Only 113 countries have never had a woman as Head of State. It doesn’t speak well of a world where the advocacy for inclusive governance has gone up. Something has to be done and fast!
Despite significant strides toward gender equality, the path to leadership for women remains fraught with obstacles. Nigeria must take note!
A recent report by UN Women highlights the stark reality: 113 countries have never had a woman as Head of State, and only 26 are currently led by women. Therefore, as nations around the globe gear up for elections in 2024, UN Women is calling for a renewed focus on elevating women to the highest echelons of power.
A Call For Women Participation
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous stressed the urgency of the moment.
“As many countries head to the polls this year, we all must put women first, at the pinnacle of power, where and when it matters the most,” she declared.
The statistics are sobering. As of January 1, 2024, women make up less than a third of Cabinet ministers in 141 countries. In seven countries, there are no women in Cabinet positions at all. Globally, only 23 percent of ministerial roles are held by women. The diplomatic sphere shows a similar trend, with women holding just 25 percent of senior ambassador posts in New York, 35 percent in Geneva, and 33.5 percent in Vienna as of May 2024.
Bahous explains the broader implications of these figures:
“Our work is guided by the belief that when women lead, the world is better for all people and the planet. Women’s equal participation in governance and leadership is key to improving lives for all.”
According to her, electing and appointing women to leadership positions is not just about fairness but also about demonstrating a strong political will for gender equality and a commitment to tackling global challenges.
The push for gender parity in leadership is not new. As the world approaches the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights, the urgency of this mission is ever more apparent.
Recall that the 1995 Beijing conference built on the agreements of three previous global conferences on women and consolidated five decades of legal advances aimed at securing women’s equality with men in law and practice.
It was aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and remove all obstacles to women’s active participation in all spheres of life, including economic, social, cultural, and political decision-making.
In light of these ongoing challenges, UN Women continues its work to ensure that women not only participate but lead and thrive in shaping and driving positive change worldwide.
As the world watches the upcoming elections, the message from UN Women is clear: the time for women in leadership is now.
