The theme for this year’s observance of International Women’s Day is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.
The year 2022 is pivotal for achieving gender equality in the context of climate change, and environmental and disaster risk reduction, which are some of the greatest global challenges of the twenty-first century. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach.
This year’s IWD observance is in recognition and celebration of the women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation and response, and to honour their leadership and contribution towards a sustainable future.
Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but its achievement has enormous socio-economic ramifications. Empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth. Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society. Women lack access to decent work and face occupational segregation and gender wage gaps. They are too often denied access to basic education and health care. Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination. They are under-represented in political and economic decision-making processes.

Statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on International Women’s Day
7 MARCH 2022
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls everywhere.
Statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on International Women’s Day
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls everywhere.
We celebrate their contributions to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their ideas, innovations and activism that are changing our world for the better.
And their leadership across all walks of life.
But we also recognize that in too many areas, the clock on women’s rights is moving backwards.
The pandemic has kept girls and women out of schools and workplaces.
They face rising poverty and rising violence.
They do the vast majority of the world’s unpaid but essential care work.

They’re targets of violence and abuse, just because of their gender.
In all countries, women are scandalously under-represented in the halls of power and the boardrooms of business.
And as this year’s theme reminds us, they bear the brunt of climate change and environmental degradation.
Starting now, on International Women’s Day, it’s time to turn the clock forward for every woman and girl.
Through guaranteeing quality education for every girl, so they can build the lives they want and help make the world a better place for us all.
Through massive investments in women’s training and decent work.
Through effective action to end gender-based violence.
Through bold action to protect our planet.
Through universal care that is fully integrated into social protection systems.
And through targeted measures like gender quotas so we can all benefit from women’s ideas, experience and leadership everywhere decisions are made.
Gender inequality is essentially a question of power, in a male-dominated world and a male-dominated culture. Power relations must be reversed.
At the United Nations, we’ve achieved gender parity in senior management at headquarters and around the world — improving our work and better representing the communities we serve.
We need more women environment ministers, business leaders and presidents and prime ministers. They can push countries to address the climate crisis, develop green jobs and build a more just and sustainable world.
We cannot emerge from the pandemic with the clock spinning backwards on gender equality.
We need to turn the clock forward on women’s rights.
The time is now.