. This ensures that women’s voices are heard at the decision-making level, impacting workers across the United Kingdom. 

1. #OurStory Campaign 

The #OurStory campaign was led by young members of the Baha’i International Community, through the canvas of art and poetry. This campaign sought to ensure that international mechanisms are truly transformative, not just symbolic. 

These examples remind us that institutional mechanisms serve as a structural foundation, but when they are equipped with the required resources, they can drive positive change. 

Following the panel discussion, participants actively engaged in small group discussions, and shared the following takeaways: 

• No space for complacency: we must work to safeguard what has already been achieved to avoid relapses in progress towards gender equality. 

• Gender quotas: representation matters. This also means that quotas will only ever be as transformative as the women in those positions – we need women in leadership positions who will advocate for the rights of all the women and girls they represent. 

• Knowledge is power: public awareness of mechanisms like the BPfA and CEDAW still lacks, leading to their limited implementation. Increased education of these mechanisms is essential from a young age. 

• Equal opportunities from childhood: discrimination in the classroom is unacceptable. Girls and boys should be encouraged and enabled to study the same subjects from childhood, throughout the life course. 

• Men and boys as gender equality allies: men and boys can and must be allies in the fight to achieve gender equality, but patriarchal attitudes, norms and mindsets must be dismantled. 

• Inclusive, disaggregated, and up-to-date data is essential across sectors to understand specific needs and create solutions that are effective and fit-for-purpose – including indigenous, minority and marginalised communities. 

 

Collective action from civil society, grassroots movements and trade unions has ensured that women’s voices are now heard in spaces they previously were not. While these are positive strides, clear challenges remain to strengthen institutional mechanisms and make them wholly effective.