UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a "step backwards" for women's rights on International Women's Day.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, cautioned on Friday (International Women's Day) against regressive moves regarding women's rights. He suggested that, at the current pace, true equality might not be fully realised for as long as three centuries.
"There is a global threat of backlash against women's rights, and in some instances, progress reversal, both in developed and developing countries," stated the UN chief during a special session of the United Nations Member States.
He took a direct hit at Taliban-led Afghanistan, where women have been largely sidelined from education, employment outside their homes, and most public spaces.
Guterres also highlighted the impact of wars and armed conflicts on women. He cited testimonies of women subjected to rape, trafficking, violent and sexual torture during Hamas' terrorist attacks in Israel and reports of sexual violence against female Palestinian prisoners.
He condemned the "collapse of maternity services in Gaza, where women and children amount to the majority of tens of thousands killed and injured." An estimated 9,000 women have reportedly been killed in Gaza and 63 women are killed on average each day, according to figures released by the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
"By 2030, over 340 million women and girls will be living in extreme poverty, which is 18 million more than men and boys," Guterres stressed.
