As part of his message for International Women’s Day 2022, UN Secretary-General António Guterres recognized that “the clock on women’s right is moving backwards” and stressed the need for turning “the clock forward”
GHRTV
08-03-2022
Ruhama Yilma Abebe
Women’s Rights Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
As part of the observation of International Women’s Day 2022, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has delivered a message. In his message, the Secretary-General highlighted the contribution of women in ending the COVID-19 Pandemic as well as changing the world for the better.
He also stated that “in too many areas, the clock on women’s rights is moving backwards”. For this occurrence, he highlighted, among others, the negative effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the respect for women’s rights. He also addressed the various problems faced by women everywhere such as rising poverty, increasing violence, underpaid work and under-representation in politics and business.
As related to this year’s International Women’s Day theme “Gender Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, he recognized the fact that women are disproportionately affected by climate change and environmental degradation.
He alluded to the need for quality education for every girl, massive investment in women’s training and decent work, effective action to end gender-based violence, universal care, targeted measures and representation of women in power in order to remedy the situation and turn the clock forward for women’s rights.
Finally, he concluded his message with the following statement:
“We cannot emerge from the Pandemic with the clock spinning backwards on gender equality. We need to turn the clock forward on women’s rights. The time is now.”
Sources and further reading:
United Nations (March 7, 2022), “‘Turn the clock forward on women’s rights’: UN chief’s International Women’s Day message”, UN News, Retrieved on March 8, 2022 from https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113392
United Nations (March 7, 2022), “International Women’s Day 2022 (8 March) – UN Chief Message / United Nations”, Retrieved on March 8, 2022 from https://youtu.be/O3mhYlY0NWc
United Nations, “International Women’s Day 8 March: Messages – Secretary-General’s Message 2022”, Retrieved on March 8, 2022 from https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/messages#tab3
