As part of a series of virtual events to celebrate International Women鈥檚 Day and Commonwealth Day last week, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, was joined in conversation by Kate Gilmore, Fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy of Harvard University.
- You can listen to the full podcast episode on or play on .
In the lively conversation, they discussed topics related to the urgent need to achieve gender equality.
From the impact of the climate crisis on young people to personal stories about their individual career paths, they shared inspiring insights and valuable advice in their discussion to mark the special day of dual celebration.
Women leaders
Capturing the question at the heart of the conversation, Kate Gilmore asked: 鈥淲hat are the options we have to more rapidly bring young women in particular 鈥 because they're often left behind 鈥 and young men, to the table of decision-making?鈥
Emphasising each individual鈥檚 ability to create change, the Secretary-General replied: 鈥淓very single one of us, no matter where we are in society and communities, we all have power 鈥 and we all have more power than we know.鈥
Referring to the modest background of US civil rights activist Rosa Parks, she added: 鈥淢artin Luther King Jr walked with Rosa Parks, Rosa Parks didn鈥檛 walk with Martin Luther King Jr鈥
All or none of us
When asked to advise young women setting out on their journeys towards leadership, Kate Gilmore responded: 鈥淜now who you are. Life will change you, things will change around you, but have a constant. And let that constant be principles and values, and honesty with yourself.鈥
She continued: 鈥淭hink less about achievement and recognition 鈥 and more about contribution.鈥
Looking back over her progression to leadership as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland recalled: 鈥淲hen I came in, I said I wanted to put the 鈥榳ealth鈥 back into Commonwealth. But I also wanted to put the 鈥榗ommon鈥 back into the wealth.
鈥淏ecause it has to be all of us, or none of us.鈥
Commonwealth Day
The conversation is part of celebrations for 2021 Commonwealth Day, which this year fell on the same day as International Women鈥檚 Day with the theme: 鈥榃omen in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world鈥.
To celebrate this alignment, the Secretariat is recognising women leaders from across the Commonwealth through its social media campaign.
You can listen to the full podcast episode on or play on .
