President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca presided over a Women’s Day celebration organised by The President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society at St James’ Cavalier, Valletta.
The President mentioned that on International Women’s Day, people all over the world celebrate the many milestones which have been already achieved on the road to gender equality and added that “on this momentous day, we recommit ourselves to the pursuit of rights and opportunities of women and girls around the world”.
President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said that women cannot be excluded any longer and they should be at the forefront of all human endeavours, shoulder to shoulder with men.
“No lasting solution to the major challenges of our day, be it climate change, mass movement, or political and economic instability, can be solved without the full empowerment and participation of the world’s women”.
“We know that gender equality is not just an issue of women. This is a human rights issue.”
The President underlined that men and women have equal roles to play in the issue of gender equality. In this regard, she referred to the He4She solidarity movement, which was created by UN Women, to provide a systematic approach and a targeted platform where a global platform can engage with and become active agents for the achievement of gender equality.
“I, alongside my national He4She Champions, promise the highest commitment towards achieving long-lasting changes through practical and significant actions, so as to achieve true and meaningful gender equality.”
“The equality of women and girls in all of Malta and Gozo offers a shared responsibility.”
The President spoke about the need that there is, for people in Malta and Gozo to ensure gender equality, on a community level, because when women and girls rise, their communities and their countries rise with them, and stated that “an empowered woman brings that strength to her children, to her family, to her community, and to her nation.”
With this in mind, President Coleiro Preca said that we all stand to benefit from the empowerment, the flourishing, and the wellbeing of women and girls. We will all be stronger and freer and we will be better prepared to tackle the global problems which we face today and to overcome any obstacles which we shall face in the years ahead.
“I look forward to a continued strong partnership with women, men, young people, governments, civil society and the private sector.”
The President concluded by inviting everyone to reaffirm their commitment to women’s rights, to move forward with courage and conviction, and to continue defending human rights and fighting for the respect of inherent dignity and the equal rights of people of all genders.
“Only then can we move forward, and look towards a better future for our islands and our world – a future which will be built and sustained by us all, in which women are active and empowered agents of peace and wellbeing”.