The Diplomat
Women Vice-Presidents and leaders of multilateral organisations in Ibero-America signed a joint declaration yesterday in which they call on the countries of the region to ensure the equal participation of women in all areas of decision-making.
The text, which stresses that the aim is not only to mitigate the disproportionate effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the female population, but also to ensure a more inclusive future, was agreed during one of the high-level digital meetings prior to the Ibero-American Summit in Andorra, which will take place on the 21st. The meeting, under the theme: “Towards the XXVII Ibero-American Summit – Women’s Leadership for an Inclusive Future Pact”, was organised by the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) and the Inter-American Task Force for Women’s Leadership. Ibero-American Women’s Leadership Task Force in Andorra.
The document was signed by the Vice-Presidents of the Spanish Government, Carmen Calvo; of Colombia, Marta Lucía Ramírez; of Uruguay, Beatriz Argimón, and of Costa Rica, Epsy Cambell; as well as the Ibero-American Secretary General, Rebeca Grynspan; the Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean of UN Women, María Noel Vaeza, and the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women CIM/OAS, Alejandra Mora Mora.
The Ibero-American leaders point out that the coronavirus crisis has significantly increased the multidimensional inequalities suffered by women, highlighting in particular the disproportionate effects on their autonomy and economic empowerment, and the worrying increase in violence against women.
After warning about the widespread absence of women in decision-making bodies on COVID-19 around the world, the declaration insists that “gender equality must be placed at the centre of multilateral dialogue spaces and public policies”, and reiterates the need to “accelerate efforts to reduce the inequality gaps between women and men, through commitments that translate into action”.
In this regard, the countries participating in the 27th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government are urged to agree on concrete commitments to gender equality and women’s participation and leadership.
For the Ibero-American leaders, the Summit is an opportunity to rethink the model of the region that they want to promote after this crisis, where, in order to leave no one behind, it is essential that women play a leading role in the change.
“We are in the worst crisis we have experienced in the last 120 years. Recovery strategies must seize this historic opportunity to rethink the future and build a ‘new normal’ that is a ‘better normal’ for women. In order to promote the transformative changes that are required, it is essential to have a greater presence of women in decision-making spaces,” stressed the Ibero-American Secretary General.
“Feminist leadership by women is undoubtedly the revolution of this period and the most important social movement of recent times. The current challenge must be to take our equality agenda to all sectors,” said Alejandra Mora Mora.
During the meeting, the progress of the initiatives led by SEGIB to promote gender equality was also presented, such as the elimination of discriminatory laws, the Ibero-American Coalition for the Economic Empowerment of Women and the Ibero-American Programme to Prevent and Eliminate Gender Violence.
