U.N. calls for empowerment of women

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called for gender equality and empowerment of women.

He said in his message on International Women’s Day that this year’s International Women’s Day is devoted rural women and girls, who make up one quarter of the global population but end up at the bottom of every economic, social and political indicator.

He also said that rural women are not given the opportunity to fulfill their potential, and that agricultural yields would rise by 4 per cent if these women had equal access to productive resources.

This would in turn strengthen food and nutrition security and relieve as many as 150 million people from hunger.

He further said that today there are more women Heads of State and ministers than ever before, and that women are exercising greater influence in business. An increased number of girls go to school and grow up healthier and better equipped to realize their potential.