Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif
Statement on the International Day of Women in Diplomacy
NEW YORK, June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As a woman, as a
lawyer, as a mom, as a civil servant, and as a member of
#WeTheWomen, I celebrate the International Day of Women in
Diplomacy, with the hope that our commemoration turns into
collective action not only by women, but also by men. Women bring
vision, leadership and compassion in all domains of life. We are
trailblazers, rebels with a cause and peacebuilders. We help
shape a world order based on universal human rights and values.
In April I was pleased and privileged to meet with 30 inspiring
women leaders through the UN's #WeTheWomen Campaign, established by
the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of
Germany and the Minister of
Development of Norway. Now also
gracing our group with their presence is the United Nations Deputy
Secretary-General, and so many strong and empathetic, visionary and
hard-working women leaders.
We share common interests and common ideals in women's
empowerment, humanitarian action and sustainable development. These
are the women who have smashed the glass ceiling, and who charge
bravely forward to protect our common humanity from the scourge of
war, violence and complacence that is derailing our efforts to
deliver on the promises outlined in the UN Charter, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the Sustainable Development
Goals.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J.
Mohammed is without equal. Her ability to sway minds and
build bridges with just the most delicate of diplomatic touches is
remarkable. She is also one of the world's leading advocates for
education. As she so eloquently puts it: "I am inspired by the
upcoming generation of women leaders who in the face of disasters,
conflicts, and health emergencies prioritize their education and
use their platforms to advocate for the right of all girls and
young women to a quality education."
Germany's Minister for Economic
Cooperation and Development Svenja
Schulze is another empathetic and fearless leader that
has helped to put education funding at the top of the international
agenda. Her leadership has been essential in building Education
Cannot Wait as a global multilateral fund. "By bringing together
public and private actors in humanitarian aid and development
cooperation, ECW creates a bridge between short-term
humanitarian action and longer-term development," said Schulze.
Norway's Minister for
International Development Anne Beathe
Tvinnereim continues to make a positive impact on the
world, especially in the area of disability inclusion and girls'
education. "Education is essential to live healthy and productive
lives. We need to assure that all children get a quality education,
also children affected by crisis and conflict situations," said
Tvinnereim. "We have to make sure that children with disabilities
are given access to quality education and assure their safe and
meaningful participation."
Minister of General Education and Instruction for South Sudan
Awut Deng Acuil works tirelessly to reach the girls and boys
of South Sudan with the safety,
hope and opportunity of quality education. According to Deng:
"Nationally, there are more male students than female students in
all school types. One of the biggest gender gaps is in secondary
schools where only 35% of the enrolled students are female. More
needs to be done to support the enrolment and retention of girls in
school to complete their education cycle and transition to higher
levels of learning."
USAID Administrator Samantha
Power leads the world's largest bilateral development
agency. "We look forward to continued cooperation to increase
access to education, improved learning outcomes and reach the most
marginalized students – especially girls, refugees, internally
displaced communities, gender and sexual minorities, and children
with disabilities. We know when access to education is equal, the
results are clear: greater economic growth, improved health
outcomes, stronger democracies, more peaceful, resilient societies,
and healthier and more successful children."
You don't have to be a diplomat to wield a diplomatic torch.
Last month, Melinda French Gates
announced that she would commit $1
billion to women's causes through the Pivotal Philanthropies
Foundation. As she said in the announcement: "For too long, a lack
of money has forced organizations fighting for women's rights into
a defensive posture while the enemies of progress play offense. I
want to help even the match."
While we have a long way to go, we wouldn't have gotten here
without the women that paved the way. I think of Eleanor Roosevelt and her ground-breaking work
to frame the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "One of the
best ways of enslaving a people is to keep them from education,"
Roosevelt said. "Education is the cornerstone of liberty."
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