Mural “Voices of Resistance”, dedicated to the fight against violence against women. UN Secretary General: The ongoing epidemic of gender-based violence is a shame for humanity Women
Speaking at the UN at an event dedicated to International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8, the organization’s Secretary-General António Guterres condemned violence against women, called for empowering women on the planet, and also expressed support for all human rights defenders who fight inequality and discrimination.
Women’s rights
“In communities around the world, millions of women and girls are demanding change, challenging stereotypes and making their voices heard,” Guterres said. – We support them. We thank them. And we applaud everything they have achieved.”
The ongoing epidemic of gender-based violence is a disgrace to humanity, and women’s unpaid care work is excluded from the gross domestic product calculation and deemed to have no financial value.
In communities around the world, millions of women and girls are demanding change, challenging stereotypes and making their voices heard
Even when women are paid for their work, they earn less than men. The gender pay gap is at least twenty percent, and often more, depending on the country and employment sector, the UN chief continued.
He also touched on other manifestations of inequality. For example, at last year’s session of the United Nations General Assembly, women made up less than 12 percent of speakers. drew attention to the situation of women in Afghanistan, as well as to a parliamentary initiative in the Gambia that would legalize female genital mutilation. “I strongly urge that this proposal be rejected,” added the Secretary General.
Read also:
Rosa Otunbaeva: many Afghan women are afraid to go outside
According to a UNICEF study published on March 8, more than 230 million girls and women have undergone such surgery. This is 30 million – 15 percent – more than the 2016 figures.
Women and conflicts
The Secretary-General in his speech also spoke about the suffering experienced by women living in the zones conflicts. He recalled reports of rape and human trafficking in Sudan, sexual violence during terrorist attacks by Hamas militants in Israel, sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners, and the deaths and injuries of Gazan women.
Sharply increase the pace of change
At the current rate of change, full legal equality for women will come in about 300 years, noted head of the UN. The same can be said about ending child marriage.
Investment in women’s empowerment
And by 2030, more than 340 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty, some 18 million more than men and boys.
“It’s an insult to women and girls,” he stressed, “and it slows down all our efforts to build a better world.” He called for a sharp acceleration in the pace of change, recalling that the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is investing in women’s empowerment.
“These investments must be aimed at ending violence against women; improving women’s and girls’ access to education and skills; increasing the number of women in leadership positions in the corporate sector, in government, in peacebuilding and in the fight against climate change,” says the Secretary-General. He noted three priority areas for such work – access to funding, gender equality and increasing the number of women in leadership positions.
New UN Plan
In this context, António Guterres announced the launch of the United Nations System-Wide Plan to Accelerate Achievement gender equality, with women and girls at the center of our work across the board.
“We will support governments around the world to develop and implement policies, budgets and investments that meet the needs of women and girls,” he said.