“A troubling rise in misogyny, alongside a fierce resistance to equality, threatens to halt progress and potentially reverse hard-won advancements,” he stated.
“Let me emphasize: This behavior is intolerable, unethical, and counterproductive. We must take action to stop it – and we must do so collaboratively.”
The gathering celebrated 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and 25 years since the pivotal Security Council Resolution 1325 focused on women, peace, and security. During the event, civil society leaders voiced concerns regarding the retreat of civic spaces, the lack of funding for feminist initiatives, and the alarming increase in gender-based violence.
Regression on Rights
While the Secretary-General recognized advances in maternal health and education, she cautioned that these significant achievements are under threat.
“Women’s organizations and civil society have been fundamental in securing these victories. I commend your tireless efforts. However, women and girls continue to endure a shocking spectrum of injustices,” she remarked.
The safety of women’s rights advocates was highlighted as a critical issue. “Globally, women’s rights defenders encounter harassment, threats, and even fatal violence,” she noted.
“They grapple with diminishing civic space and reduced funding. This culminates in a decline of rights and a lack of accountability,” she added.
Linda Sestock from the Canadian Federation of University Women inquired about how civil society could achieve better representation in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) negotiations.
Mr. Guterres acknowledged the challenge, stating, “Power is not handed over; it must be claimed,” and called upon feminist movements to organize and mobilize effectively.
Empowerment and Equality
The Secretary-General underscored the ongoing structural inequalities. “We still exist in a world dominated by men and sustained by a male-centric culture,” she asserted.
She pointed to the UN system’s progress, declaring, “We have achieved and maintained gender parity at leadership levels within the United Nations.”
Currently, women occupy 53 percent of senior management roles, though she acknowledged that challenges remain in field offices located in conflict regions.
Participants also spotlighted the dominance of men in technology and engineering fields. “The notable male predominance in technology, engineering, and mathematics contributes to biases in many algorithms developed by the tech industry, adversely affecting women,” she explained.
Addressing Funding Shortfalls
A representative from the youth-focused group Restless Development advocated for dedicated funding for young feminists, especially those in conflict-affected areas.
“Genuine inclusion entails co-creation, as well as dedicated funding and decision-making authority for youth at every level,” she stated.
The Secretary-General concurred, highlighting the scarcity of resources available. “To be clear, since 2023, the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund has raised $100 million for this purpose, which is entirely inadequate for supporting civil society adequately,” she affirmed.
Civil society leaders called for concrete commitments, urging the UN and Member States to rejuvenate CSW by decentralizing consultations, enhancing accessibility, and ensuring sustainable funding for feminist organizations.
The Prospect of a Female Secretary-General
As the event came to a close, a representative from the Sociologists for Women in Society posed a question long contemplated:
“When will we finally witness the appointment of the first female UN Secretary-General?”
Mr. Guterres replied earnestly, “I won’t apologize for not being a woman,” eliciting laughter from the assembly, but he expressed his commitment to “act decisively against the norm and to promote effective mechanisms for gender parity within the UN.”
He reiterated the UN’s objective of achieving full gender parity by 2028, noting the progress already made, and conveyed his hope that those responsible for selecting the next Secretary-General “will be wise.”
“We share a unified vision: a world characterized by equality, where the rights of women and girls are fully realized. Let us work collectively to transform that vision into reality,” she concluded.
