The
theme of this year’s International Women’s Day -- the role of
women in decision-making -- is central to the advancement of women
around the world, and to the progress of humankind as a whole.
As the Beijing Declaration tells us, “women's empowerment and
their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres
of society, including participation in the decision-making process
and access to power, are fundamental for the achievement of equality,
development and peace.”
The
international community is finally beginning to understand a fundamental
principle: women are every bit as affected as any man by the challenges
facing humanity in the 21st century -- in economic and social
development, as well as in peace and security. Often, they are
more affected. It is, therefore, right and indeed necessary that
women should be engaged in the decision-making processes in all
areas, with equal strength and in equal numbers.
The
world is also starting to grasp that there is no policy more effective
in promoting development, health and education than the empowerment
of women and girls. And I would venture that no policy is more
important in preventing conflict, or in achieving reconciliation
after a conflict has ended.
We
do have achievements to celebrate in women’s representation around
the world. In January of this year, the proportion of women in
national parliaments reached a new global high. There are now
11 women Heads of State or Government, in countries on every continent.
And three countries – Chile, Spain and Sweden – now have gender
parity in Government.
But
we have far, far more to do. The rate of progress overall is slow.
Let us remember that in individual countries, the increase in
the number of women in decision-making has not happened by itself.
Rather, it is often the result of institutional and electoral
initiatives, such as the adoption of goals and quotas, political
party commitment and sustained mobilization. It is also the result
of targeted and concerted measures to improve the balance between
life and work. Those are lessons every nation -- and the United
Nations -- need to take very seriously.
At
the 2005 World Summit, world leaders declared that “progress for
women is progress for all”. On this International Women’s Day,
let us rededicate ourselves to demonstrating the truth behind
those words. Let us ensure that half the world’s population takes
up its rightful place in the world’s decision-making.
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