The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in a recent op-ed to commemorate International Women’s Day, emphasized the ongoing struggles faced by billions of women and girls. According to him, these struggles include injustice, discrimination, and marginalization. His position aligns with the theme for International Women’s Day 2024, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”
Guterres pointed out that discrimination against women and girls remains legal in many countries. This legalized discrimination can manifest in various ways, such as restricting property ownership for women or allowing marital rape.
He further noted that women and girls bear the brunt of global crises, including conflict, climate disasters, poverty, and hunger. Statistics show that women are more likely to experience hunger than men in every region of the world.
There’s also a concerning trend of backsliding on women’s rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, in both developed and developing countries. The current pace of progress is insufficient, according to Guterres. He estimates that achieving full legal equality for women and ending child marriage would take centuries at the current rate.
He called for a significant acceleration, emphasizing that “the heart of humanity can’t wait centuries for their rights.”
Guterres urged for increased investment, both public and private, in programs that address these issues.
According to him, priority areas for investment include programs to end violence against women, ensure decent work opportunities, and promote women’s leadership in various sectors like digital technologies, peacebuilding, climate action, and the overall economy.
He expressed optimism, stating that the issues surrounding women are beginning to form a critical part of discourse in public and private governance.
