It’s Time for Men to Step Up for Gender Equality

It’s time for male leaders to join the campaign for gender equity and empowering women, says the UN Women National Committee of Aotearoa New Zealand (UN Women NC ANZ).

UN Women NC ANZ is launching the HeForShe campaign in New Zealand at the International Women's Day Parliamentary Breakfast, and is calling on New Zealand men — including politicians and community and sports leaders — to show their commitment to gender equality by signing up to this global campaign.

“Many leaders around the world, have signed up to this new campaign, and we hope our Prime Minister and other leading figures in New Zealand, will follow suit,” Angela McLeod, President of the National Committee for UN Women NZ said today.

“Gender equality is not only a women’s issue, it is a human rights issue that requires the participation of men.

“Empowering women is not only good for humanity, it is good for business so there’s no reason for the slow progress.

“It’s time for our male leaders to step up.

“The official theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is 'Empower Women, Empower humanity – picture it!'

“The picture doesn’t look too bad because there are achievements we can celebrate on International Women’s Day. However, the gender equality picture is not looking good, as a result of the continuing violence against women in New Zealand, the growing gender pay gap, and other issues.

“If we continue our journey to gender equality at the same rate we have been travelling, it will be another lifetime before we achieve it – we need to change the painters,” says Mrs McLeod.

ENDS

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