UN observes day, demands equality for men, women
Women must have equal say with men in all decision-making processes, a UN committee on discrimination insisted yesterday, saying previous 30 per cent targets were behind the times.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women said the 50-50 “undisputable standard” should apply to public, private sector, political, economic, and digital spaces.
“Targets of 30 per cent representation of women in decision-making are incompatible with the core aim of elimination of discrimination,” the committee said, stressing that such targets sent a message that inequality was “justifiable”.
“Decision-making will have real and dynamic meaning and lasting effect only when it is shared at 50-50 parity by women and men and takes equal account of the interests of both,” it added.
About 189 countries are party to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. The 23-member committee monitors countries’ compliance with the convention.
The expert committee was to explain its guidance at a meeting with state parties on Friday, with UN rights chief, Volker Turk, opening the guidance launch. The committee warned that failing to achieve parity would prevent countries from addressing urgent challenges effectively, “notably those related to peace, political stability, economic development, climate change and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence”.
ALSO, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called on countries around the world to strengthen their commitment to multilateral cooperation in addressing global challenges. Guterres made the call to mark UN Day, celebrated on October 24, 2024.
In his message, he underscored the UN’s role since its founding in 1945 as a platform for nations to work together on peace, development, and humanitarian issues.
He highlighted the importance of the United Nations in finding solutions to today’s most pressing issues, including poverty eradication, sustainable development, conflict resolution, and the fight for equality, particularly for women and girls.
“The United Nations was built by the world, for the world. Since 1945, it has been the place for countries to unite behind global solutions to global problems,” he said.
The Secretary-General also pointed to the growing need for the UN to tackle modern challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, digital technology and space exploration.
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