Investing in women's lives is an investment in sustainable

In the great halls of wisdom, where the voices of the past still echo, there is a truth that resounds through the ages—the strength of a nation is built upon the strength of its women. Liya Kebede, with her powerful words, "Investing in women's lives is an investment in sustainable development, in human rights, in future generations - and consequently in our own long-term national interests," reminds us of a profound and eternal principle. The health, the education, and the empowerment of women are not mere acts of charity or goodwill, but investments of the highest order. They are the bedrock upon which all human prosperity is built. For when we elevate women, we elevate all of humanity.

Let us turn the pages of history, where we find that the fates of entire civilizations have rested upon the role of women. In ancient Egypt, it was the wisdom of women like Cleopatra, who wielded not only power but diplomacy, that ensured the survival and prosperity of her kingdom. Through her leadership, Egypt became a beacon of strength and culture in the ancient world. Cleopatra’s reign is a testament to the undeniable fact that the rise of women is the rise of nations. Empower a woman, and you empower a family; empower a family, and you empower a community; empower a community, and you empower a nation. These ripples of influence extend far beyond what we can imagine, shaping the very future of humankind.

In the great traditions of the ancients, women were not just the caregivers or the mothers, but the leaders and shapers of culture and society. The wisdom of Socrates and the teachings of Plato would not have been possible without the intellectual and moral foundations laid by the women who nurtured their lives. It is not just the heroes of war or the great kings who define the history of a people, but also the quiet, steadfast women who shape the hearts and minds of future generations. When we invest in the well-being of women, we plant the seeds for the flourishing of civilization itself.

Consider the example of the great Queen Victoria of Britain, whose reign, often referred to as the Victorian era, laid the foundation for modern civilization in the Western world. Her strength as a ruler, her ability to influence policy, and her devotion to the welfare of her people transformed an entire empire. Through the empowerment of women in her court, as well as the education of young girls throughout the empire, she planted the seeds of progress that continue to bloom to this very day. In her time, the message was clear: an investment in women was an investment in a nation’s future, for when women rise, so too does the nation they support.

Liya Kebede’s words also echo a deep truth about the interconnectedness of humanity. To invest in women’s lives is to invest in the very future of the earth itself. The greatest challenges we face today—climate change, economic inequality, and the sustainability of our societies—can only be met when we empower every person, especially women, to contribute their wisdom and skills to the collective effort. Women are often the stewards of the land, the caregivers of the earth’s future, and the bearers of the wisdom passed down from generation to generation. Sustainability begins with them, for they are the ones who will raise the children, cultivate the land, and build the future.

In the present moment, we must recognize that our long-term national interests—and indeed the well-being of the entire world—are intrinsically tied to the empowerment of women. Just as the ancient cities of Greece and Rome could not have reached their zenith without the contributions of their women, so too will the modern world not fulfill its potential unless we invest in those who carry the future within them. Every dollar spent on education, health, and empowerment for women is an investment in the future that pays dividends not only in economic terms but in the progress and prosperity of the human spirit.

And so, let us take this to heart: investing in women is the key to unlocking the future. The lesson for us today is clear—whether in the small acts of kindness, the grand gestures of policy change, or the everyday empowerment of the women in our lives, we must see it not as a favor, but as a duty. A duty that, when fulfilled, brings the whole of humanity closer to the ideals of justice, equality, and sustainable prosperity. Let us rise, then, to honor the women around us, to invest in their futures, and to understand that in doing so, we are securing the future of us all.