Pushing for progress is not a slogan, we have to act
The Nordic countries with a unified message
Finland, who holds the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2025, highlighted Nordic leadership and reasons to be hopeful:
The Nordic voice is powerful. It is rooted in a legacy of gender equality and remarkable achievements. By championing the rights of women and girls, by keeping it on the agenda, by pushing for progress, we can pave the way for a better world
The meeting between the Nordic ministers and UN Women’s Executive Director, Sima Bahous, reaffirmed the strong commitment of the Nordic countries to advancing gender equality on the global stage. The discussion centered on the urgent need to counter increasing pushback and to reinforce the international gender equality framework, particularly in the lead-up to the 30-year anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2025. The Executive Director urged the Nordic countries to maintain their leadership by promoting gender equality across intergovernmental forums, supporting UN Women and forging new alliances to safeguard progress. In response, the Nordic ministers and Secretary General Karen Ellemann emphasized their determination to continue pushing for progress, despite the current global challenges.
Global co-operation is key to meet the pushback
The global pushback against gender equality is well-organized, making it essential to strengthen alliances across political and regional divides. It is a pressing crisis, threatening hard-won progress and impacting the lives of women and girls everywhere. Policies that once advanced equal rights are now under attack, creating significant challenges for activists, organizations, and policymakers striving to safeguard these achievements. This backlash translates into tangible societal setbacks, from restricted access to reproductive health services to the erosion of legal protections against discrimination and violence, and particularly a backlash in the digital space.
In response, a united and strategic effort is essential—not only to defend past gains but to push forward with bold, progressive policies.
In today’s climate, cooperation has never been more important. Women’s and girls’ rights, along with the rights of LGBTI people and other minority groups, are under threat globally. It is essential that we speak up and stand together—our voices for human rights are needed now more than ever
The link between gender equality and strong democracies
Gender equality is deeply connected to democratic values, as strong democracies are built on principles of freedom, equality, and the empowerment of all individuals. In the Nordic countries, these values are reflected in policies that ensure equal opportunities for both women and men to contribute to society, but there is still work to do. Democracies grow stronger when everyone can participate in political, social, and economic life, free from discrimination or violence. Preserving these values, especially in times when they are under pressure, is crucial to fostering inclusive, fair societies where all individuals can participate equally.
This is what Pushing for progress is all about.
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