Women’s Network news round-up: from calls for the first woman UN secretary-general to workplace support for women’s health
GGF brings you the latest roundup of women-focused and gender equity news, including calls for the appointment of the first woman UN secretary-general, Israel’s failure to meet its obligation for equal representation of women in senior positions in its civil service, a case for engaging men and boys in advancing gender justice in Uganda, and more.
The Global Government Women’s Network is a free network for women in civil and public services around the world – a global community of women who can advise and support each other as they navigate their careers. It is underpinned by news, opinion, analysis and events on public policy for women and girls and gender equity in government and public sector workplaces. Visit the Women’s Network hub and become a member here.
‘Time for a woman to serve as UN secretary-general’
Elbegdorj Tsakhia, former president and prime minister of Mongolia and member of The Elders, has called on UN member states to nominate only women candidates for the role of UN secretary-general.
“After 80 years of men-only leadership, it’s time for a woman to serve as UN secretary-general,” he wrote in an open letter.
He said the UN’s glass ceiling “remains unbroken” and that it is “vital that we ensure it is fit for purpose in the 21st century”, including by appointing a woman as the next secretary-general “through a fair and transparent process that seeks the most qualified candidate”.
As the time for member states to make nominations approaches, he urged them to “champion this cause and nominate only women candidates”.
“This is our opportunity to drive transformative change and send an unequivocal message that women are essential to solving the world’s most pressing challenges.
“If we are to build a more stable and united world, we must guarantee that women have an equal voice at the table – not as a symbolic gesture, but as a necessity.”
Israel’s government has not met its obligation for equal representation of women, High Court rules
Back in February, the Israel High Court of Justice ruled that the state did not meet its obligations for equal representation of women in senior positions in the public sector.
The ruling came following a 2023 petition submitted by the women’s organisations Forum Dvorah, the Israel Women’s Network, and Na’amat, which called on the court to examine the lack of representation of women in directors-general positions in the government.
As of July 2024, just two women were serving as director-general of a government office out of 29.
“In opposition to the legislature’s intent, women are hardly represented in the senior management levels of public service,” justice Noam Sohlberg said at the ruling. “As such, [they] are not partners, practically speaking, in a great deal of decisions made in the country.”
According to the Jerusalem Post, Sohlberg said guidelines set by the state for ensuring fair hiring practices were not in line with the obligations of the state set by law, especially when it comes to the obligation to “work actively to promote equal representation among state employees”, which applies “at all levels and professions”.
He ordered the state to set new guidelines that will uphold the law. Read more
Seperately, a survey on women’s representation published last month by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 65% of respondents (men and women) consider equal representation when deciding which party to vote for, and that 71% think the number of women in the Knesset, the government and in senior positions in the civil service should be increased. Read the survey results here
Uganda: a case for engaging men and boys in advancing gender justice
During a session at Makerere University last week, Titus Asiimwe of the Women’s Pro-Bono Initiative emphasised that male engagement is key to improving gender and health rights, and that more needs to be done to shift patriarchal norms and curb violence against women in Uganda.
The engagement of men and women’s empowerment were “not opposing forces, but complementary pathways toward lasting gender justice”, Asiimwe wrote in an opinion piece following the event.
In line with the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, which framed male engagement as a strategic pillar in advancing gender equality, the Ugandan government introduced two strategies: the National Male Involvement Strategy for the Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence (2017) and the National Strategy for Male Involvement in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Nutrition (2019).
“Both strategies introduced some gender-transformative concepts aimed at shifting deep-rooted patriarchal norms. However, their implementation has been limited, leaving a gap between policy and practice,” Asiimwe said.
He explained that men heavily influence women’s access to education and healthcare and that women often need their partner’s consent for contraceptives or clinic visits.
“True progress demands systemic change… We must dismantle unequal power structures and ensure women have equal authority in decision-making to build an equitable society,” he said.
“Men’s involvement contributes to reduced intimate partner violence, improved maternal and child health, and more equitable relationships. [It] must be deliberate, principled… [and] should never be a platform for recentralising male dominance, but rather, a vehicle for dismantling it.”
He concluded that Uganda must invest in better tools, training, and accountability mechanisms that ensure that male engagement contributes meaningfully to the broader goal of gender justice. “Done right, engaging men and boys… is a necessary step in the long walk toward equality.”
UK government urged to boost workplace support for women’s health
Employers and health professionals have urged the UK government to do more to support women’s health in the workplace in a bid to reduce gender inequality and boost economic growth.
In an open letter to the employment minister Alison McGovern, 28 organisations – including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the Society of Occupational Medicine – highlight that many women drop out of the workforce or are held back from career development due to health or reproductive issues, such as the menopause, fertility challenges, pregnancy, and baby loss.
They refer to the NHS Confederation report, ‘Women’s Health Economics: investing in the 51%’, which showed that inadequate support for conditions like menopause, endometriosis, and severe period pain costs the UK economy nearly £11bn (US$14.6bn) a year.
“With supportive employer policies, appropriate healthcare and better societal awareness many of the problems can be tackled, keeping more women in productive work in which they can thrive and progress.”
The organisations have called for a review of women’s and reproductive health in the workplace; the launch of a “high profile” campaign to encourage employers to provide better occupational health support for women; and the widening of access to associated health provision.
They said these actions would help to increase the economic participation of women and further the government’s ambitious growth agenda and 80% employment target. Read the open letter
The NHS estimates that menopause symptoms alone results in a £1.5bn (US$2bn) annual loss in the UK, with around 60,000 women affected. GGF published ‘Menopause at work: the symptoms – and what support your organisation should provide’ in 2023. Read it here
Read more: Bringing in good ideas from everywhere: how to tackle groupthink in government
About Mia Hunt
Mia is a journalist and editor with a background in covering commercial property, having been market reports and supplements editor at trade title Property Week and deputy editor of Shopping Centre magazine, now known as Retail Destination. She has also undertaken freelance work for several publications including the preview magazine of international trade show, MAPIC, and TES Global (formerly the Times Educational Supplement) and has produced a white paper on energy efficiency in business for E.ON. Between 2014 and 2016, she was a member of the Revo Customer Experience Committee and an ACE Awards judge. Mia graduated from Kingston University with a first-class degree in journalism and was part of the team that produced The River newspaper, which won Publication of the Year at the Guardian Student Media Awards in 2010.
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