We would like to address women on the occasion of 8 March!

Believe in your strengths and be compassionate to the problems of other women because only together we can make our lives better.

This year the International Women’s Day is dedicated to the role and place of women in decision-making. You van read the Message of the Secretary-General as well as some information on this years’ main themes.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day –  the role of women in decision-making – is central to the advancement of women around the world, and to the progress of humankind as a whole. As the Beijing Declaration tells us, “women's empowerment and their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres of society, including participation in the decision-making process and access to power, are fundamental for the achievement of equality, development and peace.”

The international community is finally beginning to understand a fundamental principle: women are every bit as affected as any man by the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century – in economic and social development, as well as in peace and security. Often, they are more affected. It is, therefore, right and indeed necessary that women should be engaged in the decision-making processes in all areas, with equal strength and in equal numbers.

The world is also starting to grasp that there is no policy more effective in promoting development, health and education than the empowerment of women and girls. And I would venture that no policy is more important in preventing conflict, or in achieving reconciliation after a conflict has ended.

We do have achievements to celebrate in women’s representation around the world. In January of this year, the proportion of women in national parliaments reached a new global high. There are now 11 women Heads of State or Government, in countries on every continent. And three countries – Chile, Spain and Sweden – now have gender parity in Government.

But we have far, far more to do. The rate of progress overall is slow. Let us remember that in individual countries, the increase in the number of women in decision-making has not happened by itself. Rather, it is often the result of institutional and electoral initiatives, such as the adoption of goals and quotas, political party commitment and sustained mobilization. It is also the result of targeted and concerted measures to improve the balance between life and work. Those are lessons every nation – and the United Nations – need to take very seriously.

At the 2005 World Summit, world leaders declared that “progress for women is progress for all”. On this International Women’s Day, let us rededicate ourselves to demonstrating the truth behind those words. Let us ensure that half the world’s population takes up its rightful place in the world’s decision-making.

Meeting Challenges, Creating Change

 

"By effectively increasing the impact of women on public life at all levels, the potential for change towards gender equality and empowerment of women and a more democratic and just society is increased."

—Report of the UN Secretary-General on equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels, December 2005

In 1995, the Beijing Platform for Action identified women in power and decision-making as one of its critical areas of concern and outlined concrete actions to be taken by governments, the private sector, academic institutions, regional bodies and non-governmental organizations as well as the United Nations system to increase women's access and full participation in power structures and decision-making.

In most countries, women around the world are meeting the challenges of leadership, and contributing to change in their communities, countries and in the international arena in very real ways. Women have held public office at various levels of government, have initiated and led grass-roots organizations, and are present in virtually every professional field and in the private sector.

Yet while progress is being made towards the equality of women and men in decision-making at all levels, the pace is slow. Women continue to remain under-represented at all levels of decision-making and their achievements all too often remain invisible and unacknowledged, their voices unheard. Much more needs to be done, not only to accelerate the inclusion of women into formal decision-making bodies, but also to increase their impact in decision-making.

"[W]omen's equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy, but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women's interest to be taken into account. Without the active participation of women and the incorporation of women's perspective at all levels of decision-making, the goals of equality, development, and peace can not be achieved."

— Beijing Platform for Action

By building strong foundations for leadership and strong networks, representing women's perspectives in decision-making circles, and seizing opportunities for change, women are meeting the challenges they face in creating the change necessary to achieve equality with men in decision-making at all levels.

A panel discussion on this topic will mark the United Nations official observance of International Women's Day on 8 March 2006 . The panel will bring together women of different regions who will illustrate how women in decision-making positions make a difference and create change.

Click here for a factsheet on Women & Decision Making

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