We live in a time of historic transformations – just since the start of this year, we are witnessing the surge of popular unrest in the Arab world, where people express their wish to build fairer and better society.

Revolutions are often motivated by the desire for more freedom and opportunity. But there are different kind of revolutions, the vocal ones and the “silent” ones. Investing in girls and empowering women are seeds for quiet revolutions towards the eradication of poverty and better conditions of life. 

I have no doubt that these changes are necessary, because the facts are quite worrying. Have you realised that women perform two-thirds of the world’s work and produce half the world’s food, but earn just 10% of the income and own 1% of the property? Did you know that every day, around 1000 women die from preventable reasons related to pregnancy and childbirth? And 99% of these maternal deaths occur in developing countries?

As I have stressed in recent weeks, without women’s empowerment, there will be no development. Women are the agents of change. My visits on the ground confirmed that when they are healthy, educated, have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their communities and nations will flourish. As White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood rightly say: Invest in a woman and you are investing in her family, her community, her nation and our world.

We have discussed these and other relevant issues for the role of women in development with Michele Bachelet, Executive director of newly established UN Women. I was truly impressed with the sense of leadership of President Bachelet. I believe, that her and the organisation she presides – UN Women – are the necessary leaders to bring governments to implement sound and ambitious strategies for women. I ensured her that the European Commission is definitely ready to support her endeavours to make the newly created entity a pillar for women’s empowerment.

I am convinced that if we combine EU resources and presence in the world with UN Women expertise and networks, we have a good chance to make a difference and to reach the Millennium Development Goals related to women – notably Maternal Health and Child mortality. More generally, this will enable to strengthen the work towards women’s empowerment in social, economic, but also political and cultural fields.

I am looking forward to strengthening our EU-UN partnership and working together for the better future of women.

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