Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world

Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes and violence; a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for all. To get us there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made. UN Women is working to provide support to all women on the front lines of the fight against this pandemic; promoting flexible working arrangements; and prioritizing services to prevent gender-based domestic violence.

This year, the theme for International Women’s Day (8 March), “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain. Women’s full and effective participation and leadership in of all areas of life drives progress for everyone. Yet, women are still underrepresented in public life and decision-making, as revealed in the UN Secretary-General’s recent report. Women are Heads of State or Government in 22 countries, and only 24.9 per cent of national parliamentarians are women. At the current rate of progress, gender equality among Heads of Government will take another 130 years.

Women are also at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19, as front-line and health sector workers, as scientists, doctors and caregivers, yet they get paid 11 per cent less globally than their male counterparts. An analysis of COVID-19 task teams from 87 countries found only 3.5 per cent of them had gender parity. When women lead, we see positive results. Some of the most efficient and exemplary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic were led by women. And women, especially young women, are at the forefront of diverse and inclusive movements online and on the streets for social justice, climate change and equality in all parts of the world. Yet, women under 30 are less than 1 per cent of parliamentarians worldwide. 

This is why, this year’s International Women’s Day is a rallying cry for Generation Equality, to act for an equal future for all. The Generation Equality Forum, the most important convening for gender equality investment and actions, kicks off in Mexico City from 29 – 31 March, and culminates in Paris in June 2021. It will draw leaders, visionaries, and activists from around the world, safely on a virtual platform, to push for transformative and lasting change for generations to come.

Learn more about the Generation Equality Forum, meet the activists, and get inspired by stories of women leaders we admire.

Act for Equal

#ActforEqual is a new campaign to drive attention, excitement and action towards the upcoming Generation Equality Forum. Through the campaign you can show your support, take action for gender equality and help propel major commitments to the Action Coalition Goals. We can’t wait any longer for gender equality. It’s time to #ActforEqual.

International Women’s Day around the world

In addition to the official UN commemoration, hundreds of events and activations around the world will mark International Women’s Day, including a roundtable by the African Women Leaders Network discussing women’s leadership in Zimbabwe, an audiovisual exhibition with the stories of women survivors of violence in Albania, an online photo gallery honouring “Women in Leadership” by partner agency UNOPS in Thailand, and a panel discussion in Jamaica as part of the joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative on women in leadership addressing gender-based violence in the COVID-19 environment.

For the seventh year in a row, over 90 stock exchanges around the world will raise awareness of the essential role that the private sector can play in strengthening women’s leadership, by hosting a bell-ringing ceremony.

In response to the alarming shadow pandemic of violence against women during the COVID-19 crisis and ahead of International Women’s Day, the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign released its “Orange Day” UNiTE Action Circular booklet on 25 February focusing on one of its four critical work areas this year: Funding for organizations. The other three areas are: respond to survivors’ needs, prevent violence and collect data and Action Circulars on those topics will be released through the year.

For more information: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2021/3/press-release-data-reveals-womens-leadership-is-far-from-equal-and-under-threat-by-pandemic

Source: UN Women