“Women are not the problem. Women are the solution.”
Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women’s Executive Director, reminded those gathered for Ecumenical Women at the United Nations orientation for the 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women of this reality.
She went on to note that “You cannot end poverty without empowering women.” Her presentation focused on the theme of the Commission: “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls.”
Noting the connection between ending violence against women and girls and achieving empowerment and development of women and girls, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka spole about the new campaign launched yesterday on the theme “HeForShe”. This campaign for gender equality and the empowerment of women invites men and boys to voice their support for women’s rights. Matt Damon, Antonio Banderas, and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu are among the men who have helped launch the campaign.
The Presbyterian delegation to the Commission works with our ecumenical partners to advocate for the rights of girls and women of all ages during the meeting of the Commission.
We join Ecumenical Women in thanking Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka for her presentation today and in wishing her well in her work. We also thank Dustin Wright of Ecumenical Women at the United Nations for the video