A Reflection on Justice, Accountability, and the Urgency for Real Change

My experience attending the UNGA#79 Action Days Summit was incredible. I was honored to speak on a panel that I hold dear to my heart—one that aligns with the principles and values I strive to promote: creating economies that prioritize well-being, center care, and nurture our planet. It was a moment of validation and empowerment to be able to connect with like-minded individuals, network with brilliant minds, and share space with people I deeply admire.

Speaking about topics such as unpaid care work, well-being, and climate justice was remarkable because these issues remain severely overlooked, despite being the backbone of our societies. Care work, for instance, is foundational to our families, communities, and economies. Without it, neither our societies nor economies could function. Yet, despite its essential role, care work remains undervalued, unpaid, and disproportionately falls on the shoulders of women and marginalized groups. 

This is more than a matter of oversight. It’s a reflection of a deeply ingrained economic model rooted in neocolonialism, where wealthier nations and elites exploit the labor and resources of the developing world. This not only perpetuates an unequal global economic order but also renders care work invisible and disposable. The data makes this exploitation starkly clear: Globally, women undertake three-quarters of all unpaid care work, contributing 12.5 billion hours every day. If valued at the minimum wage, this work would contribute at least $10.8 trillion a year to the global economy—three times the size of the global tech industry. Yet, none of this shows up in GDP or mainstream economic indicators because it cannot and should not be monetized.

These realities were at the heart of our panel discussion, and panelists from diverse backgrounds brought forward perspectives that underscored this injustice. We saw how the “PACT of the Future” was adopted with much celebration. But at the same time, I couldn’t ignore a glaring contradiction. While we convened at UNGA#79, it became evident that we are regressing in many of our achievements. Women’s representation in the General Assembly is decreasing, gender equality is being challenged on multiple fronts, reproductive health rights are under attack, and climate change is worsening at an alarming rate.

This experience led me to a sobering reflection: what good is it to have laws, declarations, and commitments if they are not enacted or enforced? We have a habit of glorifying the United Nations as if it were infallible. But the reality is far from this idealized image. In New York City, I met young feminist leaders and organizers—many with the highest accolades, Ivy League graduates, internationally recognized, especially from Africa and the SWANA region—who are doing life-saving work. Yet, despite their accomplishments and the critical nature of their efforts, they receive little to no core funding.

This injustice is infuriating. The truth is, that feminist movements receive minimal funding, and when they do, it’s even less for youth or for those from regions like SWANA or Africa. On top of that, I feel like a lot of people within the system are completely disconnected from on-the-ground realities. There’s this constant glamorization of the UN, this almost sanctimonious portrayal of it as the pinnacle of global change. But it’s time to pull back the veil. If you’re only dealing with policy—which is often just theory, not lived reality—you’re missing the devastation that communities are facing first-hand. When you engage directly with those affected by genocide, war, disaster, and displacement, you see human suffering in a way that cannot be ignored.

I was deeply disturbed by the disconnect between the discussions at the UN and the realities I was hearing from all around the world, including Ethiopia, Gaza, Sudan, Congo and Lebanon. I see and witness despair and cries for help while people around me celebrate superficial notions of youth empowerment as if that alone is enough. It’s not. The world is in chaos; innocent people are being brutally murdered, and we’re here talking in circles, spewing empty platitudes.

So I ask: Why aren’t more people enraged? Why aren’t more voices amplifying those who need us the most? It’s time to break out of this bubble and start focusing on the harsh realities we’re supposed to be fighting for. 

There must be accountability, and we must start by holding those responsible for perpetuating violence, oppression, and occupation to account. True policy change is essential, and no amount of diplomacy or political maneuvering should shield those responsible from facing the consequences of their actions. For the world we want, individuals, governments, and countries must be held accountable. Real progress requires that those in positions of power are answerable for their actions and that they are committed to creating policies that protect human rights, promote equity, and uphold justice for all. Without accountability, true change will remain out of reach.

If there is one thing my journey to UNGA#79 taught me, it’s that advocacy and activism cannot be limited to polished words and symbolic gestures. Real change demands bold, unapologetic action and unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and the dignity of all people. Until then, everything else is just noise.

By Bisrat Kubi

Bisrat Kubi, who is one of the AMwA 2023 AWLI alumni on Feminist Macroeconomics shares about her experience attending the 2024 Summit of the Future conference in New York City.