As the global community marks International Women’s Day, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has outlined eight key actions he says are essential to achieving gender equality and building a more just and sustainable world.
Reflecting on nearly a decade at the helm of the UN, Guterres said the world has faced repeated challenges ranging from climate shocks and poverty to violent conflict and shrinking civic space. However, he noted that many effective solutions to these crises have had one common factor: the leadership and participation of women.
He described gender inequality as one of the most pressing human rights challenges globally, stressing that advancing equality remains a powerful driver of sustainable development, economic growth and lasting peace.
According to the UN chief, the first step toward progress is addressing the global power imbalance that continues to favour male-dominated institutions. He warned that the rise of authoritarianism in many parts of the world has worsened gender inequality by rolling back protections related to fair work practices and reproductive rights, while reinforcing social and institutional biases against women.
Guterres also emphasised the importance of achieving gender parity in leadership positions. At the United Nations, he said, deliberate efforts were made to expand the pool of qualified candidates for senior roles in order to improve gender balance without lowering professional standards. The result, he noted, has been stronger institutional performance and more inclusive decision-making.
He further argued that investing in women and girls yields some of the highest social and economic returns. Education for girls, maternal healthcare, family planning and supportive policies such as childcare and elder care programmes, he said, can significantly strengthen communities and help close gender gaps that limit national economic potential.
On global security, the Secretary-General highlighted the need for women’s participation in peace negotiations, noting that peace agreements tend to be more durable when women are involved in both negotiation and implementation processes. He expressed concern that women remain largely excluded from peace discussions in several ongoing conflicts, including those in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.
Guterres also called for the elimination of discriminatory laws that continue to restrict women’s rights in many countries. He noted that globally, women enjoy only about 64 per cent of the legal rights available to men, with many still facing barriers to property ownership, employment and access to justice.
Another major priority, he said, is ending gender-based violence, which he described as a global emergency rooted in inequality and sustained by silence. Governments and institutions, he stressed, must adopt a zero-tolerance approach while ensuring accountability and support for survivors.
Addressing the role of technology, Guterres warned that gender bias is increasingly embedded in digital systems because women remain under-represented in the technology sector. He called on governments and technology companies to work together to create safer online spaces and encourage greater participation of girls in science, technology and innovation.
Finally, he urged policymakers to integrate gender considerations into climate action. Women, he said, often face the greatest risks during environmental crises but are also at the forefront of climate solutions, from community-level adaptation efforts to global policy advocacy.
Drawing from experiences across conflict zones, parliaments, classrooms and grassroots movements worldwide, Guterres said the eight actions provide a practical roadmap for advancing women’s rights.
He added that if global leaders commit seriously to these steps, the world could achieve transformative progress not only for women and girls but for societies as a whole.
