UN HONORS : ''GENERATION -2020- EQUALITY''

UN labels 2020 'Generation Equality'. The global body enables women to influence decisions about future, says Phumzile.

On the occasion of International Women's Day United Nations Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said on Sunday that 2020 was a massive year for gender equality whose benefits would be reaped by everyone, including women and girls.

According to statement issued by the organization, the executive director noted that we would call the year of ''Generation Equality''. ''We are marking 25 25 years of implementation of Beijing Platform for Action as we are mobilisng women's rights with the leadership of females in civil society,'' said Phumzile.

The statement added that United Nations  enabled women to influence decisions about their future besides Generation Equality  which assisted to tackle issues of women belonging to all generations, including girls and elderly women.

The United Nations highlighted that currently women are concerned about the future because lack of lack of equality across the world.

However, the statement added that people had positive changes in lives to celebrate.
''Since 2000 there has been a 38 percent decline in the ratio of maternal death,'' said the executive director.

Citing the facts, the statement added that legislation against discrimination of women was initiated 25 years ago, and today, 131 countries have legal reforms addressing discrimination and supporting gender equality.

Adding more facts about the legislation against women harassment across the world, Phumzile said in the statement that three-quarters of countries across the world had laws against domestic violence in place.

However, Phumzile express dissatisfaction with the progress stating that no country has achieved gender equality despite of efforts.

Besides harassment and gender equality, the executive director also talked about women education adding that more girls as compared with men were in tertiary education across the world.

But she added that one of 10 young women was unable to read and write despite improvement in enrolment
''This has to be changed in order for girls to fully own their power, take their place in the world, and play their vital role in technology and innovation,'' said the executive director.

Talking about women in Leadership roles, Phumzile regretted lack of women on legislative positions as three quarters of parliamentarians across the world were men.

The World Students Society thanks News Desk/ The Express Tribune.