As global leaders come together for the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York, from 12 – 25 September, UN Women will bring women’s voices and priorities to the forefront and call for tangible actions to achieve gender equality.
This year’s theme is, “Focusing on people: striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”. The General Debate, kicking off on 19 September, will discuss some of the most urgent issues facing the planet and its people—such as, prevention and mediation in sustaining peace, global migration, achieving decent lives, sustainable development and human rights. Examining these issues with a gender perspective is critical to ensuring that women’s unique needs and priorities are being addressed, and that their voices and experiences shape the solutions.
It has now been two years since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, which place gender equality and women’s empowerment at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. Through a range of high-level events on women’s economic empowerment, equal pay for work of equal value, ending violence against women and girls, engaging men and boys as gender equality champions, gender and climate change, and stepping up financing for gender equality, UN Women will continue to highlight women’s empowerment as a key driver of sustainable development.
Read More: www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/general-assembly
Pictured: Scenes from the United Nations General Assembly Hall on 19 September 2017 prior to the opening of the General Debate.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown