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Celebrating 10 Years of HeForShe – A Call to Action for the Next Decade
That is what this moment demands. To use the power, you have as men to challenge discrimination. To give up space and give it without hesitation. To make your community, business or household a place of equality and justice. To do what you can, because the fact that you can means that you must.
– Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women
As the world gathers for the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the HeForShe movement proudly marked a decade of progress in the global push toward gender equality. The HeForShe Summit took place alongside the global discussions at UNGA79 and the launch of the 30-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action (Beijing+30), offering a chance to reflect on progress and the challenges still ahead in achieving gender equality.
At this year’s Summit, we celebrated the remarkable impact of the movement and welcomed new Champions to the HeForShe Alliance, reaffirming our collective commitment to driving meaningful change. The Summit emphasized the critical role of male allyship in accelerating progress on gender equality—a key pillar to realizing the 2030 Agenda.
The Executive Director of UN Women set a powerful tone for the evening in her opening address. She called on men to use their power to challenge discrimination, reminding us that gender equality will not be realized without their participation.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, emphasized the urgency of male allyship in achieving the SDGs, with gender equality positioned as central to the success of all 17 goals. Acknowledging the slow pace of progress, she pointed to the unique value of HeForShe’s collaboration with the private sector, underscoring how business leaders can bolster transformation both within their organizations and in the broader global context.
“By enlisting men and boys as allies, it reflects the reality that everyone has a stake in gender equality. Everyone has roles in achieving it.
- Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
The keynote speech was delivered by our new HeForShe Champion Mr. Pedro Sanchez, President of the Government of Spain. In a fitting tribute to Spanish heritage, President Sánchez delivered his remarks at Guastavino’s, a venue named after and designed by Rafael Guastavino Moreno, one of Spain’s most renowned international architects. The president highlighted Spain’s legislative advances, including the equal representation law, which ensures women have equal economic power. A key focus of his address was his commitment to advancing a comprehensive care system in Spain that promotes shared responsibility between men and women. He also called for greater female representation in global decision-making, reaffirming Spain’s commitment to feminist foreign policy.
“The math is very simple. If women are half of the world’s population, they should represent half of the governments and parliaments. Half of the directors of the most important companies.”
- H.E Mr. Pedro Sanchez, President of the Government of Spain
Our other new champions, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of African Development Bank and Hugh Evans, Founder and CEO, Global Citizens highlighted the importance of investing in women and girls for a more sustainable future for all. In addition, the panel discussion, moderated by UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Jaha Dukureh, brought together leaders from the HeForShe Alliance and explored the successes and challenges of gender equality in today’s corporate landscape, offering insights into how male allyship can be leveraged to promote inclusivity and address critical issues such as the gender pay gap and workplace safety.
As we reflect on the past 10 years, we recognize the need for sustained, ambitious action in the years to come. The Beijing+30 review will demand that we redouble our efforts to overcome the barriers that remain. As we look to the future, the HeForShe Summit reminds us that achieving gender equality is not just a women’s issue—it’s a global imperative that affects everyone. With the support of our new and existing Champions, we are poised to build on a decade of progress and continue driving transformative change for generations to come.