Quotable quotes from UN event to mark International Women's Day

Following are quotable quotes from senior UN officials and presidents who on Friday took the floor at the High-level Thematic Debate on Advancing Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls for a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda as the world body kicked off its annual observance of International Women's Day:

"Globally and regionally, policies and strategies acknowledge the importance of the Beijing Platform for Action to achieving development, peace and security." "The gains have been too slow and too uneven. We must do far more to accelerate progress everywhere." "Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are essential to our sustainable future." -- Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general.

"The deep-seated norms, beliefs and practices that contribute to gender-based discrimination must be confronted and changed. We must support a zero tolerance policy on the structural causes of discrimination against women and eliminate the laws and practices that perpetuate gender inequalities." "There is no shortage of evidence that when we support the fundamental freedoms of women and girls, they are able to realize their full potential to engage in, contribute to and benefit from sustainable development. In doing so, we will all reap the benefits; in our homes, throughout our communities, and across our nations." -- Sam Kutesa, the president of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly.

"Governments are the primary duty bearers. Governments must repeal discriminatory laws that inhibit the ability of women to obtain credit, own land, move freely, and take responsibility for their own bodies and health." "Employers must make far-reaching changes to employment terms and conditions for women: Equal pay for equal, decent work." -- Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the executive director of UN Women.

"There is no doubt that progress has been made in the 20 years since Beijing, more girls are educated, rural women have found their voices, more women hold professional position, more women are rich executives in the private sector, more women are in parliament, and in exceptionally high percentage such as in Rwanda, more women are vying for high political office and some of us have finally broken the glass ceiling." -- Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia.

"We need to address the structural causes of gender-based inequalities that impedes the realization of women's rights and empowerment. Because, as is often said, empowering women is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do." -- Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, the president of Croatia. Endite