LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)–According to UN Women, a staggering 113 countries have yet to experience a female leader, while only 26 nations currently have a woman at the helm.
To address this significant gender gap, the organization urges countries to prioritize women’s representation, especially as elections approach in 2024.
This appeal coincides with the International Day for Women in Diplomacy, honoring women’s trailblazing achievements in the diplomatic sphere and highlighting the need for greater gender parity in leadership positions.
“As many countries head to the polls this year, we all must put women first, at the pinnacle of power, where and when it matters the most,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.
As of January 1, 2024, women hold less than a third of Cabinet minister positions across 141 countries, with seven nations having no female representation in their Cabinets at all.
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Moreover, only 23% of ministerial roles worldwide are occupied by women.
Women continue to be underrepresented as Permanent Representatives to the UN.
By May 2024, women held 25% of senior ambassadorial roles in New York, 35% in Geneva, and 33.5% in Vienna.
“Our work is guided by the belief that when women lead, the world is better for all people and the planet. Women’s equal participation in governance and leadership is key to improving lives for all,” Ms Bahous said.
According to her, electing and appointing women to leadership positions demonstrates robust political determination for gender equality and reflects a shared commitment to addressing today’s global challenges.
She said, “As we prepare to mark 30 years since the passage of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the world’s most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights, UN Women continues to work to ensure women lead and thrive in shaping and driving positive change, including through occupying the most senior positions of power.”
In 1995, the Beijing Conference built upon the political agreements from the three preceding global conferences on women.
It consolidated five decades of legal progress aimed at achieving equality for women with men, both in law and in practice.
It aimed to accelerate the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and to remove obstacles to women’s active participation in all spheres of public and private life, ensuring their full and equal share in economic, social, cultural, and political decision-making.