A growing body of evidence demonstrates that improvements in the status of women and girls – however worthy and important in their own right – also drive the prosperity, stability, and security of families, communities, and nations. Yet despite many indicators of progress, women and girls everywhere – including countries of the developed world – continue to confront barriers to their full and equal participation in social, economic, and political life. Capturing voices and experiences from around the world, this work documents the modern history of the global women’s movement - its many accomplishments and setbacks. Drawing together prominent pioneers and contemporary policymakers, activists, and scholars, the volume interrogates where and why progress has met resistance and been slowed, and examine the still unfinished agenda for change in national and international policy arenas. This history and roadmap are especially critical for younger generations who need a better understanding of this rich feminist legacy and the intense opposition that women’s movements have generated. This book creates a clear and forceful narrative about women’s agency and the central relevance of women’s rights movements to global and national policy-making.. It is essential reading for activists and policymakers, students and scholars alike.

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART I: Establishing new norms at the United Nations 1 The century of women: a reflection 2. From the time of creation: legacies and unfinished business from the first International Women’s Year Conference 3. Women’s rights are human rights: a concept in the making 4. Feminist mobilizing for global commitments to the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls 5. Taking stock: protection without empowerment? the evolution of the women, peace and security agenda since the Beijing Platform for Action 6. Seeing sexual and reproductive health and rights through the eyes of a youth activist: a reflection 7. The evolution of ideas: a feminist’s reflections on the partnership with the UN system PART II: Realizing rights at the national and local level 8. Women’s human rights and the political arena of Brazil: from dictatorship to democracy 9. Tackling history and culture: building the women’s rights movement and leveraging global conferences for local realities in Pakistan: a reflection 10. Women’s human rights in Iran: from global declarations to local implementation 11. Crossing the bright red line: the abuse of culture and religion to violate women’s sexual and reproductive health rights in Uganda 12. Negotiating gender mainstreaming in China 13. At once and for all: human rights and women’s status in the United States 14. Turning tides and making a difference in Nepal: a reflection 15. My evolution as a young feminist in Lebanon: a reflection PART III: Achieving economic justice 16. Gender equality and economic growth: a win-win policy agenda? 17. Revaluing caregiving: recent victories for domestic workers’ rights 18. Women, employment, fertility and other women 19. The MENA’s woman problem: progress and challenges in women’s economic participation 20. Public policy innovations to help American men and women succeed as providers and caregivers 21. On organizing for economic justice in Bangladesh: a reflection PART IV: Educating girls and eliminating child marriage 22. Be the change: a reflection 23. Raising the global ambition for girls’ education 24. Girls’ education as a peace and security issue 25. Financing girls’ education: a reflection 26. A short history of the long struggle to identify and eliminate child marriage: Amhara, Ethiopia as a case study 27. Child marriage in India: involving men and boys in cultural and behavioral changes 28. Working with adolescent girls in Egypt: a reflection PART V: Taking on the new challenge of climate justice 29. Gender equality, human rights and climate justice: reflections and a call to action 30. Women's role in energy access and solutions to climate change: a reflection 31. Afterword