INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Following are key excerpts from  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the General Assembly High-level Debate:  Advancing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls for a Transformative Post-2015 Agenda, in New York on 6 March:

·        We should look forward to significant further progress by 2020, and gender equality by 2030.  Let our rallying cry be “50-50 by 2030!”  

·        We cannot successfully address sustainable development challenges if we constrain the potential of half of the world’s population.  They are women.  That is why the Special Summit on Sustainable Development in September should adopt a bold agenda that fully recognizes and values the role of women and girls.

·        The struggle goes on for millions of women and girls around the world.  There are still five countries where not a single woman is represented in the parliament.  There are eight countries in the world where not a single woman is in the Cabinet.  

·        The attitudes of societies -- the attitudes of men -- in all regions are still stacked against women.  Rape continues as a vile weapon of war and we see too many examples of violent extremists suppressing and abusing women and girls.  Early and forced marriages continue to violate the rights of girls, trapping them in ignorance and ill-health, and exposing them to violence.

·        Women still do most of the unpaid and low-paid work.  Their economic contributions, particularly in agriculture, go unnoticed.  They are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.  Many women around the world are still denied their sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the right to safe motherhood.

·        There are still relatively few women in power and in decision-making positions.  We have around 20 Heads of State and Government around the world and just around one in five of women are parliamentarians around the world.  In all countries, gender stereotypes, exclusion and discrimination continue to perpetuate inequality.

·       Today, as we observe International Women’s Day, let us commit to a life of dignity and opportunity for all.  Let us work together to secure a sustainable future, where women and girls, men and boys are equally empowered and enjoy shared prosperity.

RAJIV CHANDRAN

National Information Officer

United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan

55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi-110003, INDIA

Phone:  91-11-4653-2237

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