The UN 2019 Women First Run was held under the theme “I Lead!” on Sunday 10 March 2019. This year 13,000 girls and women took part in the run.

This year’s theme – I LEAD – was chosen to celebrate the remarkable progress in bringing women leadership to high-level political positions. The formation of the record 50 percent women cabinet as well as the appointment of the first female president and the first Supreme Court President are commendable steps taken by Ethiopia that is implementing a range of political and reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

At the event, Ethiopia’s First Lady Zinash Tayachew underscored the potential of women to take leadership positions in various sectors and at different levels and called on all stakeholders to keep the momentum for increased role of women in leadership in the country.

“Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals of the Sustainable Development Goals – the SDGs or Agenda 2030. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice, inclusive and prosperous world,” said Mr. Aeneas Chuma, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

He also reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to continue supporting the government and people of Ethiopia to ensure the full participation of women to co-lead the transformation of Ethiopia.

This year’s run events also saw the participation of senior women government officials including Ms. Yalem Tsegay, Minister of Women, Children and Youth and Ms. Hirut, State Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as female heads of UN agencies and a number of Ethiopian women icon.