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To mark International Women’s Day, we highlight five perspectives on how to achieve gender equality, including on maintaining the momentum in challenging times and the importance of engaging men and boys.

Gro Brundtland: Don’t be complacent!

“Setbacks can easily happen when our attentiveness recedes” warns Gro Harlem Brundtland in this piece from 2013 on why we cannot be complacent about the progress made so far.

Read Women's rights must not be taken for granted


Hina Jilani: Keep being outraged!

“Our courage doesn’t come from desperation; it’s a courage that comes from seeing problems as challenges” affirms Hina Jilani during an event with Gro Brundtland and Sanam Anderlini in 2015.

Read Empowering women: we are all change-makers


Mary Robinson: Support culture change from within

“Promoting the rights of girls and women cannot be imposed on a society; instead, we must support activists working to change their culture from within” argues Mary Robinson in this piece from 2011 on the relationship between religion, tradition and gender inequality.

Read Women against fundamentalism and for equality


Desmond Tutu: Prove your manhood by how you treat women

"You are a weak man if you use your physical superiority to assault and brutalise women" warns Desmond Tutu in his message to men and boys in 2009.


Lakhdar Brahimi: Know that change can happen

“Why have my sisters been deprived of education?” asks Lakhdar Brahimi as he reflects on the discrimination suffered by his sisters and the change he has witnessed in his own family.

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