'Another world is possible': Invest in peace, community, social justice, 'less military expenditure'
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00:00 Well protests have been held around the world today the 8th of March
00:03 International Women's Day. The demands from country to country vary massively
00:08 in all cases that they are calling for greater freedom and equality. Let's cross
00:12 to New York let's bring in Nayyad Razia Gumbanz Vanda who is the Women's
00:18 Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support at the UN. Good to speak to you
00:24 Nayyad Razia it is a job that you've been in if I'm right in saying for just
00:28 over two months now appointed back in January. Tell us about what you're trying
00:33 to do and what's at the top of your agenda this year. This year first is my
00:41 heart is bleeding when we are observing International Women's Day when many of
00:48 the women and girls around the world in situations of conflict are hitting and
00:56 abused that is very difficult for us and at the same time also looking at why we
01:04 need to continue to put more attention to investing in women with the levels of
01:09 poverty that we continue to have in the world today but it's also a moment of
01:13 celebrating of course the many progress that has been made and the extraordinary
01:18 work that is happening in various countries. So it's a bittersweet day I
01:22 mean here in France when you talk about Women's Day equality we think about
01:27 femicide and murders of women by loved ones and men and also about gender
01:33 pay gap equality in much of Europe if you'd go somewhere like Afghanistan for
01:37 women's rights it means just being able to be educated not being stopped by for
01:43 example in Iran the everyday police on what you wear. From your point of view
01:49 you talked about many issues is there something that you want to to highlight
01:53 this year somewhere that you've looked at you you believe despite the odds
01:56 there has been incredible change? Definitely there has been incredible
02:03 change when we look at the general areas of legislation to prevent violence
02:08 against women when we look at efforts that are there around girls education
02:13 but the laws are one step what is important is to make sure that within
02:18 our communities the existing agreements that are there are brought into effect
02:24 so a critical part for me today especially and at the moment is the call
02:33 to end wars. Conflicts and wars undermine the huge effort that is there to advance
02:42 the situation of women and girls so that is top on my mind is to say no to war
02:48 and in the context of Gaza to have a ceasefire now that is very top on my
02:53 mind but equally top on my mind is the many people living in extreme poverty
02:59 when we know another world is possible. Now Uzair you're a trained lawyer you've
03:05 this is something you've campaigned for women's rights in years in Zimbabwe I
03:10 just want to get your sense of where we are now all of the crises in the world
03:14 are you more hopeful to when you started out in your career? I was born during the
03:21 war I know another world is possible we have to keep hope alive we need less
03:29 military expenditure and more expenditure for peace for social justice
03:35 for opportunities in communities so I am hopeful our member states our
03:41 governments and our communities need to prioritize peace to prioritize ending
03:47 poverty and to prioritize support to communities. Really nice to talk to you
03:53 this evening Naradzaya Gumbudzvanda UN Women's Deputy Executive Director
03:58 new into the job and passionate about making change thank you for talking to
04:02 us here on France 24