Although the COVID-19 pandemic has generated an unprecedented global health, humanitarian and development crisis, it has also revealed the power of women鈥檚 leadership, according to the UN Deputy Secretary-General.
鈥淥ver the past months, people around the world have come to see what many of us already knew: women鈥檚 leadership makes a profound difference鈥�, Amina Mohammed听said听on Tuesday.
鈥淭he evidence has shown 鈥� in country after country 鈥� how governments led by women are more effective in flattening the curve and positioning for economic recovery.鈥�
Ms. Mohammed was addressing听Women Rise for All, a virtual gathering of influential women from across different regions, sectors and generations, to examine how their leadership is shaping pandemic response and recovery that benefits all people.
鈥淲e want to shape the way we define leadership. And ensure that we emerge from this pandemic with women leading, in equal numbers, and equal partnership鈥�, she explained.
Women
In this devastating crisis we have an opportunity to hit the reset button, to deliver on the Decade of Action. This will only be possible when we recognize the value of women front and centre, together leading the way and rising for all.鈥� Amina J Mohammed (@AminaJMohammed)
Solidarity for all
Women Rise for All was launched on social media in April, to support the UN Secretary-General鈥檚 call for solidarity and urgent action during the pandemic.
As of Tuesday, there were more than 12.9 million cases of听COVID-19听globally, and more than 560,000 deaths, the World Health Organization () reported.
Even in the midst of this 鈥渄evastating crisis鈥�, there is an opportunity to build a better world that works for all, according to Ms. Mohammed.
鈥淭hat will only be possible when we recognize the value of women front and centre, together leading the way and rising for all鈥�, she said
鈥楽ilver lining鈥� in the crisis
Women鈥檚 proven leadership has emerged as a 鈥渟ilver lining鈥� in the pandemic, one of the world鈥檚 leading advocates for the rights of women and children told the gathering.
Gra莽a Machel believes it was no accident that countries with women Heads of State鈥攕uch as New Zealand, Germany, Finland and Taiwan鈥攈ave been comparatively successful in beating back the deadly new听coronavirus.
鈥淭his crisis has brought to light an undeniable truth: that the leadership of women is essential for us to effectively recreate the world鈥hat is more human-centred, that is more equal; a world in which such social justice is the goal鈥�, she said in her keynote address.
For former Mozambican minister Ms. Machel, the pandemic must also lead to a re-examining of dominant value systems as the world cannot return to how it was prior to the crisis.
鈥淲e must live on a planet where materialism, greed, inequalities no longer divide the human family鈥�, she stated.
