Thursday, 06 March 2014 04:32
Equality for Women is Progress for All
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is Executive Director of UN Women. She was sworn into office on 19 August 2013.
Bio
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka made her first
official country visit to Malawi from 6 to 9 October. Here, she greets
Lainess Soko, who is in charge of the Kanengo Victim Support Unit in
Lilongwe.
View slideshow
- See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/directorate/executive-director#sthash.YdqrbHGb.dpuf
Phumzile
Mlambo-Ngcuka was sworn in as Executive Director of UN Women by United
Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at 8:45 am on 19 August 2013.
Photo: UN Photo/Evan Schneider - See more at:
http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/directorate/executive-director/ed-bio#sthash.JeG7vJKC.dpuf
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
Today we join the people of the world in celebration of the progress
made for women’s rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality. We
also acknowledge that progress has been slow, uneven and in some cases
women and girls face new and more complex challenges.
International Women's Day is therefore also a day to recommit
ourselves to working harder for gender equality, together as women, men,
youth and leaders of nations, communities, religion and commerce.
If we act decisively, with the knowledge that empowering women and
girls and supporting their full participation can help solve the
greatest challenges of the 21st century, we will find lasting solutions
to many of the problems we face in our world. Major challenges such as
poverty, inequality, violence against women and girls, and insecurity
will be addressed substantially.
Women spend the majority of their income on the well-being of their
children and family. Raising women’s labour force participation
increases economic growth. By ending women's poverty, we will
sustainably and significantly reduce extreme poverty worldwide.
By keeping girls in school longer, with quality education we will
empower young women to play their full role in society and build
stronger families, communities and democracies.
By advancing equal opportunity and removing structural barriers to
women's economic empowerment, we will reduce inequality and spur
inclusive economic growth.
By supporting women’s equal representation in leadership positions
in peacemaking, in communities, in politics, in business and in
religious institutions, we will build a more just, peaceful and secure
world.
By working with men and boys, and doing it together, we will engage humanity in a task that is a responsibility for all.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we remember and celebrate
the women who, led by women in trade unions on this day more than a
century ago, called for better working conditions, peace and bread.
Their call is still valid today.
Given slow and uneven progress, we continue to call for change. And
we pay tribute to the countless women around the world who are making
change every day as they go about their daily lives.
Nearly 20 years after the Beijing Women’s Conference, and 15 years
after the Millennium Summit, we look back with pride at the achievements
that have been made. More women are working. More girls are in school.
Fewer women die in pregnancy and childbirth. And more women are in
leadership positions.
But no country in the world has achieved equality between women and
men and girls and boys, and violations of the rights of women and girls
are an outrage. So let us build on the lessons learned and the knowledge
that equality for women is progress for all, and make greater and
bolder progress as we work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals
and chart a new post-2015 development agenda.
We can no longer afford to hold back half the world’s population.
The 21st century has to be different for every woman and girl in the
world. She must know that to be born a girl is not the start of a life
of hardship and disadvantage. Together we must make sure that:
SHE is Safe and Secure from gender-based violence.
SHE has Human rights that are respected, including reproductive rights.
SHE is Empowered economically and in every way through Education, Equal opportunity, participation and leadership.
This is the SHE Imperative to which I call on you to commit.
Let us all cross the line and stand on the right side of history.
Today and every day, UN Women will stand strong for women’s rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Equality for women is progress for all.
By Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was
sworn in as Executive Director of UN Women by United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at 8:45 am on 19 August 2013. Photo: UN
Photo/Evan Schneider
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. She was
sworn into office on 19 August 2013
and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position,
having devoted her career to issues of human rights, equality and social
justice. Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka has worked in government, private sector and
civil society and was actively involved in the struggle to end
apartheid in her home country of South Africa.
From 2005 to 2008, she served as Deputy President of South Africa,
overseeing programmes to combat poverty and bring the advantages of a
growing economy to the poor, with a particular focus on women. Prior to
this, she served as Minister of Minerals and Energy from 1999 to 2005
and Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry from 1996 to
1999. She was a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 1996 as part of South
Africa’s first democratic government.
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka began her career as a teacher and gained
international experience as a coordinator at the World YWCA in Geneva,
where she established a global programme for young women. She is the
founder of the Umlambo Foundation, which supports leadership and
education. A longtime champion of women’s rights, she is affiliated with
several organizations devoted to education, women’s empowerment and
gender equality.
She has completed her PhD on education and technology at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom.
- See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/directorate/executive-director/ed-bio#sthash.xGDswCI9.dpuf
Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was
sworn in as Executive Director of UN Women by United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at 8:45 am on 19 August 2013. Photo: UN
Photo/Evan Schneider
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. She was
sworn into office on 19 August 2013
and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position,
having devoted her career to issues of human rights, equality and social
justice. Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka has worked in government, private sector and
civil society and was actively involved in the struggle to end
apartheid in her home country of South Africa.
From 2005 to 2008, she served as Deputy President of South Africa,
overseeing programmes to combat poverty and bring the advantages of a
growing economy to the poor, with a particular focus on women. Prior to
this, she served as Minister of Minerals and Energy from 1999 to 2005
and Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry from 1996 to
1999. She was a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 1996 as part of South
Africa’s first democratic government.
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka began her career as a teacher and gained
international experience as a coordinator at the World YWCA in Geneva,
where she established a global programme for young women. She is the
founder of the Umlambo Foundation, which supports leadership and
education. A longtime champion of women’s rights, she is affiliated with
several organizations devoted to education, women’s empowerment and
gender equality.
She has completed her PhD on education and technology at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom.
- See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/directorate/executive-director/ed-bio#sthash.xGDswCI9.dpuf
