At the current rate, it will take 300 years to achieve equality between men and women, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, warned on Monday on the eve of International Women’s Day.
"The gains made in decades are evaporating before our eyes"warned Guterres at the opening of a meeting of the UN Commission on the Situation of Women, focused on the technological gap.
"At the current rate, UN Women predicts it will take 300 years" for equality between men and women, warned after recalling the situation in Afghanistan, where women and girls have been "erased from public life"the reproductive and sexual rights of women in many places are "receding" not counting the risks of being kidnapped, assaulted in some countries, even by the police.
The covid-19 pandemic, the conflicts from Ukraine to the Sahel have affected and continue to affect "first of all" to women and girls.
"The patriarchy strikes back, but we will fight back"said Guterres, who assured that the UN "stand on the side of women and girls around the world"because "we will never give up fighting" for their fundamental rights.
"Misogynistic misinformation and falsehoods" in social networks, have the objective of "silence women and force them out of public life"he remembered.
"The stories may be false, but the damage is very real."he recalled, after urging "change" the "international frameworks, which are not adapted to the needs and aspirations of the world’s women and girls"where there are countries that "oppose the inclusion of the gender perspective in multilateral negotiations".
On the theme of the meeting, Guterres said that promoting women’s contributions to science, technology and innovation "it is not an act of charity or a favor for women".
From your access to online medical services, banks and financial resources, secure digital platforms or technology, the benefits "they are for everyone"he remembered.
"Without the insight and creativity of half the world, science and technology will realize only half their potential."warned Guterres, who recalled that of the 3 billion people who are still not connected to the internet, the majority are women and girls in developing countries.
