March 8 is celebrated globally as the International Women’s Day.
It is a day that unites women across boundaries to celebrate their achievements
and examine their struggles to eliminate gender discrimination. Today, I bring
you the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon’s message for 2010.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the
global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for
all. This is a matter of basic human rights, as enshrined in our founding
Charter and the Universal Declaration. It is part of the Organization’s very
identity.

But equality for women and girls is also an economic and social
imperative. Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all
our goals — peace, security, sustainable development — stand in jeopardy.

Fifteen years ago at the Fourth World Conference on Women,
Governments pledged to advance equality, development and peace for all women
everywhere. The landmark Beijing Declaration has had a deep and wide-ranging
impact. It has guided policy making and inspired new national laws. It has sent
a clear message to women and girls around the world that equality and
opportunity are their inalienable rights.

There are many examples of progress, thanks in large part to the
resolute efforts of civil society organizations. Most girls now receive an
education, particularly at primary level, and more women are now more likely to
run businesses or participate in government. A growing number of countries have
legislation that supports sexual and reproductive health and promotes gender
equality.

Nonetheless, much work remains. Maternal mortality remains
unacceptably high, too few women have access to family planning, and violence
against women remains a cause for global shame. In particular, sexual violence
during conflict is endemic.

The Security Council last year adopted two strong resolutions on
this issue and I have just appointed a special representative to mobilize the
international community to address these crimes. My “UNite to End Violence
against Women” campaign and the recently launched Network of Men Leaders are
striving to expand our global advocacy efforts.

One key lesson of the past decade-and-a-half is the importance
of addressing broader discrimination and injustice. Gender stereotyping and
discrimination remain common in all cultures and communities. Early and forced
marriage, so-called ‘honour killing’, sexual abuse and trafficking of young
women and girls are disturbingly prevalent and, in some areas, on the rise.
Whether looking through the lens of poverty, or in times of disaster, we see
that women still bear the greatest burden.

Lead by example

Another lesson is that the United Nations must lead by example.
Emphasizing that women are central to peace and security, we are working to
deploy more women military and police officers in our peacekeeping operations.
We have more women in senior United Nations posts than at any time in history,
and we hope soon to have a dynamic composite entity within the UN system to
provide more coherent programming and a stronger voice for gender equality and
women’s empowerment. I urge the General Assembly to create this new entity
without delay.

The Beijing Declaration remains as relevant today as when it was adopted.
The third Millennium Development Goal – to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment
– is central to all the rest. When women are denied the opportunity to better
themselves and their societies, we all lose.

On this International Women’s Day,
let us look critically at the achievements of the past 15 years so we can build
on what has worked, and correct what has not. Let us work with renewed
determination for a future of equal rights, equal opportunities and progress
for all.