United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that, while the world is celebrating International Women’s Day, it is time to recognize that gender inequality is one of today’s biggest challenges in the field of human rights and that the promotion of equality is a powerful driver of sustainable development and peace.
He stated that during almost a decade at the head of the UN, he witnessed numerous global crises, from climate change and deepening poverty to violent conflicts and the narrowing of space for civil engagement.
I have also witnessed numerous solutions that come to life in practice, and all of them have the same common denominator – women, said Guterres, presenting eight steps for advancing women’s rights and achieving concrete results.
1. To bridge the balance of power
The first step, according to Guterres, is to bridge the disparity in power, because gender equality is first and foremost a question of power.
– Institutions dominated by men continue to shape our world. The rising tide of authoritarianism is deepening inequalities, undoing hard-won protections, and entrenching racial and gender biases that hold women back. When there is an equal distribution of power,
freedoms are expanding and societies are progressing – he pointed out.
2. Parity as a priority
The second step is to make gender parity a priority, as women are still seriously underrepresented in government and management structures around the world.
Guterres recalled that the United Nations introduced gender parity in the highest management structures, stressing that this was not achieved by lowering standards but by expanding the search for qualified candidates.
– When institutions choose equality, the results are inevitable – he said.
3. Investing in women
The third step refers to investing in women, which, as he stated, brings extremely high social and economic benefits.
According to him, every dollar invested in girls’ education yields almost a threefold return, while investments in maternal health and family planning generate more than an eightfold return.
4. Women in peace negotiations
The fourth step is to ensure women have a seat at the table in peace negotiations.
“Peace agreements are more durable when women participate in the negotiations and their implementation. Yet in many conflicts, including Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, women are largely excluded from the process, even though they bear the brunt of the war,” he warned.
5. Abolition of legal discrimination
Guterres stated that women worldwide have only 64 percent of the legal rights enjoyed by men.
– In many places, women cannot own property, work freely or ask for a divorce. Every country must commit to abolishing discriminatory laws and consistently applying the law in practice – he said.
6. Zero tolerance for violence
The sixth step is the introduction of zero tolerance to gender-based violence.
– Violence against women is a global crisis rooted in inequality and maintained by silence. Every woman and girl has the right to live without fear – emphasized Guterres.
7. Remove bias from technology
The seventh step is about removing gender bias from digital technologies.
Guterres warned that only every fourth person employed in the technology sector is a woman, which contributes to embedding gender bias in the systems that shape everyday life.
He also pointed out that it is necessary to remove obstacles for girls in science and technology.
8. Gender perspective in climate policies
The eighth step is the introduction of a gender perspective into climate policies.
Guterres stated that climate change has a strong gender dimension, as women are often the most affected by food crises, natural disasters and economic insecurities.
– Women are also the leaders of climate solutions, they initiate global movements and lead changes on the ground – he said.
In the end, he said that a sustainable planet requires gender-sensitive climate policies and equal participation of women in decision-making.
– If leaders take gender equality seriously and immediately commit to these steps, we will change the world – for women and girls, but also for all of us – concluded Guterres.
