UN chief’s message for Women’s Day

March 10, 2013 - On the occasion of International Women’s Day, March 8, the United Nations chief underscored a simple truth: achieving equality for women and girls is essential not merely because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it. “The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared in his message for the Day, which this year underscored that empowered women lift up society as a whole: countries with more gender equality have better economic growth; peace agreements that include women are more durable; and parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support. “This simple truth must be central as we work to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] by next year's deadline and craft an agenda for the years beyond 2015,” said the UN chief, stressing that while important gains have been made in access to primary education for girls and political representation by women, such progress remains far too slow and uneven. He noted that a baby girl born today will still face inequality and discrimination, no matter where her mother lives. As such, Ban stressed, the international community has a common obligation to ensure her right to live free from the violence; to earn equal pay for equal work; to be free of the discrimination; to have an equal say in the decisions that affect her life; and to decide if and when she will have children, and how many she will have. “Realizing human rights and equality is not a dream, it is a duty of Governments, the United Nations and every human being,” Ban said adding: “I also have a message for my fellow men and boys: play your part. All of us benefit when women and girls – your mothers, sisters, friends and colleagues –can reach their full potential.”

In this spirit, a new campaign was launched on March 7 at the UN Headquarters by UN Women, the Organization's lead entity promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, on the theme “HeForShe”. It invites men and boys to stand up and voice their support for women's rights all over the world. Matt Damon, Antonio Banderas, and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu are but a few of the high-profile men who have joined the movement and are speaking up for women's empowerment. (Source: UN)