UNESCO’s International Women’s Day 2009 celebrations will focus on UNESCO’s commitment to designate gender equality as a global priority of the Organization in its Medium-Term Strategy for the period 2008-2013.

A series of actions to promote women’s empowerment, women’s rights and gender equality in Member States has been identified in the UNESCO Priority Gender Equality Action Plan for 2008-2013. The Organization’s aim to promote gender equality is addressed throughout its programmes at all levels.

The need to make gender equality a global priority is clear, considering that three fifths of the world’s one billion poorest people are women and girls; two thirds of the 960 million adults in the world who cannot read are women; and girls account for 57 percent of the 77 million children who are out of school.

UNESCO believes that sustainable development, human rights and peace at the global, regional and local levels can only be advanced if women and men enjoy expanded and equal choices and opportunities, and the ability to live in freedom and dignity. UNESCO also believes that women should be included at the highest levels of policy making.

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For more information on UNESCO’s celebrations

Interview with P. F. Casini: "No democracy without partnership between men and women"

Message from Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Women’s Day - 8 March 2009