Speaking at an event at U.N. Headquarters to commemorate International Women’s Day, which is observed annually on March 8, “Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [on Wednesday] joined other senior United Nations officials … in highlighting the potential of rural women to improve the well-being of entire societies if given equal access to resources and set free from the discrimination and exploitation that hold them back,” the U.N. News Centre writes, noting this year’s theme is “Empower Rural Women — End Hunger and Poverty.” “He acknowledged that women are increasingly exercising greater influence in business, government, politics, public administration and other professions” and that “more girls are going to school and are growing up healthier and better equipped to realize their potential,” the news service writes (3/7).

U.N. Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women Rashida Manjoo, and President of the U.N. General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser also delivered statements in commemoration of the day.