North America, Women and Urban SDGs: An Urban Paradigm Shift Towards Gender Equality
Urban Thinkers Campus (The City We Need NOW!)
Greetings everyone! On this International Women’s Day, I am very honored to speak to the power and value of women in taking meaningful action towards sustainability, peace, and equality for all.
It is evident that women worldwide, empowered to make a change, have taken significant strides towards these ends, and we celebrate all their incredible achievements. Although, as a woman from the Global South, International Women’s Day is an important day for me, I can attest to the profound impact of having the guidance of women in professional and personal life, which has shaped me into who I am. Equally important has been seeing women making an impact globally in areas like climate change, technology, health, and education, regardless of the roles they hold in society.
Women have traditionally tended to be disproportionately affected by crises across all spheres -political, economic, social, and environmental. Yet, their unique experiences allow them to provide equally impressive solutions that advance sustainability initiatives, comprehensively address the various challenges that exist in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and inform steps for proper actions towards closing the gender gap between men and women. This fact guides my work at the United Nations every day.
In the UN Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs (2020 -2030), governments, the UN, civil society, and the private sector have the potential to transform the lives of women and girls by working together for the benefit of all. Therefore, I encourage all to stand together today and always to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness against bias and act for equality. But, more importantly, let us stand in unison as we continue to achieve equality for women and girls in our communities and nations. Thank you!
Hawa Diallo