Kofi Annan Quotes

Equality for women is progress for all.

Gender equality will only be reached if we are able to empower women.

What is being called the UN 'gender architecture' is more like a shack. Women need a bigger global house if equality is ever to become a reality.

Gender equality and women's empowerment have been a top priority for me from day one as Secretary-General. And I am committed to making sure that the U.N. leads by example.

I've been a staunch advocate of women's empowerment, and I've worked hard throughout my career to advance the cause. It is heartening to see that gender equality is really becoming more of a reality. There is still much more to be done, and I'm confident that, by working together, we can empower women worldwide.

Imperfect though it may be, the Beijing Platform for Action is the strongest statement of consensus on women's equality, empowerment and justice ever produced by governments.

Women in the Islamic world are the hope of the whole planet.

The creation of a peaceful and sustainable world civilization will be impossible without the full participation of women in every arena of human activity.36 While this proposition is increasingly supported, there is a marked difference between intellectual acceptance and its implementation.

There is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole - women and men alike - than the one which involves women as central players.

As a husband and a father of two daughters, I want young women around the globe to have the same rights and opportunities as my daughters.

Gender equality cannot be achieved by cutting programs that allow girls to get the same chance to compete, learn, and play. The United States has had a solid history of commitment to its female athletes and expanding opportunity for women, and it is imperative that we continue on this path.

The extension of women's rights is the basic principle of all social progress.

The Nordic countries are leading the way on women's equality, recognizing women as equal citizens rather than commodities for sale.

We [women] seek equality. We don't seek sameness.

An Arab renaissance cannot be accomplished without the rise of women in Arab countries … Directly and indirectly, it concerns the well-being of the entire Arab world

Women will be no longer made the slaves of, or dependent upon men ... They will be equal in education, rights, privileges and personal liberty.

Social progress can be measured exactly by the social position of the fair sex.

… no civilization can be perfect until exact equality between man and woman is included.

Empowering women leads to a more inclusive growth of society and the nation.

When women are empowered to contribute more fully, we all benefit.

When the history of African development is written, it will be clear that a turning point involved the empowerment of women.

...there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.

There will never be a new world order until women are a part of it.

I want to empower women.

Equality and development will not be achieved however if peace is not understood from women's' point of view.