WUNRN
New Global Goals Cannot Be Achieved Without Ensuring Gender Equality and
Women’s Empowerment – UN Secretary-General
Full Article - http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsId=51987#.Vggil63ovmI
27 September 2015 – As world leaders continued their
Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals, UN Women and China co-hosted a
landmark event today on gender equality and women’s empowerment at which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared that the
new Global Goals could not be achieved “without full and equal rights for half
of the world’s population, in law and in practice.” …….
http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2015/9/press-release-global-leaders-meeting World Leaders Agree:
We Must Close the Gender Gap Historic
gathering boosts political commitment for women’s empowerment at the highest
levels. 27 September 2015 -
New York — Today, some 80 world leaders are convening at the United Nations
to personally commit to ending discrimination against women by 2030 and
announce concrete and measurable actions to kick-start rapid change in their
countries. The event marks a historic first, with pledges delivered by Heads
of State and Government. No other single issue is to receive this level of
political attention at the UN Summit held from 25-27 September to adopt
Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals. The People’s Republic
of China, host of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, and UN Women are
co-hosting the “Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s
Empowerment: A Commitment to Action.” Commitments are
expected to cover a range of issues addressing the most pressing barriers for
women, such as increasing investment in gender equality, reaching parity for
women at all levels of decision-making, eliminating discriminatory
legislation, and addressing social norms that perpetuate discrimination and
violence against women. Xi Jinping, President
of the People’s Republic of China, opened the event. He said “we still have a
long way to go in achieving gender equality. ... The international community
should reaffirm the spirit of the Beijing Conference with renewed commitment
and pledge greater efforts to promote gender equality and women's all-around
development. ... China will do more to enhance gender equality as its basic
State policy, give play to women's important role as ‘half of the sky’ and
support them in realizing their own dreams and aspirations in both career and
life. The Chinese women, through their own development, will also play a
greater part in the global women's movement and make greater contributions to
gender equality in the world.” President Xi Jinping
announced that to support women's development worldwide and the work of UN
Women, China will contribute USD 10 million for the implementation of the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the realization of the
related goals in the post-2015 development agenda. President Xi further said
China will support women and girls in other developing countries by providing
health care, vocational training, financing for education and other
assistance. In his opening
remarks, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon directly addressed the assembled
world leaders, saying: “As Heads of State and Government you have the power
and the responsibility to ensure that gender equality is—and remains—a
national priority.” He continued to outline three areas for action: “First, I
urge you to create and energetically implement coherent gender equality
policies. Second, provide significant financing for gender equality so that
commitments become reality. And third, monitor progress so that all
governments will hold themselves and each other accountable for the pledges
made here today.” “The highest leaders
in the land are taking personal responsibility for their commitment to gender
equality and the empowerment of women,” emphasized UN Under-Secretary-General
and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. “Now the world looks
up to them to lead the game-changing actions that secure and sustain
implementation. Today we take the first firm steps towards 25 September,
2030.” As the first world
leader to speak at the principal segment, German Chancellor Angela Merkel
said: “We need women for peace, we need women for development. This is what
we emphasized at this year’s G7 Summit with our commitment to women’s
empowerment and initiative to provide vocational training and entrepreneurial
opportunities for women in developing countries. ... In Germany ... we have
expanded child care and we finally have a law on women in leadership positions.
... We all committed in 1995 to implement the Beijing Platform for Action.
Now we are making a new commitment with Sustainable Development Goal 5.
Commitments are good. Action is better. Let us take action!” While actions
announced will vary, they are expected to align behind a common message: The
Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without gender equality. If
countries act immediately to translate the goals into action, and close many
remaining gaps in implementing the landmark 1995 Beijing Platform for Action,
the world could reach gender equality by 2030. All government
commitments are being posted throughout the course of the event at: http://beijing20.unwomen.org/en/step-it-up/commitments The Heads of State
and Government of Chile, Croatia, Iceland, Kenya and Mexico are co-chairing
the event. Denmark, Kenya and Mexico hosted three World Conferences on Women
that took place before the 1995 Beijing Conference. Besides government
representatives, participants include champions of gender equality from civil
society, the business world and multilateral organizations. The Global Leaders’
Meeting is the culmination of an 18-month long journey, spearheaded by UN
Women, to review the status of implementation of the Beijing Platform for
Action on its 20th anniversary. A record 167 countries undertook national
reviews that assessed progress and gaps as a basis for new national actions
plans to accelerate achievement of women’s empowerment and gender equality. UN Women is
the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of
women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to
accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. For more information,
visit www.unwomen.org.
UN Women, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017, New York. Tel: +1 646
781-4400. Fax: +1 646 781-4496. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |