Accra, March 11, GNA – Josephine Oppong-Yeboah, a gender advocate, says gender equity is a shared responsibility to create a fair and inclusive society, and not a “battle” between men and women.
She explained that framing gender equality as a conflict between the sexes hindered progress toward true equity.
Speaking to journalists at the ongoing 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, Ms. Oppong-Yeboah said that misunderstandings were slowing global efforts to achieve gender balance and equal opportunities for all.
The CSW69, which runs from March 10 to 21, is focused on promoting women’s rights, documenting their lives globally, and shaping global standards on gender equality and empowerment.
This year’s session will review the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly and the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995.
The theme for this year’s session is “For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” with a focus on assessing progress and addressing challenges in advancing gender equality.
Ms. Oppong-Yeboah urged leaders, especially in developing countries, to take steps to ensure gender equity in all aspects of society.
She also called on men to support gender equality, emphasising that their involvement was crucial in dispelling misconceptions about the issue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the opening session, said the “poison of patriarchy” was evident, and women’s rights were currently “under siege.”
He pointed out that “the masters of misogyny are gaining strength,” referencing the “bile” directed at women online and leaders who “are happy to throw equality to the wolves.”
Mr. Guterres stressed that the “antidote is action,” which includes the Pact for the Future and efforts prioritising investments in education, tackling violence against women and girls, supporting women’s organizations and human rights defenders, encouraging women’s leadership in technology, and ensuring their full participation from politics to peacebuilding.
“In these perilous times for women’s rights, we must rally around the Beijing Declaration, recommit to the Platform for Action, and stand firm in making the promise of rights, equality, and empowerment a reality for every woman and girl around the world,” he said.
Madam Sima Bahous, Head of UN Women, cautioned that “misogyny is on the rise” as women bear the brunt of multiple crises and conflicts worldwide.
While there has been progress in advancing women’s rights, she stated, it had not been fast or far-reaching enough.
To address this, she called for action, including closing the digital divide, investing in ending poverty, and strengthening laws to break the cycle of violence against women and girls.
Madam Bahous also called for women’s inclusion in key decision-making and peacebuilding roles.
“We are not afraid of the pushback,” she said. “We will not back down.”
GNA
KAS