All over the world, the gains made on women's rights are fading before our eyes.
According to the most recent forecasts, at the current rate, it will take 300 more years to reach full gender equality.
At present, the multiple crises that follow one another, from the war in Ukraine to the climate emergency, affect women and girls first and hardest.
In addition, with the worldwide retreat of democracy, the rights of women over their own bodies and their vital autonomy are being questioned and denied.
Two statistics make our failure very clear: every ten minutes a woman or girl is murdered at the hands of a family member or partner.
And every two minutes a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth.
Most of those deaths are entirely preventable.
On International Women's Day, we must commit to do better.
We have to reverse these alarming trends and stand up for the lives and rights of women and girls, wherever they are.
I consider this one of my main priorities and an essential element of the work of the United Nations in the world.
From South Sudan to Myanmar, we support women and girls in crisis and ensure they are heard in peace processes.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed recently visited Afghanistan to convey to the authorities that women and girls have fundamental human rights, and that we will never stop fighting for them.
This year, International Women's Day is aimed at closing the gender gaps in science, technology and innovation.
Worldwide, men are 21% more likely to have Internet access than women;
and in low-income countries, the percentage exceeds 50%.
Even the richest countries lose out because of gender stereotypes and historical biases.
In the technology sector, the number of men is double that of women, and in artificial intelligence, it is five times higher.
Data intelligence is the new vein that supports current political and business decisions.
However, it often overlooks gender differences or completely ignores women.
We should be alarmed by products and services that embed gender inequality from the start and digitize patriarchy and misogyny.
Women's rights must not succumb in the Silicon Valleys of this world.
Medical decisions based on the physical data of men can not only harm women, but can also be deadly for them.
Discrimination against women in science and technology has been forged through centuries of patriarchy, discrimination and harmful stereotyping.
Since 1901, women have won only 3% of Nobel Prizes in scientific categories.
And on the internet, women, including scientists and journalists, are often targets of hate speech and sexist abuse aimed at silencing and intimidating them.
But they will not be silenced.
Women and girls everywhere are demanding their rights, and their words are being heard around the world.
We need to act on several fronts to ensure that women and girls can fully contribute to the global pool of knowledge through science and technology.
We must break down the barriers, from discriminatory data to stereotypes that keep girls from studying science subjects from an early age.
Decision-makers of all kinds should encourage women's participation and leadership in science and technology, through quotas if necessary.
They should resort to creativity, expanding selection processes and prioritizing skills in recruitment.
And don't give up on the effort.
Gender equality will not be achieved on its own;
you have to prioritize and pursue it.
This approach is paying off at the United Nations, where we have our own strategy for gender parity in staff.
We must also take steps to create a safe digital environment for women and hold cyberbullies, and the digital platforms that support them, to account.
The United Nations is working with governments, civil society, the private sector and others to develop a code of conduct to reduce harm and promote accountability on digital platforms, while upholding freedom of expression. expression.
Women's rights are not a luxury that can wait until we solve the climate crisis, end poverty and create a better world.
Investing in women and girls is the surest way to improve the situation of all people, communities and countries and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Let us join forces and work for a more inclusive, just and prosperous world for women and girls, men and boys, wherever they are.
United Nations Secretary General
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