Mark Freed joins UN Women UK as CSW69 participant

As Emma Watson said when launching #HeForShe at the UN 21 years ago:

“How can we create change when only half the world is invited—or even feels welcome—to take part in the conversation?”

That’s why I’m delighted to be joining and be welcomed at UN Women UK as a participant in CSW69.

To paraphrase Emma again: Gender stereotypes don’t just hold women back—they also limit men. When men are free from these constraints, positive change for women and all humanity will naturally follow.

True equality means moving beyond rigid categories and recognising gender as a spectrum. Instead of defining ourselves in opposition to others, we should embrace who we truly are. Inclusion is about just that—freedom. It’s about ensuring women can live without prejudice, but also about giving men the space to be vulnerable, authentic, and whole.

I look forward to continuing this conversation at CSW69.

Let’s make inclusion everyone’s responsibility.