Decades of slow progress on commitments to build parity in the presence of men and women in leadership positions in international organizations sends a message that promises can be broken. On the positive side the number of women in institutions have been increasing. Figures 6.8 show that in the United Nations numbers of women are up. However, women remain at the bottom hierarchies and have only reached the "parity zone" in a few United Nations agencies.
"The analysis contained in this report suggests that a lack of accountability to women can in some contexts explain more about the non-achievement of gender equality commitments than can other factors such as shortages of resources. Where women are able to participate in determining the distribution of public resources, where they can contribute to the planning of public services, where they can seek and obtain justice for abuses of their rights, where there are consequences for poor performance on women's rights, better outcomes for women are achievable." – Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
The concrete value of unswerving leadership support for gender equality in words and actions cannot be understated. The United Nations Secretary-General's decision to launch a global campaign to end violence against women in March 2008 is an important example of a leader demonstrating that he will take a public stand against this pandemic. These types of leadership actions are sorely needed to inspire action.
"The United Nations stands squarely for women's rights and for an end to the impunity that transgressors have exploited for far too long." – Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Female Professional Staff in the UN
"We need more women in politics, more women in business, more women participating in social organizations, and more women in the labour force. To that end we have worked consistently and made sustained progress. This has not been easy, but we have not let that stop us. I am confident that, in the end, we will have induced a great cultural shift, which will translate into more justice and greater welfare for the citizens of Chile. " – Dr. Michelle Bachelet, President of the Republic of Chile
"Accountability to women is the key to building a nation based not on violence but on peace and security, development and human rights. Men and women must work in partnership towards these goals. This is our hope for the future. The women of Timor-Leste expect nothing less." – Dr. José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 1996
"In order to tackle inequality in all its dimensions, women must be heard. Hence, under my Government, two National Conferences involving more than 300,000 women in all Brazil were held in 2004 and 2007 to formulate the guidelines of the National Plan of Policies for Women and evaluate its implementation. With participation and commitment we are advancing towards women's increased economic autonomy, the implementation of their rights and, the fight against gender-based violence." – Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil
"In Liberia's 2005 election, for the first time, women participated equally in selecting the government, in part because special efforts were taken to enable them to access voter registration and polling booths. This ensured that women's will was expressed in authorizing my administration. I am determined that my administration will continue to respond to the needs of women." – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia
"The Gender Equity Law and the Integrated Protection against Gender-based Violence Law approved by the Spanish Congress allow us to introduce gender equality in all the other spheres of public and private life, by fighting gender discrimination and gender-based violence, allowing positive action measures in collective bargaining, encouraging reconciliation of work and family life, promoting equality plans and fostering good practices. Only by promoting the right policies, will we be able to answer this question. Who is accountable to women? Everyone in my government is." – José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain
