Joan firmly believed that every woman in the world ought to have the same sexual and reproductive rights as women in the North. And that in the fight to access and then to retain those rights, we must be smart and strategic, spirited and reasonable, indefatigable and focused, and use accurate data. She had all these qualities, and more. She was a remarkable woman, a brilliant strategist, and a generous mentor – with a wicked sense of humor.

At the 1985 UN Women Conference in Nairobi, IWHC held a social event. As Joan welcomed guests, a swarm of anti-abortion activists strode, like locusts or marching ants, and ate all the untouched food in literally three minutes, then left. We were stunned. Joan, as usual, sailed through the incident with poise and humor.

Her drive for global equal access to sexual and reproductive rights, health and justice resonates today as it did in 1985. In every step we take towards this goal, her spirit lives on.

Currently a Knight Health Fellow in Mozambique, Mercedes Sayagues is a feminist journalist from Uruguay who worked with Joan and IWHC in the mid-1980s.

1. Providing demand-driven support to national partners to enhance implementation of international agreements and standards;
2. Supporting intergovernmental processes to strengthen the global normative and policy framework on gender equality;
3. Advocating for gender equality and women’s empowerment, championing the rights of women and girls — particularly those who are most excluded;
4. Leading and promoting coherence in UN system work on gender equality; and
5. Acting as a global broker of knowledge and experience, aligning practice with normative guidance.

The Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign, a network of over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice groups around the world, worked for over four years with UN member states and the UN Secretariat to create UN Women. They responded to Bachelet’s announcement with encouragement and some suggestions for implementation.

Alex Garita, IWHC’s Program Officer for International Policy, called the 100 Day Action Plan is “ambitious but achievable if donors and UN staff across the organization make good on their commitments to achieve gender equality.” She also commented, “In this historic moment, the UN system has the opportunity to ensure that women are a priority in peace and security and development efforts. In addition, Ms. Bachelet’s vision and leadership will hopefully also hold all other UN agencies and programs accountable for delivering policy and programs for women and making sure that their human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled.”