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UNESCO General Conference President Calls for Renewed Commitment to Gender Equality in Culture at International Women’s Day Event
Paris, March 10, 2025 – In a powerful closing speech at UNESCO’s International Women’s Day event, Art for All at the Heart of Tomorrow’s Cultural Policies, H.E. Amb. Simona-Mirela Miculescu, President of the 42nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO, emphasized the urgent need to advance gender equality in the cultural sector. Addressing ministers, cultural leaders, and policymakers, she underscored both the achievements and setbacks in the pursuit of equal opportunities for women in creative industries worldwide.
Reflecting on the current state of gender equality in culture, Ambassador Miculescu warned of alarming regressions in certain regions, particularly where women face severe restrictions on their artistic and cultural expression. “According to the latest UNESCO report, Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity, we have made ‘one step forward, two steps back.’ In some parts of the world, women are still excluded from cultural life, earning less than men, and confronting entrenched biases in the media, film, and digital spaces,” she stated.
The event, which gathered high-level policymakers, cultural professionals, and artists, showcased key initiatives empowering women in culture. Among them was the Living Thread installation, an artistic homage to the traditional Romanian and Moldovan blouse, a UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage passed down by generations of women. The exhibition highlighted the crucial role of women in preserving and shaping cultural identity. A keynote speech was also delivered Rossy de Palma, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Ambassador Miculescu also called for concrete action to ensure that gender equality commitments made on the global stage translate into national policies. “Culture must be acknowledged as a global public good, and no one must be left behind,” she asserted. She urged governments to implement frameworks such as the 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education to integrate gender-sensitive cultural policies into national strategies.
“Culture must be acknowledged as a global public good, and no one must be left behind.”
Further emphasizing the role of mentorship and leadership, Ambassador Miculescu introduced Mentors on Multilateralism, an initiative connecting female diplomats and leaders to support younger generations in cultural diplomacy. “Strengthening women’s leadership across diplomacy and international organizations will accelerate progress,” she noted.
Quoting Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, she reminded the audience:
“Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.”
The event marked a pivotal moment ahead of Mondiacult 2025, where global leaders will reconvene in Barcelona to reinforce their commitment to inclusive cultural policies. Ambassador Miculescu’s speech served as a rallying call: “When women’s creativity flourishes, societies thrive. Let us be the policymakers, artists, and citizens who build cultural policies that leave no woman behind.”
The International Women’s Day event was part of UNESCO’s broader efforts to integrate gender equality into global cultural policies, reaffirming its commitment to a world where all voices—regardless of gender—are heard, valued, and empowered in shaping the cultural landscape of the future.
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