Fourth World Conference on Women collection, 1994-1997, 2010, 2017
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Summary
- Creator:
- Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture, Smith, Margot W., and Off Center Video (Firm)
- Abstract:
- The United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing, China, in 1995 and built on political agreements that had been reached at the three previous global conferences on women. Collection includes conference publications, information packets, schedules, activism calls, and posters collected by attendee Margot Smith, as well as videos produced by Smith. All materials date from 1995 unless otherwise indicated.
- Extent:
- 2.75 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.11300
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection includes conference publications, information packets, schedules, activism calls, and posters collected by attendee Margot Smith. Also included are recordings of conference proceedings and other videos produced by Margot and her company, Off Center Video. Margot's daughter, Janet Linney, was a videographer at the conference and helped produce the recordings. All materials date from 1995 unless otherwise indicated.
- Biographical / historical:
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The United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China (1995) built on political agreements that had been reached at the three previous global conferences on women, and it consolidated five decades of legal advances aimed at securing the equality of women with men in law and in practice. More than 17,000 participants attended the conference, including 6,000 government delegates at the negotiations, more than 4,000 accredited NGO representatives, a host of international civil servants and around 4,000 media representatives. A parallel NGO Forum held in Huairou near Beijing also drew some 30,000 participants.
The conference marked a significant turning point for the global agenda for gender equality. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted unanimously by 189 countries, was an agenda for women's empowerment that is now considered the key global policy document on gender equality. It set strategic objectives and actions for the advancement of women and the achievement of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern.
Source: United Nations (accessed February 7, 2022).
- Acquisition information:
- The Fourth World Conference on Women collection was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2016 and 2020.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Laura Micham and Megan Lewis, September 2016.
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2016-0129, 2020-0065.
Accession 2020-0065 added by Leah Tams, February 2022.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Fourth World Conference on Women collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m10x6v