European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Women for Oncology Forum Human Right to Gender equality

Statement by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

21 September 2021

Esteemed colleagues,

As a woman, a fellow doctor and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, I am pleased to address such an inspiring group.

I thank you for your efforts in fighting one of the most serious illnesses and threats to human life. As I thank you for raising the challenge of gender power imbalances in your field of work.

For as long as I can remember, advancing gender equality has been a central issue for me.

Initiatives such as yours, to support women's leadership, are extremely important. Solidarity and sisterhood are critical to face the suspicion, resistance and even hostility women often face when assuming positions of power.

I know this by experience. Throughout my life, I have been a woman of many firsts. First woman Minister of Health, then Minister of Defense, then President of my country. Of course, that brings me great honour. But seeing how the situation was not much different elsewhere, I realized that these many firsts also reflected how women had much fewer opportunities than men.

Even when I was already an established leader, I remember often being asked who was advising me since I did not have a husband. As if a woman could not be in a position of power without the guidance of a man!

I am sure many of you can relate to these stories.

I want, first and foremost, to encourage every one of you to follow your aspirations.

When I took up office as the first woman Defence Minister of my country -- and the region -- I was concerned about how to establish my authority in such a male-dominated environment. My mother gave me the precious advice to be myself and not to feel pressured to "act like a man".

For a woman, being true to herself and following her instinct is often hard, as women are made to doubt themselves from a very young age. We have all grown up seeing mostly men in leadership positions. Throughout our lives we have been constantly bombarded with subtle – and not so subtle -- hints that women are less capable. So we tend to assume men know better. But we must constantly remind ourselves that this is based on no objective reasons.

You, women oncologists, leading researches and saving lives are proof of that.

As women in positions of leadership in our fields, we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to use our sphere of influence to mentor younger women and to help address the entrenched inequalities, discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes that prevent women from participating on an equal footing politically, economically and socially.

And we can be inspired by the progress achieved thanks to the struggle of feminist movements.

Today, over 140 States guarantee gender equality in their constitutions; legal frameworks and policies to address gender-based violence have been put in place in virtually all countries; child marriage and maternal mortality have declined globally; women and girls' access to health and education has increased considerably, as has the percentage of women in paid jobs; in fact, in many professions once inaccessible to women, they now hold leading positions. For instance, in 2017, almost half of all doctors in OECD countries were women.

Throughout history, women physicians have fought misogyny and defied the social and racial barriers in a profession that was traditionally dominated by white men.

In many instances, they have to revolutionize medical care. Pioneer women, such as Dr. Jane C. Wright, for example, who introduced the use of methotrexate in the treatment of skin and breast cancer.

Nowadays, the health sector is one of the biggest and fastest growing employers in the world, particularly of women.

While we cherish this progress and achievement we need to continue to press forward, as the job is not yet done! Systematic gender disparities persist. For example, women hold around 70% of jobs in the health workforce but only 25 % women hold leadership roles. In most countries, men make up the majority of physicians, dentists and pharmacists, while women health workers are mostly nurses and midwives.

Almost 70% of global health organizations are headed by men. Only 20% have gender parity on their boards, and 25% have gender parity at senior management level. In some countries, academic oncology also struggles with gender diversity.

Colleagues,

Addressing gender inequality in the health workforce must be a priority.

Because health systems will be stronger when women have an equal say in the design of national health plans, policies and systems.

As all systems will.

I cannot stress it enough: gender equality is an imperative.

And not just because it is morally the right thing to do. It is a global necessity, especially in times of crises, as the multiple ones we are facing now.

We have many examples showing us why.

In governments, women's meaningful participation leads to greater investments in social protection, the environment and climate justice. In peace-negotiations, it is linked to more durable solutions. And in the private sector, to better business performance.

The COVID- 19 pandemic, for instance, has shown the power of women leaders, who acted in firm, effective and informed ways, promoting solidarity and compassion, gaining the trust and admiration of their communities. Women leaders who listened to expert advice, took decisive action, and were effective and compassionate in communicating with their people.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused setbacks in gender equality in the economic, political and educational fields, with women in all their diversity being disproportionately affected by the crisis. Women are dropping out from labour market, not because they are less capable to work, but because they are being pressured by increasing domestic care responsibilities and by the gender pay gap which makes it more profitable for men to continue working. In many countries, concentration of women in informal sectors or precarious forms of employment further exacerbated women's loss of jobs. Again, this is not due to an inherent vulnerability. It is the result of social, political and economic models and institutions that have been excluding women for generations.

That is why, now more then ever, we must continue to press forward for equality. I salute your initiative and commitment and look forward to our partnership for fairer, more equal, healther and happier societies.

Thank you.