UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, has called on world leaders to choose rights, equality and empowerment for all women and girls.
Bahous made the call at UN Headquarters in New York, at an event to commemorate International Women’s Day (IDW), celebrated annually on March 8.
According to her, IDW is a powerful moment, and for 2025, more than ever, the call for gender equality is important.
“The cause of gender equality has never been more urgent, nor the obstacles in our way more apparent, but our determination has never been more unshakeable.
“Today, we celebrate equality for all women and girls, and we celebrate coming together, here, now, everywhere.’’
According to her, 2025 is a call for ALL women and girls – “Rights. Equality. Empowerment”, because equality with exceptions is not equality.
Bahous said that the promise of equality for women and girls, rights, and empowerment to all girls must be realised.
“The pushback against those promises is nothing new. We have faced it before; we will face it again.
“Until gender equality is our shared reality and shared reward, we will not stop.
“Make no mistake: our movement is powerful, and it is growing. It is all of you here, all those who are remotely connected and listening, all those who commemorate International Women’s Day in different ways.
“It is all of us who understand that equality is not to be feared, but instead to be embraced, because an equal world is a better world,’’ she said.
According to her, 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
“We hope to see its commitments reaffirmed in a strong, forward-looking political declaration, to be adopted at CSW69 [the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
“This year, we commemorate the 25th anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325.
“We look also forward to the final stretch this year of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. What better reminders to energise and guide us all?.
The top UN official said from governments to boardrooms, from classrooms to households, women’s equality is the greatest solution, and we know that.
She said: “Every study we do, every project we do, every programme we do, every effort and partnership we have tells us that women’s equality is the greatest solution.
“Real solutions require that women be at the heart of decision-making. From Afghanistan to the DRC, from Palestine, Gaza to Haiti to Myanmar, Sudan and beyond, women bear the heaviest burdens of conflict, displacement, hardship, and loss.
“Yet, we know that when women are at the table, peace is broader, more inclusive, and more enduring.
“We know that when women’s voices are heard equally, societies thrive. We know that when women lead, economies prosper.
“We know all this. Now, we must act on it. So that the promises we have made are fulfilled for ALL women and girls, and so that all women can lead and thrive.’’
By Cecilia Ologunagba