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Opinion
– As we observe International Women’s Day (IWD) this year, the global community does so at a time of continued turbulence, conflict and uncertainty about the future of our planet.
Moments like this remind us once again that equality and women’s empowerment are not issues that concern only women; They are relevant to humanity as a whole, to all of us. This crucial point must be internalized by each of us.
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
• This year’s International Women’s Day (March 8) was special as, hopefully, the United Nations would appropriately elect a woman as its next Secretary-General.
• Let me highlight here an unacceptable reality: in its eighty years of existence, the United Nations has yet to elect a woman Secretary-General: eight decades, nine men and no women. What a shame, what a shame!
How can an institution that talks about equality at every podium continue to model inequality at its top? The credibility of UN advocacy depends on its own reflection in the mirror.
• A stark and undeniable reality of our world today is that patriarchy and misogyny continue to thrive as scourges that distance humanity from our aspiration to live in a world of equality, peace and justice. No country in the world has achieved full legal equality for women and girls.
• In many parts of the world, we are witnessing renewed attempts to undermine the hard-won gains of decades of advocacy for women’s rights and gender equality.
• Women’s organizations, feminist activists and human rights defenders continue to be brave voices challenging discrimination and injustice. Its role is indispensable to promote human dignity and human progress.
• My work has taken me to many parts of the world, and time and again I have seen the transformative impact of women’s leadership and participation in shaping peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies.
We must always remember that without peace development is impossible and without development peace is not achievable, but without women neither peace nor development are conceivable.
The theme of IMD 2026 – “Rights, justice, action: for all women and girls” – is timely and compelling. It reminds us that progress requires not only the recognition of rights but also decisive action to ensure justice and equality in practice.
Let me state again that feminism is about smart policies that are inclusive, use full potential and leave no one behind.
I am proud to be a feminist. We all need to be. This is how we make our planet a better place to live for everyone.
Let me also recall that in the year 2000, on this very day, as President of the Security Council, I had the honor of leading the pioneering Council-wide declaration that led to conceptual and political breakthroughs that paved the way for the consensus adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on October 31, 2000 under the Presidency of Namibia.
In this IMD, let us renew our commitment to building a world with gender equality. Our individual actions, conversations, and mindsets can transform our society as a whole.
Together we can make change a reality!!!
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury is a former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations; Initiator of UNSCR 1325 as President of the UN Security Council in March 2000; and founder of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace (GMCoP)
IPS UN Office
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