Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 26-11-2017
United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has called for investment in women and girls, decrying gender inequality as perhaps the most pervasive disparity around the world.
Mohammed was the keynote speaker at the 15th Nelson Mandela annual lecture in Cape Town.
Reflecting on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, Mohammad issued a call to action for the international community “to invest in the missing 50 per cent of our human asset base, the potential of our women and unleash their power for good.”
“Sadly, the long walk to freedom for women and adolescent girls globally remains unfinished.”
Mohammed noted that violence against women in homes and war zones is “a global pandemic”.
She says tackling gender-based violence begins in the home and in communities.
“While progress has been made, a lot more needs to be done.”
In a speech peppered with personal anecdotes of growing up bi-racial in Nigeria at a time of apartheid in South Africa, Mohammed says that she had never met Madiba and so represents generations of people who take inspiration from his life without a personal encounter.
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