She said: "No enduring solution to the major changes of our day-from climate change to political and economic instability-can be solved without the full empowerment and participation of the world's women," adding, "we simply can no longer afford to leave women out." The UN Women Executive Director's assertions were contained in her 2012 International Women's Day message delivered Thursday, March 8, 2012.
She stated: "Women's full and equal participation in the political and economic arena is fundamental to democracy and justice," divulging that: "Equal rights and opportunity underpin healthy economies and societies.
She acknowledged that although "tremendous progress has been made, no country can claim to be entirely free from gender-based discrimination," adding that: "This inequality can be seen in persistent gender wage gaps and unequal opportunities, in low representation of women leadership in public office and the private sector, in child marriage and missing girls due to son preference, and in continuing violence against women in all its forms."
She observed that: "Nowhere are disparities and barriers greater than in rural areas for women and girls," divulging, "Rural women and girls compromise one in four people worldwide."
She noted that rural women and girls work long hours with little or no pay and produce a large proportion of the food grown, especially in subsistence agriculture," "they are farmers, entrepreneurs and leaders, and their contributions sustain their families, communities, nations and all of us," she added.
In spite of the contributions of rural women and girls, the UN Women Executive Director pointed, "they face some of the worst inequalities in access to social services and land and other productive assets," adding, "this deprives them and the world of the realization of their full potential."
She furthered that "Every human being has the right to live in peace and dignity. Every human being has the right to shape their future and the futures of their countries."
For this reason, the UN Women Executive Director revealed that: "UN Women will place special focus this year on advancing women's economic empowerment, political participation and leadership."