International Women's Day 8 March
Secretary-General's Message for 2019
Gender equality and women’s rights are fundamental to
global progress on peace and security, human rights and sustainable
development. We can only re-establish trust in institutions, rebuild global
solidarity and reap the benefits of diverse perspectives by challenging
historic injustices and promoting the rights and dignity of all.
In recent decades, we have seen remarkable progress on
women’s rights and leadership in some areas. But these gains are far from
complete or consistent – and they have already sparked a troubling backlash
from an entrenched patriarchy.
Gender equality is fundamentally a question of power.
We live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture. Only when we
see women’s rights as our common objective, a route to change that benefits
everyone, will we begin to shift the balance.
Increasing the number of women decision-makers is
fundamental. At the United Nations, I have made this a personal and urgent
priority. We now have gender parity among those who lead our teams around the
world, and the highest-ever numbers of women in senior management. We will
continue to build on this progress.
But women still face major obstacles in accessing and
exercising power. As the World Bank found, just six economies give women and
men equal legal rights in areas that affect their work. And if current trends
continue, it will take 170 years to close the economic gender gap.
Nationalist, populist and austerity agendas add to
gender inequality with policies that curtail women’s rights and cut social
services. In some countries, while homicide rates overall are decreasing,
femicide rates are rising. In others we see a rollback of legal protection
against domestic violence or female genital mutilation. We know women’s
participation makes peace agreements more durable, but even governments that
are vocal advocates fail to back their words with action. The use of sexual
violence as a tactic in conflict continues to traumatize individuals and entire
societies.
Against this backdrop, we need to redouble our efforts
to protect and promote women’s rights, dignity and leadership. We must not give
ground that has been won over decades and we must push for wholesale, rapid and
radical change.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think
Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”, addresses infrastructure,
systems and frameworks that have been constructed largely in line with a
male-defined culture. We need to find innovative ways of reimagining and
rebuilding our world so that it works for everyone. Women decision-makers in
areas like urban design, transport and public services can increase women’s
access, prevent harassment and violence, and improve everyone’s quality of
life.
This applies equally to the digital future that is
already upon us. Innovation and technology reflect the people who make them.
The underrepresentation and lack of retention of women in the fields of
science, technology, engineering, mathematics and design should be a cause of
concern to all.
Last month, in Ethiopia, I spent time with African
Girls Can Code, an initiative that is helping to bridge the digital gender
divide and train the tech leaders of tomorrow. I was delighted to see the
energy and enthusiasm these girls brought to their projects. Programmes like
this not only develop skills; they challenge stereotypes that limit girls’
ambitions and dreams.
On this International Women’s Day, let’s make sure
women and girls can shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact
all our lives. And let’s support women and girls who are breaking down barriers
to create a better world for everyone.
António GuterresSobre a mensagem (em português), veja no Vatican News. Destacam: «(...)
Construção com inteligência
Os países, com mais igualdade de gênero, apresentam maior crescimento econômico. As empresas, com mais mulheres na liderança, têm uma melhor produtividade. Os acordos de paz, que incluem as mulheres, são mais duráveis. Parlamentos com mais mulheres promulgam mais legislação sobre questões sociais fundamentais, tais como saúde, educação, combate à discriminação e de apoio à criança. (...)»
International Women’s Day 2019
United Nations Video Message
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