On this International Women’s Day, we, the undersigned bilateral and multilateral partners supporting gender equality and women’s empowerment in Ethiopia under the umbrella of the Gender Equality Working Group, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls. This year holds special significance as we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), a landmark global commitment that continues to guide efforts toward the full realization of women’s and girls’ rights.

Thirty years since the adoption of the BPfA, we recognize that much progress has been achieved in Ethiopia and globally. Women have made strides in political representation, leadership, economic participation, education, and legal protections.

However, these gains are increasingly at risk. We are witnessing a growing pushback against women’s rights. Structural inequalities persist, and recent challenges—including conflict, economic hardships, and emerging socio-political constraints—have made women and girls more vulnerable. Women and girls continue to face barriers to their full participation in society, experience heightened risks of violence and vulnerability to harmful practices, and encounter limitations in accessing essential services and resources, which are becoming scarce for gender equality initiatives.

We acknowledge the difficult environment in which actors working on the advancement of the rights and wellbeing of women and girls, including civil society, women’s rights organizations, and institutions committed to women’s and girls’ empowerment, are operating. We recognize the critical role these actors play in ensuring the protection and promotion of women’s rights, and we stand in solidarity with them. Ensuring an enabling environment for gender equality efforts remains imperative.

In light of these challenges, we commend the Government of Ethiopia for its continued commitment to gender equality and pledge our support to continue working with all stakeholders to advance policies and programs that uphold the principles of the BPfA. Our collective action focuses on ensuring the meaningful participation of women and girls in decision making including in peace and conflict resolution, addressing gender-based violence and harmful practices, promoting women’s economic empowerment, and fostering an inclusive society where all individuals can thrive. We will continue our support to the Government of Ethiopia to put in place and implement policy and legal frameworks that support gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Only until women and girls fully participate in our societies will we be able to truly flourish. We invite the Government to refer to the Ethiopian Women’s Status and Priorities Report, endorsed by the Government of Ethiopia through the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, to address the identified needs of women and girls in Ethiopia.

On this International Women’s Day, we call on all stakeholders—government, civil society, private sector, and development partners—to redouble their efforts to unlock equal rights and opportunities for every woman and every girl. The promise of the Beijing Declaration remains as vital today as it did 30 years ago. Let us work together to ensure that the vision of a just and equal world for women and girls becomes a reality in Ethiopia.