United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres deplored this Thursday the “ongoing epidemic” of violence against women that “disgraces humanity,” stressing that today’s world still reflects millennia of male-dominated power relations.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, Guterres issued a message in which he saluted the strides made by women and girls in the fight for equality, in which they “broke down barriers, shattered stereotypes and accelerated progress towards fairer equality.” and egalitarianism,” but stressed that they still continue to face “enormous obstacles.”
“Billions of women and girls face marginalization, injustice and discrimination, while the ongoing epidemic of violence against women is a disgrace to humanity. (…) And progress is threatened by a harsh backlash against women’s rights,” said the former Prime Minister of Portugal. .
At the current pace, Guterres noted, legal equality between men and women is about 300 years away, which requires accelerating progress and increasing investment in women.
“Let’s remember that ending patriarchy requires money. We must support women’s organizations on the front lines. And we must invest in programs to end violence against women and increase women’s inclusion and leadership in the economy, digital technology, peacebuilding and climate. action,” he said.
Guterres also stressed that women’s rights are a proven path to a just, peaceful and prosperous society, which is “good for all of us.”
According to UN Women, an additional $360 billion (€328.8 billion) per year is needed to achieve gender equality.
If current trends continue, more than 342 million women and girls could live in extreme poverty by 2030.
The agency says investing in women is the best way to accelerate economic growth and build more prosperous and fair societies, especially at a time when wars and crises are “undermining decades of investment in gender equality.”
“From the Middle East to Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan and beyond, women are paying the highest price for conflicts for which they are not responsible. The need in the world has never been greater,” UN Women said in a statement.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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