The United Nations has urged the international community to take firm action in ensuring rights, equality, and empowerment for all women and girls, declaring that progress for women benefits society as a whole.
“When women and girls can rise, we all thrive,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his message ahead of International Women’s Day. However, he warned that instead of advancing equal rights, the world is witnessing “the mainstreaming of misogyny.”
Marking 30 years since the landmark UN Conference on Women in Beijing, Guterres stressed that equal opportunities for women create more prosperous and peaceful societies and form the foundation for sustainable development. He called for decisive action to unlock financial resources for gender equality, close the wage gap, expand opportunities for women in STEM fields, and strengthen laws to end gender-based violence.
He highlighted the UN’s Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact as key frameworks to drive these efforts, reinforcing the need for women’s full participation in decision-making and peacebuilding.
This year’s International Women’s Day, observed on March 8, carries the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The focus is on securing a feminist future where no one is left behind, with an emphasis on empowering young women and adolescent girls as agents of change.
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