United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on countries to adopt special measures and quotas to advance women's equal participation.

Axar.az reports that this was reported by foreign media.

"I call on countries, companies, and institutions to adopt special measures and quotas to advance women's equal participation and achieve rapid change," the UN chief said in his message for International Women's Day.

Guterres warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has erased decades of progress toward gender equality.

"From high job losses to exploding burdens of unpaid care, from disrupted schooling to an escalating crisis of domestic violence and exploitation, women's lives have been upended and their rights eroded," he said.

The consequences will far outlast the pandemic, warned the secretary-general.

He noted that that women are "the essential workers keeping people alive and holding economies, communities, and families together."

"They are among the leaders who have kept prevalence rates lower, and countries on track for recovery," said the UN chief.