UN commemoration of International Women’s Day 2014: Speech by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Posted on March 7, 2014
Speech by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka for International Women’s Day, at the UN, New York, 7 March 2014

Excerpt – Closing Language
…That bold action is to embed women’s rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality in all we do, now and beyond 2015 and provide measurements and modalities that will give us significant impact that is also transformative. The 21st century offers an opportunity for a big leap forward – not just baby steps.

The key message that captures what we actually need to do is what I call the SHE imperative.
– S stands for the Security of women and girls from all forms of violence,
– H stands for her Human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, land rights, equal pay, recognition of unpaid care, and all the rights and opportunities to which she is entitled.
– E stands for an Empowered decision-making and full leadership and participation in all spheres of life.

This is the SHE imperative that many of you have embraced as a transformative goal for gender equality to take forward the unfinished business of the MDGs … together with gender mainstreaming across all other goals.

Today, I want to speak directly to men and boys around the world.

Firstly, I commend those of you who have spoken out and stand with women and girls as they hold up half of the sky. We call on all men to also take a stand and hold up their half of the sky to speak out and to take action. Because silence and inaction of good men conspire against women.

In a minute I will unveil our new initiative, where men will call on their brothers, fathers, sons and friends to stand up for their sisters, mothers, daughters and partners in our He for She campaign.

This is part of our larger effort leading up to the Beijing+20 commemoration in 2015.

In the He for She campaign, I invite you – men and boys of the world – who make up the other half of humanity, to act for change wherever you are, in your streets, your churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, your villages and your cities and be VISIBLE AND VOCAL. Visit the website and Join us in the HeForShe digital platform which we now present and simultaneously our website goes live.

Greater sustained actions are needed. And more urgent actions. We can and must do better because equality for women is progress for all!