UN chief marks int´l women´s day with appeal for gender equality

Source: Xinhuanet | 03-09-2007 09:04

UNITED NATIONS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged on Thursday the international community to work for a transformation in relations between women and men.

In a message for International Women's Day, which is observed on March 8, Ban said that "empowering women is not only a goal in itself. It is a condition for building better lives for everyone on the planet."

He noted that at the 2005 World Summit, leaders reaffirmed that gender equality and human rights for all are essential to advancing development, peace and security.

"Yet, we are still so very far from turning this understanding into universal practice," the UN chief observed. "In almost all countries, women continue to be underrepresented in decision-making positions."

He further pointed out that women's work continues to be undervalued, underpaid or not paid at all.

"Worst of all, violence against women and girls continues unabated in every continent, country and culture," Ban said. "It takes a devastating toll on women's lives, on their families and on society as a whole. Most societies prohibit such violence -- yet the reality is that, too often, it is covered up or tacitly condoned."

"That is why International Women's Day is so important," the Secretary-General said, elaborating that "it spells out our responsibility to work for enduring change in values and attitudes. It calls on us to work in partnership -- Governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector. It urges us to work for a transformation in relations between women and men, at all levels of society. It compels us to strengthen every means of empowering women and girls -- from education to microcredit."

The United Nations must be at the forefront of those endeavors, Ban concluded.

Editor:Du Xiaodan