(PRWEB) March 07, 2012

Calling for womens increased political participation and economic empowerment, with a focus this year on rural women, Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet underlines urgent actions needed to ensure gender equality, in her 2012 International Womens Day message.

On 8 March Ms. Bachelet will commemorate International Womens Day from Morocco, to underline the need for women in the region to be fully involved in the democratic transition processes. Womens full and equal participation in the political and economic arena is fundamental to democracy and justice, which people are demanding, she says in her message. Equal rights and opportunity underpin healthy economies and societies.

The official UN observance for International Womens Day, with the theme Empower Rural Women: End Poverty and Hunger, will be held at UN Headquarters in New York on 7 March, 10 a.m. to 12 noon (view flyer). UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will address the event along with other high-level officials and activists who work on issues related to rural women worldwide. Ms. Bachelet will join the gathering through a video message.

Ms. Bachelets International Womens Day message below (also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish):

Message of Michelle Bachelet

UN Women Executive Director

International Womens Day 2012

Empower Rural Women: End Hunger and Poverty

This International Womens Day, I join women around the globe in solidarity for human rights, dignity and equality. This sense of mission drives me and millions of people around the world to pursue justice and inclusion. Looking back at the first year of UN Women, I applaud every individual, government and organization working for womens empowerment and gender equality. I promise the highest commitment moving forward.

The creation of UN Women has coincided with deep changes in our worldfrom rising protests against inequality to uprisings for freedom and democracy in the Arab world. These events have strengthened my conviction that a sustainable future can only be reached by women, men and young people enjoying equality together.

From the government that changes its laws, to the enterprise that provides decent work and equal pay, to the parents that teach their daughter and son that all human beings should be treated the same, equality depends on each of us.

During the past century, since the observance of the first International Womens Day, we have witnessed a transformation in womens legal rights, educational achievements, and participation in public life. In all regions, countries have expanded womens legal entitlements. Women have taken many steps forward. More women are exercising leadership in politics and business, more girls are going to school, and more women survive childbirth and can plan their families.

Yet while tremendous progress has been made, no country can claim to be entirely free from gender-based discrimination. This inequality can be seen in persistent gender wage gaps and unequal opportunities, in low representation of women in leadership in public office and the private sector, in child marriage and missing girls due to son preference, and in continuing violence against women in all its forms.

Nowhere are disparities and barriers greater than in rural areas for women and girls. Rural women and girls comprise one in four people worldwide. They work long hours with little or no pay and produce a large proportion of the food grown, especially in subsistence agriculture. They are farmers, entrepreneurs and leaders, and their contributions sustain their families, communities, nations and all of us.

Yet they face some of the worst inequities in access to social services and land and other productive assets. And this deprives them and the world of the realization of their full potential, which brings me to my main point on this International Womens Day. No enduring solution to the major changes of our dayfrom climate change to political and economic instabilitycan be solved without the full empowerment and participation of the worlds women. We simply can no longer afford to leave women out.

Womens full and equal participation in the political and economic arena is fundamental to democracy and justice, which people are demanding. Equal rights and opportunity underpin healthy economies and societies.

Providing women farmers with equal access to resources would result in 100 to 150 million fewer hungry people. Providing women with income, land rights and credit would mean fewer malnourished children. Studies show that higher levels of gender equality correlate positively with higher levels of per capita gross national product. Opening economic opportunities to women would significantly raise economic growth and reduce poverty.

The time is now.

Every human being has the right to live in peace and dignity. Every human being has the right to shape their future and the futures of their countries. That is the call for equality that I hear wherever I go. For this reason UN Women will place special focus this year on advancing womens economic empowerment and political participation and leadership. We look forward to continued strong partnership with women, men and young people and with governments, civil society and the private sector.

Today on International Womens Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to womens rights and move forward with courage and determination. Let us defend human rights, the inherent dignity and worth of the human person, and the equal rights of men and women.

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About UN Women

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.unwomen.org. UN Women, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017. Tel: +1 646 781-4400. Fax: +1 646 781-4444.