The Sixth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Pan-African Parliament currently underway in Johannesburg, South Africa has commemorated the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which remains a milestone for women's rights and gender equality .

It is the world's most comprehensive, visionary plan ever created to achieve the equal rights of all women and girls. Agreed by 189 governments in 1995, at the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Platform centres on 12 areas of action, referred to as critical areas of concern . These cover jobs and the economy, political participation, peace, the environment and ending violence against women amongst others.

 Nhlanhla Mahlangu reports.