Press Release

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL   --  VIDEO MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY    8 March 2026 

08 March 2026

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: Women’s rights are human rights. And investing in women and girls is one of the surest ways to make the world a better place.

Michelle Yeoh, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador: When women are involved in negotiating peace, agreements last longer.

 

Muniba Mazari, UN SDG Advocate: Women in tech make digital tools more inclusive.

  

Dia Mirza, UN SDG Advocate and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador: Women in government are more likely to pass climate friendly policies.

  

Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy-Secretary-General: When women have access to decent jobs and fairer workplaces, our economies grow.

 

Muzoon Almellehan, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: And educating girls can unlock the brain power we need to tackle every challenge on Earth.

 

Angélique Kidjo, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: Girls can do anything, and they deserve the chance.

  

Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director: We need rights, equality and empowerment for all women and girls.

 

Michelle Yeoh, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador: And we need women everywhere to be free from violence and fear.

  

Marta Vieira da Silva, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador: In sports.

 

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs: In politics. 

 

Maj. Nesrine Somai, UN Peacekeeper: In peace, and peace-making.

  

Frida Amani, UNEP Advocate: In healthcare.

 

Angélique Kidjo, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: In science.

  

Dia Mirza, UN SDG Advocate and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador: And in the stories we tell on screen. 

  

Frida Amani, UNEP Advocate: Just look at the young women leading the climate movement across the globe.

  

Angélique Kidjo, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: Women and girls are claiming their power.

  

Marta Vieira da Silva, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador: When we invest in women, in girls, life gets better for men and boys too.

  

Kaliya, UNFPA Honorary Ambassador, Kazakhstan: Life gets better for people with disabilities.

  

Muzoon Almellehan, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: For care workers.
  

Dia Mirza, UN SDG Advocate and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador: For the planet.

  

Frida Amani, UNEP Advocate: For children.

 

Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy-Secretary-General: For parents.

  

Angélique Kidjo, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: For justice.

 

Kaliya, UNFPA Honorary Ambassador, Kazakhstan: For me.  

 

Victoria Fernandez, UN Staff Member: For me.

 

Michelle Yeoh, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador: For me.

 

Angélique Kidjo, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: For me.  

 

Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director: And for me too.

 

ALL: For me. 

 

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: Women and girls are changing the world. It’s time to change the world for women and girls.

 

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