United Nations Radio

Shout~This shout greeted President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia as she opened a meeting focusing on the UN Millennium Goal number 3, that of achieving gender equality.

She said that without secure, healthy, educated and empowered women and girls the world cannot move forward.

"Women all over the world are no longer waiting, waiting for things to happen for them. They are more actively engaged in ensuring that their livelihoods and the livelihoods of their families are much more enhanced than ever before. Women and girls know that MDG 3, our issues and concerns are peripheral to the development challenge."

The Danish government, which is leading a global call to action on MDG 3 on women's equality presented UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with the last of 100 torches which have been handed out to torch bearers representing governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations and the media who promise to make an additional commitment to make the empowerment of women happen.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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