The UN chief on Tuesday applauded civil society groups for “shaking the foundations of privilege” in a male-dominated world, addressing a range of questions during a townhall meeting on the margins of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at UN Headquarters.
“You are foundation-shakers,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the annual townhall meeting with women’s rights defenders – which runs until 19 March – “and you are shaking out justice, dignity and equality for communities across the globe.”
Highlighting persistent power imbalances, including in politics, the economy and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), he warned of a growing backlash against women’s rights fuelled by disinformation and culture wars.
“These are trying times,” said Mr. Guterres, who is serving his last year as the UN chief. “A bitter wind is blowing around the world. That wind is hardening attitudes and fuelling a backlash against women’s rights…that thrives on disinformation, that exploits fear and insecurity, that weaponises culture wars and that seeks to push women into silence.”
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He emphasised “the last thing I want from you today is silence.”
Disquiet over merger
Representatives from around the world then took the floor, with several participants questioning the proposed merger of UN Women – the UN body leading gender equality efforts – and the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health (UNFPA).
“Why are the two main players the first target for streamlining?” asked Maria Leon Gonzalez from the Young Feminist Caucus, who represents hundreds of civil society groups, suggesting an examination of options for the merger.
To this, the UN chief said the proposal to merge the two agencies aims to create a “more powerful” one, with both mandates continuing with shared resources.
‘States must tell themselves the truth’
Law professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo from Nigeria raised concerns about shrinking public spaces, funding shortfalls and government crackdowns and offered a solution.
“It’s time States must tell themselves the truth,” she said. “Now, it’s time to reassert that women’s rights are human rights”, a battle cry emerging from the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women.
She said that despite gains since Beijing, “States must contribute to advancing women’s rights.”
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Changing power relations
Asked about what the Secretary-General hopes to leave as his legacy, the UN chief said he underlined the importance of changing power relations to advance gender equality alongside his efforts to do so during his 10-year tenure.
Mr. Guterres also recognised the invaluable work of civil society groups, noting that the UN will convene a meeting in July to gain their input on the ongoing UN80 initiative for reform.
Defending hard-won rights for women and girls, opening new doors and building coalitions when societies are being pulled apart “is not easy”, he said.
“It comes at a price,” he stated.
“You may face threats, intimidation and harassment. When you push for change, you are pushing against the patriarchy, and the patriarchy is pushing back.”
‘You can count on me’
Pledging his support and outlining the UN’s gender equality efforts, he urged participants to “keep shaking the foundations of privilege.”
“You can count on me to be with you, now and always, and together, we will say loud and clear: no to the pushback, no to the rollback, no to going back, no surrender,” he said.
“We will never, ever give up.”
Watch the full townhall meeting on UN Web TV here: