UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Beijing Declaration "the most ambitious global political commitment on women's rights ever achieved," which has helped advance legal protection, political participation and education for women worldwide. "To this day, the Beijing Declaration remains the most visionary, groundbreaking and far-reaching global agenda for gender equality and women's rights," she added. "Every step forward proved the same truth: gender equality works, but progress has not been fast enough." Some leaders expressed their concern over a growing backlash against women's rights across the world. Representatives called for decisive leadership and for accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration.