Sima Bahous: “Sport’s full potential as a driver for gender equality has yet to be fulfilled”

Ahead of International Women’s Day 2023, Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director, explains why sport is critical in moving towards Goal 5 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals: to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
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We live in a world that is fundamentally interconnected, where diseases have no borders and wars in one part of the world cause food, fuel and inflation crises in far-distant continents. The dire consequences are most acute for women and girls and can be seen in the reversal of recent progress on gender equality – and on all the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We need to change course – and move faster.

Without change, it could take close to another 300 years to achieve full gender equality. Our sights are set on a much closer date – 2030 – the endpoint for achievement of the SDGs. At this halfway marker, it’s time for solidarity as we shape our responses and aim for acceleration, not reversal of gains. It’s time to invest intentionally – and better – in women and girls.

Sustainable Development Goals

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals