Thirty years ago, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set a global agenda for gender equality, calling for urgent action to dismantle barriers to women's rights and marginalized genders' full participation in society. Today, as the world reflects on this milestone at Beijing+30, the fight remains far from over. Gender-based discrimination continues to persist across education, leadership, and policy spaces, including within student movements. In response to this ongoing challenge, the Global Student Forum (GSF) is proud to announce the adoption of its Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, a bold and comprehensive approach to embedding gender equality across all areas of our work.
Gender Equality: A Continuing Fight
The 1995 Beijing Declaration was a landmark commitment to gender justice, and while significant progress has been made, gender-based discrimination, exclusion, and inequality persist. Women and marginalized genders continue to face systemic barriers in education, leadership, and political participation. The GSF recognizes that within student movements and academia, these challenges remain —affecting access to opportunities, representation in decision-making, and the ability to participate in shaping policies that impact students worldwide.
By adopting a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, GSF reaffirms its commitment to combating these disparities and ensuring that gender equality is an integral part of its advocacy, policies, and internal structures.
What is Gender Mainstreaming?
Gender mainstreaming, as defined by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1997, is the systematic integration of gender perspectives in policies and programs. It aims to ensure that all genders benefit equally, preventing the reinforcement of existing inequalities.
For GSF, this means recognizing the structural factors that contribute to gender inequality and taking active steps to address them within our own organization and the broader student movement. It also means acknowledging the diversity of gender identities beyond the traditional binary and ensuring that all individuals are included and empowered.
Key Actions in the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy
GSF’s strategy outlines several key actions to advance gender equality:
- Challenging Gender Stereotypes: Raising awareness about gender discrimination and dismantling harmful norms that limit participation and leadership opportunities for marginalized genders.
- Ensuring Equal Representation: Actively promoting gender balance in leadership roles, decision-making structures, and public-facing events.
- Providing Training and Education: Equipping GSF members with the knowledge and tools to create safe and inclusive spaces within student movements and advocacy initiatives.
- Strengthening Accountability: Implementing transparent processes to address discrimination, sexism, and harassment within GSF and its affiliated organizations.
- Embedding Gender in Policy Work: Ensuring that gender perspectives are considered in GSF advocacy, policy recommendations, and statements.
- Prioritizing Intersectionality: Recognizing that gender inequality intersects with other forms of discrimination, such as race, disability, and economic status, and tailoring interventions accordingly.
Why This Matters for Students
Students worldwide are key drivers of social change, and achieving gender equality within student movements is essential for creating inclusive and democratic societies. By leading with gender justice at our core, we challenge educational institutions, governments, and international bodies to do the same.
Looking Ahead
GSF will regularly assess the implementation of this strategy through gender-focused surveys, feedback mechanisms, and impact assessments. As part of our commitment to Beijing+30, we will continue to push for gender-responsive policies in global education governance and student rights advocacy.
The fight for gender equality is far from over, but through collective action and accountability, we can move closer to a future where all students—regardless of gender identity—have the same opportunities to learn, lead, and thrive.
