Recognizing Mexico City 1975: The Origins of Global Women’s Conferences

The Mexico City Conference was the first international gathering to place gender equality squarely on the global agenda. It launched the UN Decade for Women (1976-1985) and declared 1975 as International Women’s Year. The conference addressed broad and intersectional themes, including development, peace, and equality, which resonated deeply with women across the Global South.

Mexico 1975 was more than a conference; it was a groundbreaking moment that reflected the aspirations and struggles of women worldwide. It brought attention to issues of economic justice, access to education, healthcare, and the intersection of gender with poverty and race. These remain critical challenges today, especially for women in developing countries.

The Beijing Conference: A Milestone, Not the Beginning

The 1995 Beijing Conference produced the widely celebrated Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which became a cornerstone for global gender equality advocacy. It emphasized actionable goals, such as combating violence against women, increasing political participation, and ensuring legal protections. These achievements are undeniably significant, and Beijing’s influence on modern gender policies is profound.

However, Beijing’s prominence often overshadows the foundational work of Mexico City and the subsequent conferences held in Copenhagen (1980) and Nairobi (1985). These earlier events established the frameworks and global awareness that made Beijing possible. By celebrating Beijing +30 without acknowledging Mexico +50, we risk erasing the historical continuity of the movement.

Global North Priorities vs. Global South Realities

The emphasis on Beijing +30 also reflects a broader imbalance in whose voices dominate global narratives on women’s rights. While the Beijing Conference was a global event, its framing and outcomes often align more closely with the priorities of the Global North. These include institutionalized gender equality frameworks, legal reforms, and political representation.

In contrast, Mexico City 1975 highlighted challenges central to the Global South, such as economic survival, decolonization, and structural inequalities. Women in developing nations often grapple with these foundational issues before they can address the more advanced policy reforms emphasized in Beijing. Ignoring Mexico’s 50th anniversary marginalizes these perspectives and diminishes the Global South’s role in shaping the movement.

The Symbolism of Mexico vs. Beijing

The choice to prioritize Beijing +30 over Mexico +50 sends a symbolic message about what is deemed important in the history of gender equality. Celebrating Beijing alone perpetuates a narrative that progress in women’s rights began with the Beijing Declaration, sidelining the earlier, more diverse dialogues initiated in Mexico. Mexico’s conference was not merely a precursor to Beijing but a landmark in its own right, emphasizing themes that remain central to the feminist agenda today.

The Danger of Historical Erasure

By failing to commemorate Mexico +50, international organizations risk erasing the foundational efforts that made Beijing possible. This erasure diminishes the contributions of the countless women from the Global South whose struggles and activism shaped the global feminist agenda. The focus on Beijing also overlooks the continuity of progress and the collective effort of all the conferences that followed Mexico.

A Call for Inclusive Reflection

Rather than choosing one anniversary over the other, the global community should celebrate both Mexico +50 and Beijing +30 in 2025. This dual recognition would honor the historical trajectory of international women’s conferences and provide a more inclusive narrative. It would highlight the interconnected struggles and achievements of women worldwide, bridging the gap between the priorities of the Global North and South.

Celebrating Mexico +50 alongside Beijing +30 would remind us that the global women’s movement is not defined by a single moment or document. Instead, it is a continuum of efforts, each building upon the other, to create a more just and equitable world for all women.

What Inspired This Reflection

What inspired me to write this article is the recognition of how short our memory spans often are. We tend to focus on the most recent milestones while forgetting the foundational efforts that paved the way. Collective amnesia can limit our understanding and progress. Reflecting on milestones like Beijing +30 and Mexico +50 reminds us of the long and ongoing struggle for gender equality. It helps to honor the progress made and acknowledge the work still ahead.

By writing about this, I aim to preserve the memory of these significant movements and encourage others to recognize and value the history that has shaped today’s global women’s movements. This reflection is crucial for ensuring that the lessons of the past inform our actions in the present and future.

 

The 50th anniversary of Mexico City 1975 is an opportunity to reflect on the roots of the global gender equality movement and to ensure that its history is told in its entirety. As we celebrate Beijing’s significant contributions, let us also honor the pioneering efforts of Mexico City and the women who paved the way for the progress we continue to strive for today. By doing so, we can ensure a more balanced and inclusive commemoration that truly reflects the diversity and richness of the global women’s movement.