Politicians applaud for ‘Me Too-we Too’ ideal
One of Jacinda Ardern’s biggest moments in her speech to the United Nations was when she called on nations to respond to the #Metoo movement.
A day after United States President Donald Trump rejected allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Ardern’s call for the #Metoo movement to become #Wetoo sparked spontaneous applause at the United Nations General Assembly.
Ardern told the general assembly it was more important than ever to remember the core values on which the UN was built – that all people were equal, everyone was entitled to have their dignity and human rights respected, that we must strive to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom and that we must consistently hold ourselves to account on each.
‘‘Amongst renewing this commitment though, we have to acknowledge where accountability must continue – and that is especially the case when it comes to equality,’’ she said.
‘‘So many gains have been made, each worthy of celebration.
‘‘In New Zealand we have just marked the 125th year since women were granted the right to vote.
‘‘We were the first in the world to do so.
‘‘As a girl I never ever grew up believing that my gender would stand in the way of me achieving whatever I wanted to in life.
‘‘I am, after all, not the first, but the third female prime minister of New Zealand.
‘‘But for all of that, we still have a gender pay gap, an over representation of women in low-paid work, and domestic violence.
‘‘And we are not alone.
‘‘It seems surprising that in this modern age we have to recommit ourselves to gender equality, but we do. And I for one will never celebrate the gains we have made for women domestically, while internationally other women and girls experience a lack of the most basic of opportunity and dignity.
‘‘Me Too must become We Too. ‘‘We are all in this together.’’ The #Metoo movement was launched in the wake of sexual allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and has snowballed as women around the world come forward with stories of being sexually abused and mistreated by men in more powerful positions.
On the day of Ardern’s speech, the US was engrossed in the live proceedings as Supreme Court
‘‘And I for one will never celebrate the gains we have made for women domestically, while internationally other women and girls experience a lack of the most basic of opportunity and dignity.’’ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
nominee Brett Kavanaugh testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee where he strongly denied claims by Dr Christine Blasey Ford that he sexually assaulted her in high school.
At a lengthy press conference on Wednesday, Trump insisted the allegations were false and said he would not force an FBI inquiry.