Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday challenged men to champion the cause for the empowerment of women, saying they remained “second-class citizens”, often subjected to violence in many societies, despite the important gains made in improving their participation in social, economic and political affairs.

“I believe that unless you change mentality and behavior of men, it will be very difficult to change this situation,” said Mr. Ban in an address to the Global Summit of Women in Istanbul, Turkey, where he was honored with the Women's Leadership Award in recognition of his efforts to promote gender equality.
He noted that he was the first man to receive the award in its 21-year history.
“So, beginning from me as the first man to receive this, I sincerely hope that there will be many more men who will receive this award,” said the Secretary-General, recalling that he had in 2009 launched the Network of Men Leaders to combat the scourge of gender-based violence.
The Network brings together current and former politicians, activists, religious and community figures – including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho – to combat the global pandemic.
He said the UN has, during his tenure as Secretary-General, focused on health care, especially through a global strategy for women's and children's health to save at least 16 million lives by 2015, recognizing that access to health care remains inadequate or unavailable even though it is critical for building stable, peaceful and productive societies.
On the empowerment of women within the UN system, Mr. Ban told the summit that the number of women in senior management positions had risen by 40 percent over the past four years.
“I am working hard to break down barriers for the advancement of women by tearing down this glass ceiling at the United Nations,” he said.
On the latest developments in North Africa and the Middle East, the Secretary-General told the summit that he has been urging leaders there to listen to the voices of women and the youth when they engage in dialogue with those calling for political reform.
“I never failed to mention women in the Arab world because I know that women in the Arab World must be emancipated, and they must be given equal rights. Women who have fought for gender equality know that the battle does not end there. The battle does not end until there is no discrimination, against any human being, on any grounds. The battle does not end until all people can enjoy a life of dignity,” said Mr. Ban.
“I am counting on you, women leaders from around the world and from all walks of life, to work with me to realize this goal. I am asking world leaders, and I am asking business leaders, and I am asking women leaders to work together to achieve that goal where everybody, men and women, without any fear of violence, without any fear of discrimination can work in harmony and in dignity as human beings,” he added.
Further in another UN meeting on Wednesday Senior United Nations officials stressed the need to promote the participation of women in decision-making, noting that democracy and gender equality are interlinked and mutually reinforcing.
“While women’s political participation improves democracy, the reverse is also true: democracy is an incubator for gender equality,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his remarks at a roundtable held at UN Headquarters on gender equality and democracy.
“It provides public space for discussion of human rights and women’s empowerment. It enables women’s groups to mobilize. It makes it easier for women to realize their political, civil, economic and social rights.”
He told participants at the event, which included representatives from various UN departments and entities, as well as the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, that one need look no further than the daily headlines to see the timeliness of today’s gathering.
“Women were among those who marched in Côte d’Ivoire to uphold the democratic will of the people – with several of them killed for making that stand,” said Mr. Ban. “In Egypt , Tunisia and elsewhere, women have been among those in the vanguard demanding change, rights, dignity, and opportunity.”
Noting gender inequality in decision-making remains a great impediment to democracy, the Secretary-General said more must be done to address the gender gap in democratic participation.
“Certainly there has been important progress. More women, in more countries, are taking their place in parliament,” he stated.
“Yet fewer than 10 percent of countries have female heads of State or government. Fewer than 30 countries have reached the target of 30 per cent women in national parliaments.”
He also cited the need to treat gender equality as an explicit goal of democracy-building, not as an “add-on,” stating that experience shows that democratic ideals of inclusiveness, accountability and transparency cannot be achieved without laws, policies, measures and practices that address inequalities.
The UN is more involved in democracy-building than ever before, Mr. Ban pointed out. Many UN departments, funds and programs have expanded their democracy programing, and the establishment of UN Women has added “another strong actor” to the arena.
“Across the constellations of entities and activity, we need a stronger gender perspective going forward. Our responsibility is to ensure that our democracy assistance is gender responsive.”
(Source: UN News Service)