2024 Women Fisrt Run Launch

I am pleased to be here today at the launch of this year’s WOMEN FISRT RUN. The United Nations in Ethiopia is proud to be the message sponsor of this race to commemorate the International Women’s Day.

I am also glad that the UN has been a key partner and supporter of this run for the past 21 years and we are very grateful for this special partnership. 

This run has been used to disseminate messages that help raise awareness and inspire action on a number of development issues that are linked to the advancement of women and girls’ rights.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The global development agenda - the Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals provides a unique opportunity to address the challenges faced by women and girls around the globe. 

Sustainable development can only be achieved when barriers faced by millions of women are addressed, and their potential is harnessed. Yet, as the UN Secretary-General has highlighted gender equality is growing more distant. On the current track, UN Women puts it 300 years away.

“Invest in women: Accelerate progress” the theme we have chosen for this race this year focuses on harnessing the potential of women through increased investment in initiatives that promote and ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment. This theme strongly speaks to one of the key challenges in achieving gender equality by 2030 - an alarming lack of financing with a staggering USD 360 billion annual deficit in spending on gender-equality measures. This should not be seen as an act of charity or a favour to women. It is a must and it benefits everyone. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ethiopia has come a long way over the past two decades in empowering women and girls and promoting their rights. But a multitude of daunting challenges remain to be addressed.

As we launch the registration of the Women First Run today, I call upon all actors including the government, civil society and the private sector to demonstrate their commitments to invest in projects or initiatives - big or small – in the community or in the country - to empower women and girls.

We all should ask ourselves whether we are making the right investment to empower and bring about a positive impact in the lives of our children, sisters, mothers as well as women and girls in our communities.

Empowerment is about women claiming and holding the power to make their own decisions, to stand up for their rights and say no to violence, discrimination and harmful traditional practices.

Empowerment is also about women being able to decide if, when and who to marry; if and when to have children — and how many; be able to leave a violent relationship and how to save or spend their money. 

Progress for women benefits us all, but it cannot be achieved without investment.

As a United Nations, we strongly believe investing in women is a human rights imperative and cornerstone for building inclusive societies, and we will continue to provide unwavering support to Ethiopia to address its challenges and sustain the progress it has already made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.

It is my firm conviction that events like this race provide a platform for amplifying our messages and drive action towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Together, let’s push forward for women, girls, and our world.

On behalf of the UN Country Team in Ethiopia, I want to thank the Great Ethiopian Run for organizing this annual race. And I look forward to our continued strong partnership. 

I thank you!