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SARAJEVO, June 30 (FENA) - French Ambassador to BiH Christine Toudic, UN Women Representative in BiH David Saunders and Director of the BiH Agency for Gender Equality Samra Filipović-Hadžiabdić pointed out, in a joint Op-Ed, that the Generation Equality Forum is an opportunity provided once a decade to achieve structural and systemic changes.
"If we put our efforts together, it leaves us with a clear and attainable goal – gender equality, in this generation," they stressed.
They reminded that today, on June 30, partners around the world will meet in Paris at the second Generation Equality Forum, a landmark event to catalyze rapid advancement towards gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the government of France, in partnership with youth and civil society.
Following the first Forum, held in Mexico in March, over the next couple of days hundreds of activists, feminists, young people and allies will participate in discussions and exchanges seeking to secure firm commitments to achieve transformative change for generations to come.
"The Generation Equality Forum comes at a critical moment. The world is pressed to reverse rising gender inequality caused by COVID-19, also to tackle existing structural inequalities. The pandemic has exposed how vulnerable and fragile the hard-won gains in women’s human rights really are. With people worldwide „locked in“, decades of progress rolled back, leaving women with a disproportionate burden of care, exposed to violence and economically dependent," said the authors in a joint Op-Ed.
Despite the progress achieved when it comes to gender equality, change remains slow. Even before COVID-19, 20% percent of women and girls annually reported experiencing sexual and physical violence.
Recently, the World Economic Forum estimated that - based on current progress - women will not achieve pay or leadership equity with men for at least another 135.6 years.
"This shows that the global gender gap has increased by a generation since its last Global Gender Gap (2021) report. Due to COVID-19, the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence is on the rise, as are the adverse economic impacts caused both by increased unpaid caregiving and the fact that women work in more insecure, low-paid, and informal jobs," they said.
They stated that gender equality is at the heart of Building Back Better post COVID-19.
"We are all called to drive acceleration in equality, leadership and opportunity for women and girls worldwide. Just like in Beijing 26 years ago, Paris will provide a critical opportunity to advance women’s rights," said the authors.
The aim of the Generation Equality Forum is to fuel investment and action for gender equality; strengthen global and local feminist movements; and ensure the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
But most importantly, it will bring together commitment makers: heads of states, leaders, activists, organizations and change-makers from all around the world, young and old, who will unite and make commitments to create a diverse and powerful coalition for gender equality to achieve transformative change for generations to come.
This allyship will take place through six Action Coalitions, multi-stakeholder movements for gender equality, with the participation of over 80 member states, representatives of private sector, civil society, feminist and youth-led organizations. Activists, youth, governments, companies, international organizations, will sit side-by-side to design and shape a bold forward agenda. Over 800 organizations at the Paris Forum will announce their commitments to action on gender equality.
The Paris Forum will unveil a Global Acceleration Plan for Gender Equality, a 5-year roadmap for gender equality, providing a guide for every organization seeking to make a meaningful impact.
"Commitments made now will make all the difference in the future – which is why we invite all members of community to pledge their dedication to achieving gender equality," Toudic, Saunders and Hadžiabdić concluded in a joint Op-Ed.
(FENA) A. B.
