Remarks for International Women’s Day 2025

H.E. Siv-Leng Chhuor, Ambassador of France to Lao PDR
H.E. Dr. Phayvanh Keopaseuth, Vice-Minister of Health

Excellencies, colleagues, friends –

As a man standing before you today and speaking about gender equality, I want to begin by saying: gender is everyone’s business—including men’s.

If we truly want a world where women and girls thrive, men must stand as allies—in families, workplaces, and leadership. Gender equality is not about men sharing space with women; it is about creating a society where everyone has an equal right to succeed, to be safe, and to live with dignity.

It’s about fathers realizing that their daughters need an education just as much as their sons do. It’s about men giving their vote for women running for office or a leadership position. It’s about all of us realizing that families, communities and organizations become stronger when women succeed… That is the power of equality.

Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we must ask ourselves: What more can we do?

We ask this question not because equality is within reach. Far from it. While progress has been made, too many women still face barriers to reaching their full potential. They are still under-represented in leadership. They continue to carry the greatest burden of unpaid care work. They still face violence in their homes and communities.

The evidence is clear. When women have equal opportunities, economies grow and nations thrive. Investing in women is not just the right thing to do—it is the smart thing to do. An educated woman raises a healthier family, a financially independent woman strengthens local economies, and a woman in leadership paves the way for fairer policies and inclusive progress. When women and girls rise, we all thrive.

At the United Nations, gender equality is not just one of our goals—it is a fundamental principle shaping our pursuit of peace, human rights and sustainable development. As the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in his remarks to commemorate the day, equal societies are more prosperous and peaceful—and the foundation of sustainable development. He has been a staunch supporter of gender equality in all facets of UN’s work, starting with his leadership appointments and through all policy initiatives, including the recent adoption of the system-wide Gender Equality Acceleration Plan.

In our partnership with the Government of Lao PDR and all development actors, the UN is committed to:

• First, strengthening policies and programs that protect and empower women, ensuring gender equality is embedded in governance and decision-making;
• Second, expanding access to quality services, ensuring universal coverage and access, leaving no woman or girl behind;
• Third, creating pathways for women’s leadership and economic empowerment, ensuring that women are not just present but leading across sectors and institutions.
• And fourth, engaging men and boys as allies in the movement for equality, because real change happens when gender justice is a shared responsibility.

Coming back to the question of ‘what more can we do’, there are many opportunities for each one of us to ensure that progress is not just promised, but delivered. The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action this year must be a turning point for our advocacy—a moment where we harness decades of commitments into tangible action for women and girls everywhere. This feeds into our work in Lao PDR under the UN Cooperation Framework and the global Pact for the Future, both of which pursue more just and equal societies at their core.

Beyond advocacy, we must continue to build systems that sustain progress—because gender equality is not a one-time achievement, but a continuous effort. The Gender Equality Acceleration Plan presents a roadmap for action through support for normative policy work, gender-responsive leadership, addressing chronic under-investment in gender equality, and elevated accountability for results. In other words, it is time for action – with ambition, thought leadership, and broadened partnerships.

To achieve true gender equality, we must recognize that this is not the responsibility of one sector, ministry or organization—it is a collective mission. Every policy we adopt, every barrier we break, and every opportunity we create must be part of a broader movement involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and men and women, girls and boys in communities. We all can and must do our bit to turn equality from aspiration into reality.

If you are a father—empower your daughter to dream without limits and support her ambitions. If you are a leader—create opportunities for women in your workplace and recognize their contributions. If you are a policymaker—ensure that gender equality is not just a stated goal, but a concrete reality embedded in every policy and decision.

Women’s rights are the bedrock of progress, justice and resilience. And the march toward equality is the journey toward a stronger, more just world. Let us walk it together—not just in words, but in action.

Thank you.