Leaders at the UN Call for Action on International Women's Day: Investing in Women for Accelerated Progress

On March 8, 2024, leaders convened at the United Nations Headquarters for International Women’s Day under the theme 'Invest in women: Accelerate progress”. Male leaders at the highest levels of the UN lent their voices and rallied behind this theme, calling for more action and increased investment in women. They all demonstrated their commitment to allyship by proudly wearing their HeForShe pins and ties.

Speaking at the official commemoration event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need for action and increased investment in women.

“We must drastically up the pace of change. That requires political focus. And it requires investment – our theme for this year’s International Women’s Day. Those investments must go towards ending violence against women; improving women’s and girls’ access to education and skills; and increasing the number of women in leadership roles in the corporate sector, in government, in peacebuilding, and in climate action.” - United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres

The Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, Antonio Manuel Revilla Lagdameo, echoed the call to accelerate progress by investing in women.

“On this International Women’s Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to invest in women and accelerate progress. Let us remember that investing in women is not a cost but an investment in our future. Let us work together to create a world where every woman and girl has the opportunity to realize her full potential.” - Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), Antonio Manuel Revilla Lagdameo

Highlighting the importance of male allyship for gender equality, the President of the 78th Session of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, spoke about the barbershop event engaging male permanent representatives that took place ahead of International Women's Day.

“Yesterday, a special edition of the PGA’s Gayap Dialogue was held in collaboration with the permanent mission of Iceland adopting the barbershop concept to engage male permanent representatives as agents of change in ongoing global efforts to advance gender equality. It was a most successful exercise.” - President of the 78th session of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis

Further to these statements, UN Secretary-General's remarks at the Townhall Meeting with Civil Society on the occasion of the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women emphasized that the patriarchy may be pushing back, but so are we. He stated that we must push governments and the private sector to put their money where their mouth is, by funding equal rights and opportunities for women and girls.