The Secretary General of United Nations Ban Ki-moon has stressed that the empowerment of women is vital to achieve peace and security, improved living standards and respect for human rights.
He said this at Americans for UNFPA Gala for the health and dignity of women on Wednesday, says a message received here. He also underscored the need to support the work of UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
"Today, we understand, even better than our founders did, that the empowerment of women is a fundamental condition if we are to make progress towards the goals for which the United Nations was created," he added.
He encouraged Americans for UNFPA to continue their support for this vital UN agency, adding that by doing so they are "contributing directly to the health and dignity of women in nations all over the world."
Ban Ki-moon noted that too many women die during pregnancy and childbirth because their right to sexual and reproductive health is denied; too many women become infected with HIV because they do not have the power to protect their own health; and too many women are subjected to violence, "one of the most systematic and prevalent human rights abuses in the world." All of this underscored the importance of UNFPA's efforts, he said. "This work needs to be understood and supported."