United Nations leader Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned rollbacks in women’s rights that he said had been condoned by some world leaders.
Without naming any country or leader, the UN secretary-general said “the poison of patriarchy is back –- and it is back with a vengeance: slamming the brakes on action; tearing-up progress; and mutating into new and dangerous forms.”
Guterres said women’s rights were “under siege” at the annual meeting of the UN commission on the status of women, held 30 years after a major UN conference in Beijing agreed a blueprint for boosting sexual equality.
“Around the world, the masters of misogyny are gaining in strength, confidence and influence,” said Guterres, who added that progress on education and cutting maternal mortality was under threat.
“We see it in the bile hurled at women online. We see it in attempts to gut women’s human rights and fundamental freedoms. And we see it in the leaders happy to throw equality to the wolves.”
Guterres’s comments came as the US administration of President Donald Trump attacks diversity programs, Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities face mounting criticism over their treatment of women, and other countries have also cutback on rights.
“Around the world, hard-won gains are being thrown into reverse,” said Guterres.
“Reproductive rights are under attack, and equality initiatives discarded. Meanwhile, new technologies -– including artificial intelligence -– are creating new platforms for violence and abuse, normalizing misogyny and online revenge.”
Guterres called for “action to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership in decision-making — at every level and all walks of life.”
The UN chief said that measures, such as quotas, targeted appointments and parity goals had been proven to work. “Countries and companies should use them,” he insisted.
