This International Women’s Day, is time to reflect about the progress we have made, to demand change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination of many women who have given their lives and have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. With the theme: «Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for Gender Equality» UNDP realizes the foundation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is to «leave no one behind.» Women and girls must not be left behind when it comes to education, decent work, equitable wages, and decision-making at all levels of government. They must not be left behind when it comes to legal rights and access to services – including to safe water and sanitation, and to protection from gender-based violence. (Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator)
This International Women’s Day, is time to reflect about the progress we have made, to demand change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination of many women who have given their lives and have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. With the theme: «Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for Gender Equality» UNDP realizes the foundation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is to «leave no one behind.» Women and girls must not be left behind when it comes to education, decent work, equitable wages, and decision-making at all levels of government. They must not be left behind when it comes to legal rights and access to services – including to safe water and sanitation, and to protection from gender-based violence. (Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator)
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has proposed face to this day the following message as a key quote: «From the Glass Ceiling to a Carpet of Shards.» Women face many obstacles, walls and ceilings, but empowerment, collective work and the will to move forward is incomparable. «We have shattered so many glass ceilings we created a carpet of shards. Now we are sweeping away the assumptions and bias of the past so women can advance across new frontiers(…).On this International Women’s Day, I remain outraged by the denial of rights to women and girls – but I take heart from the people everywhere who act on the secure knowledge that women’s empowerment leads to society’s advancement. Let us devote solid funding, courageous advocacy and unbending political will to achieving gender equality around the world. There is no greater investment in our common future.»(Ban Ki Moon)
This is a year of transformation, new challenges and a new international framework, Sustainable Development Goals give us a new context: «The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations last year, state that gender equality is not only a human right, but also a necessary foundation for a peaceful and inclusive world. Gender equality is the sole focus of one of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, and is also integrated in the other goals, reflecting the growing consensus that gender equality is not just a worthy goal in its own right, but also a driver of progress across all development goals.»(Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator)
So from the UNDP Gender Cluster for Latin America and the Caribbean, we want this day to reflect about the rights we have achieved, vindicate the educational, economic, social, legal, labor and environmental rights missing and demand loud and clear, no more violence against any woman or girl in Latin America and the Caribbean and around the world. With everyone on this special day, breaking windows and sweeping inequality. Let’s make of 2016 a Planet 50-50: Stepping it Up for Gender Equality.
Check the message of the Secretary General: READ
Check the message UNDP Administrator: READ
Consult: America Latina Genera
UNDP facebook: HERE
