A lack of women at decision-making tables around the world is hindering progress when it comes to tackling conflicts or improving health and standard of living, the highest-ranking woman in the UN (United Nations) has said.

“We’re half the population. And what we bring to the table is incredibly important and it’s missing”, said Amina Mohammed, the UN deputy secretary general. “I think it’s why mostly our human development indices are so bad, why we have so many conflicts and we’re unable to come out of the conflicts.”

Since her appointment in 2017, Mohammed has been a constant voice in pushing back against the under-representation of women in politics, diplomacy and even the UN general assembly. Her efforts have helped cast a spotlight on the fact that women remain relegated to the margins of power around the world; last year the global proportion of female lawmakers stood at 26.9%, according to Switzerland’s Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Speaking to The Guardian, Mohammed said “flexing muscle and testosterone” often dominated at tables of power around the world. “This win, win, win at all costs — I think that would change if women were at the table”, she said.

She acknowledged that the world had seen a handful of female leaders who had not used their position to advocate for greater peace or conflict resolution. “Fair point, we see women in power and they’re sometimes the image of men”, she said. But she described it as unfair to judge women on an individual basis while they were still within the confines of a system dominated by men. “We don’t judge men that way.”

Mohammed highlighted how many parts of society still view women in power as “about taking away, rather than adding” value. “And we have to change that mentality”, she said.

“We kept looking at the Band-aid: put the women in office, let’s have affirmative action. And we never connected the dots for women themselves to build the constituencies and to go out and vote”, she said. “So we have to have a conversation with women first. Because if we’re doing this for women, should it not be by women?”

Ashifa Kassam. Lack of women at global tables of power hinders progress, says top UN official.

In: The Guardian,19/6/2024. Internet:: <www.theguardian.com.> (adapted).