UN Secretary General António Guterres asserted on Friday that the advancement of global growth is under threat due to an adverse reaction towards women's rights.
On International Women's Day, Mr. Guterres stated, "Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the global crises we are confronted with, spanning from poverty and hunger to climate disasters, war, and terrorism."
"Over the past year, there has been a surge of distressing testimonies pertaining to the profound repercussions experienced by women and girls across the globe as a result of conflicts."
The leader of the United Nations documented instances of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas during the assault on October 7th, as well as cases of rape and trafficking in Sudan. Additionally, the report addressed the manner in which Israel treats Palestinian detainees.
"We have also observed the deterioration of maternity services," he commented, alluding to Gaza, where women and children constitute the majority of the tens of thousands of individuals who have been killed and injured.
Thousands of pregnant women may be compelled to deliver their babies in makeshift enclosures or public areas due to global alerts of famine, diseases, and the imminent breakdown of Gaza's healthcare infrastructure.
On Thursday, Jamie McGoldrick, the United Nations's humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, made an announcement that he had conducted an inspection at facilities located in southern Gaza. During his visit, women who had been internally displaced came forward and reported incidents pertaining to sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
He referred to Afghanistan as the "most severe instance" of state-endorsed suppression of women due to the restrictions imposed on their ability to engage in employment beyond domestic duties, partake in the vast majority of public occasions, or contribute substantially in the educational domain.
On International Women's Day, discrete factions of women in Afghanistan orchestrated atypical protests within concealed venues as a retaliatory measure against the strict measures imposed by Taliban authorities, which compelled advocates to evacuate public areas.
According to estimates from the United Nations, there has been an increase in the proportion of women and girls residing in regions affected by warfare since 2017. Currently, there are more than 614 million women and girls living in areas that are impacted by conflicts.
Mr. Guterres warned that, given the current pace of progress, the attainment of complete gender equality will take in excess of 300 years.
Additionally, by the year 2030, there will continue to be a population of over 340 million women and girls residing in conditions of extreme poverty, which is approximately 18 million higher in comparison to the number of men and boys. The statement made by Mr. Guterres suggests that such circumstances are derogatory towards the dignity of women and girls.
According to estimations by the United Nations, 10% of women worldwide currently reside in conditions of severe poverty. If the current patterns persist, it is projected that by 2030, 8% of all women will find themselves living on a meager income of less than $2 per day.
The Secretary General also urged all member nations to contemplate strategies aimed at bolstering the representation of women in international gatherings and delegations visiting the United States.
"These investments and policies provide benefits for the entire population; they are not an act of benevolence towards women."
