More countries have understood that women's equality is a prerequisite for development.
Interpretation
Women's equality is essential for societal progress and development.
Kofi Annan emphasizes the fundamental importance of women's equality in driving development across nations. This quote highlights that without addressing gender disparities, countries cannot fully progress or harness their potential, as women's contributions are vital for achieving sustainable development and societal advancement.
In practice
In a speech promoting women's rights at an international conference.
If you have a problem and you can't find a solution, you meet again tomorrow and you keep talking until you find a solution. You can disagree with behavior or a particular position, but you do not resort to calling an opponent worthless.
Let us remember the large numbers of citizens who, day in and day out, through acts of volunteerism large and small, bring hope to so many of the world's disadvantaged. Let us ensure that this wonderful resource, available in abundance to every nation, is recognized and supported as it works towards a more prosperous and peaceful world.
We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.
The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity - between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor, and above all, between richer and poorer nations. We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get, to wake up?
People of different religions and cultures live side by side in almost every part of the world, and most of us have overlapping identities which unite us with very different groups. We can love what we are, without hating what β and who β we are not. We can thrive in our own tradition, even as we learn from others, and come to respect their teachings.
Democracy is, in essence, a form of non-violent conflict management. If war is the worst enemy of development, healthy and balanced development is the best form of conflict prevention.
We all fight over what the label 'feminism' means but for me it's about empowerment. It's not about being more powerful than men - it's about having equal rights with protection, support, justice. It's about very basic things. It's not a badge like a fashion item.
Women like to sit down with trouble - as if it were knitting.
If women can sleep their way to the top, how come they aren't there?
It is accepted the world over that women are an essential part of what makes a society successful, and only through supporting and empowering women can a country truly be strong.
The message I like to convey to women and girls across the globe is that there is no glass ceiling.
My appearance has changed a lot over the years, but it has far more to do with how I feel about being a woman.
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