Cecilia Suarez urges sustained action on gender equality, cites surge of femicides

Cecilia Suarez, an actress and Spotlight Initiative global ambassador, urged sustained funding and cultural change to protect women and girls during a moderated conversation at a United Nations event.

“Women’s issues are always considered second place,” Suarez said, adding that attention and funding can be delayed or withdrawn. Saida Mendez, the moderator from Univision Foundation, opened the session by quoting United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres: “the rights of women and girls are not to be rolled back.”

Suarez described the work of the Spotlight Initiative and field visits that underscored the importance of “deep listening” to survivors and communities. She said entertainment carries a responsibility “in shaping and building this conversation,” and that she declines roles that would contradict her views on gender equality.

Asked what motivates her work and how the Sustainable Development Goals through 2030 factor in, Suarez pointed to personal and national urgency. “I’m from Mexico, a country that experiences at least 10 femicides a day,” she said, using that figure to describe the scale of violence and the lack of programs she sees stopping it.

Suarez said she has learned from colleagues at the United Nations that “we are always better today than yesterday,” and expressed hope that progress toward the 2030 goals will continue. She summarized her role as bringing conversations to the table, asking questions, and urging both women and men to reflect on norms that perpetuate violence and discrimination.

Moderator Saida Mendez asked for messaging directed at men and leaders; Suarez answered in Spanish, calling the issues difficult but insisting on the need to keep working toward change. The moderator then opened the floor for questions.

The discussion combined personal testimony about advocacy and concrete appeals for institutional support; no formal motions or votes were taken during the session.