Gender equality and women’s empowerment a global priority
The 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women sharpens it focus on challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the success of the post-2015 development agenda, said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in opening the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
With the theme of “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls”, the annual meeting of the CSW will spend the next two weeks discussing a wide range of key issues vital to empowering women and girls’ such as access to education, training, science and technology, equal access to full employment and decent work and women’s participation in decision-making.
This year more than 6,000 representatives of the 193 Member States, UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will discuss key implementation challenges of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well contribute to shaping the future development agenda.
The new Under-Secretary-General for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Executive Director of UN-Women., Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in her opening statement said that “no solutions to our world’s most pressing challenges – to end poverty, reduce inequality, bring sustainable peace and address climate change – can be achieved without the equal and full participation of women.”
She went on to say that men and boys must be part of the solution noting that on 10 March, UN Women launched the “He for She” campaign as a concrete step in making this a reality. “We must make sure that today is indeed better than yesterday and that tomorrow will be better than today,” said Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Nicole Ameline, said that a statement had been adopted at its recent session calling for a human rights-based approach to eliminate discrimination against women in the post-2015 period. Women must be drivers of socioeconomic progress, peace and stability, she said, calling for a “stand-alone” goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the post-2015 agenda.
The Commission’s Chair this year is the Permanent Representative of the Philippine Mission to the UN, Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, who called on participants to ensure a strong outcome with practical recommendations to make women both agents and beneficiaries of poverty eradication, sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security. “I call on all of you to demonstrate the political will and commitment that will make a difference,” said Ambassador Cabactulan.
Representatives of the major regional groups expressed concern about the slow and uneven progress in achieving the Millennium targets. Many felt that it was unlikely that the MDGs could be achieved in the least developed countries and those affected by conflict, stressing the need for specific measures to protect women.
The activities and discussions at the CSW will continue until 21 March with more than 135 events organized by Member States and UN agencies and an additional 300 parallel events will be hosted by the NGO community close to the UN premises.
With the theme of “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls”, the annual meeting of the CSW will spend the next two weeks discussing a wide range of key issues vital to empowering women and girls’ such as access to education, training, science and technology, equal access to full employment and decent work and women’s participation in decision-making.
This year more than 6,000 representatives of the 193 Member States, UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will discuss key implementation challenges of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well contribute to shaping the future development agenda.
The new Under-Secretary-General for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Executive Director of UN-Women., Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in her opening statement said that “no solutions to our world’s most pressing challenges – to end poverty, reduce inequality, bring sustainable peace and address climate change – can be achieved without the equal and full participation of women.”
She went on to say that men and boys must be part of the solution noting that on 10 March, UN Women launched the “He for She” campaign as a concrete step in making this a reality. “We must make sure that today is indeed better than yesterday and that tomorrow will be better than today,” said Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Nicole Ameline, said that a statement had been adopted at its recent session calling for a human rights-based approach to eliminate discrimination against women in the post-2015 period. Women must be drivers of socioeconomic progress, peace and stability, she said, calling for a “stand-alone” goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the post-2015 agenda.
The Commission’s Chair this year is the Permanent Representative of the Philippine Mission to the UN, Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, who called on participants to ensure a strong outcome with practical recommendations to make women both agents and beneficiaries of poverty eradication, sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security. “I call on all of you to demonstrate the political will and commitment that will make a difference,” said Ambassador Cabactulan.
Representatives of the major regional groups expressed concern about the slow and uneven progress in achieving the Millennium targets. Many felt that it was unlikely that the MDGs could be achieved in the least developed countries and those affected by conflict, stressing the need for specific measures to protect women.
The activities and discussions at the CSW will continue until 21 March with more than 135 events organized by Member States and UN agencies and an additional 300 parallel events will be hosted by the NGO community close to the UN premises.