Femina Vox 2025: A Global Call for Gender Equality and Action

PRESS RELEASE
– Paris, March 5, 2025 –

UNESCO hosted the fifth edition of the Femina Vox International Forum, an event created and directed by Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace and Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva), Vice President of the UNF, and Ambassador of the Declaration of the Rights of Humanity. Free and open to all, this forum once again achieved resounding success, bringing together an engaged audience to amplify women’s voices worldwide.

Christophe Giovannetti, President of the UNF and Secretary-General of the Declaration of the Rights of Humanity, would like to thank our Vice Presidents Manal El Abssy and Ronald Jappont, our Secretary-General Carole Berté, as well as the numerous UNF Ambassadors who traveled from various countries to participate in this essential forum to assess the actions needed to achieve gender equality. Special thanks to Guila Clara Kessous for enabling the UNF to be one of the partners of this event.

Going Beyond the Beijing Declaration

Introduced by a powerful performance of Chinese artist Qian Qu, the first roundtable brought together Wang Yanping, Wang Xiangxian, and Yvonne Yung Hun, who shared insights on progress and persistent challenges regarding women’s rights. Yvonne Yung Hun, actress and former beauty queen, delivered a powerful message to all women: “Learn to love yourself, believe in yourself, listen to your emotions, and believe in your dreams to be free to choose your own path.”

The speakers emphasized that while the Beijing Declaration, adopted 30 years ago, laid the foundation for the fight for gender equality, it must now be surpassed to accelerate societal transformation and secure a legitimate place for women in both economic and political spheres.

This discussion was followed by a powerful performance by Les Mamans du Congo, whose music conveyed a strong message about the role of African women in society.

Women: Key Players in Global Diplomacy

Chantal Chambu Mwavita, Minister of Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of Congo, delivered a poignant testimony on her commitment and the urgency of making women’s voices heard in diplomatic and governmental institutions:

“Every day, we must fight to ensure that women’s rights are not just promises but tangible realities. We should not compete with men but rather perfect humanity together.”

She also called on the international community for urgent assistance in response to the ongoing war affecting her country.

The session concluded with a moving performance by Hura Mirshekari, an Iranian activist singer, whose voice resonated with the audience, expressing the struggle of women for their fundamental rights.

Women’s Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Social and Human Transformation

Entrepreneurship was also at the heart of discussions, not only as an economic driver but also as a tool for resilience and empowerment for women living in war, fundamentalist, or repressive contexts.

The roundtable featured Amida Haman (Afghanistan), Shayda Hessami (France/ Iran), Bushra Alzoubi (Syria), and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem (France), who shared their experiences as pioneers of change on the ground.

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, former French minister and President of France Terre d’Asile, strongly emphasized: “Femina Vox gives a voice to women activists worldwide, who demand one simple thing that I summarize as follows: women should be at the table instead of being on the menu!”

Bushra Alzoubi seized the opportunity to address the international community: “It is time to stop seeing Syrian women as victims. We are fighters.”

The Asian Women’s Choir then moved the audience with a musical performance celebrating the diversity and strength of women around the world.

Engaging Men for Real Equality

Gender equality cannot be achieved without transforming male mindsets. Three committed men spoke about the importance of male allies in this fight: Mathieu Narendra, Malagasy activist for women’s rights

Siyabulela Jentile, founder of the South African movement Not in My Name International

Marcos Vinicius Torres Pereira, professor of civil and international private law in Brazil

Siyabulela Jentile stressed that this fight is not solely a women’s issue:

“Defending women’s rights should not be seen as a women’s struggle but as a human struggle.”

Guila Clara Kessous concluded this session by reminding: “All women must have access to the same rights as men, not as women, but as human beings. This fight can only be won together, with men and women united.”

Growing Success and International Recognition

This 5th edition of the Femina Vox International Forum once again celebrated the progress made toward gender equality while stressing the urgency of continuing the fight.

President Emmanuel Macron praised the initiative, stating:

“Femina Vox is an essential platform for expressing women’s rights.”

Through powerful testimonies, expert insights, and artistic performances from around the world (China, Congo, Iran, Bangladesh), the event demonstrated that collective action is the key to change.

The key message of this edition?

“The future will not wait for us, and neither will we.”

A slogan repeated multiple times, highlighting the urgency of amplifying women’s voices and relaying these discussions in international media.

Relive the entire 5th edition of the Femina Vox International Forum on