Kenya celebrates International Women’s Day with the First Lady and UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres

From L-R: United Nations Under Secretary-General and Director General – United Nations O­ffice at Nairobi (UNON) Sahle-Work Zewde, United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres and the first Lady of Kenya H.E. Margaret Kenyatta (Photo By UNIC / Newton Kahema)

On 8 March 2017, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres  joined Kenyans to celebrate International Women’s Day where he emphasized the need to protect women’s rights as human rights and empower women and girls. Speaking at the national celebration event in Nairobi, the Secretary-General underscored the need to empower women and girls as the only way to protect their rights and realize their full potential.

Denying the rights of women and girls is not only wrong in itself; it has a serious social and economic impact that holds us all back. Gender equality has a transformative effect that is essential to fully functioning communities, societies and economies.   Women’s access to education and health services has benefits for their families and communities that extend to future generations. An extra year in school can add up to 25 per cent to a girl’s future income.”

Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General

During the event, first lady H.E Margaret Kenyatta launched the joint UN and Government of Kenya project on the prevention and response to gender based violence. The three year, USD 11.5 million, project seeks to improve Kenya’s legislative and policy environment to address Gender Based Violence, create favorable social norms, attitude and behaviors for prevention and response of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

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