United Nations and Germany Launch the "We the Women" Campaign: A Global Initiative to Inform a Sustainable and Inclusive Future

The “We the Women…” campaign was launched on the sidelines of the SDG Summit in New York, during a networking event of 100 influential women leaders from around the world, who gathered to recommit to efforts which bring visibility and networked support to women in all fields, under the umbrella of ‘Women Rise for All’.

Speaking at the initiative’s launch, Ms. Mohammed said, “Facing unprecedented and intersecting crisis, rising inequality, brutal climate impacts, and seemingly endless conflict, we need a new paradigm of leadership to respond:  Leadership that embodies the values of the UN and the ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

“I hope our dialogue today renews our energy for the task ahead: shaping a world that works for all. That will only be possible if we have women front and center - leading the way and keeping the force of hope alive,” she added.

Minister Schulze said: “The world needs gender equality to get the Agenda 2030 back on track. Because no society can afford to leave the potential of half of its population untapped if it wants to develop sustainably. We the women need to claim our rightful place. And that is at the table where decisions are being made. Let’s work together to shape a UN that puts women and girls at the center.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has committed to a new vision for inclusive multilateralism, with women and girls at the centre. This commitment recognizes equality as a human rights imperative and a critical accelerator for achieving the SDGs by 2030.

‘We the Women…’ will engage women worldwide in shaping collective solutions. The campaign will reach out to women and girls in every region, inviting the submission of thoughts, ideas, and aspirations for a more sustainable and inclusive future, pathways to achieve this, and the actions expected from world leaders to propel us to this vision. Designed to create momentum, the campaign will grow progressively in visibility, culminating in a multi-media moment at the Summit of the Future in September 2024.

The campaign takes its name from the United Nations Charter, which begins with the inspirational and aspirational words “WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS…”. While the intention of these words was one of inclusion, in reality the origins of current day global cooperation was not. Only 8 women participated in the San Francisco Founding conference of the United Nations, and only four signed the Charter.  Less than two thirds of the countries gathered in San Francisco had equal voting rights for women at the time. The impact of these missing voices has been far reaching over the decades.

For more information about Women Rise for All and to stay updated on the campaign, please visit https://www.un.org/en/sg-focus/women-rise-all.

Media Contacts 
Esra Sergi Bertani – sergie@un.org