In Colombia, UN Women Executive Director galvanizes action for women’s leadership and gender equality

The mission came as a new government took office, led by President Gustavo Petro and Vice-President Francia Márquez, the country’s first Afro-descendant woman Vice President. The new government has committed to prioritize gender equality, and to reach gender parity in cabinet appointments. To date, for the Government’s 18 ministries, nine women have been appointed as minister. In his inauguration speech on 7 August, President Petro re-confirmed gender quality as a high priority of the new government.

The meetings undertaken during the mission underscored Colombia’s progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, while also highlighting that significant progress need be made to achieve SDG 5 and fully tap women and girls’ potential to drive progress across the SDGs, including with respect to peace and security as the country continues to implement its Peace Agreement.

In a meeting with Vice President Francia Márquez, the latter emphasized to Ms. Bahous the importance of inter-sectional approaches, including specific focus on enhancing support for Colombia’s Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. For her part, Ms. Bahous congratulated the Vice-President for her historic achievement as the country’s first Afro-descendant woman to hold that office, and pledged UN Women’s strong support to the Government’s gender equality agenda.