Ex-Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo M Urges Global Action for Women & Girls in Crisis at UN HQ

• Shudufhadzo Musida, erstwhile Miss South Africa and mental health activist, addressed the United Nations Headquarters in New York
• She presented a strong message about putting women and girls first in international crisis response

Ex-Miss South Africa and mental health campaigner Shudufhadzo Musida addressed a powerful speech at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, urging the global community to put women and girls at the forefront of crisis response, not as an afterthought.

Facilitating a senior UN event on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in situations of crisis, Musida highlighted the importance of keeping human dignity, health, and safety paramount in all emergencies and policy action.

“Behind each policy, each headline and crisis response there are individuals -- women and girls whose lives weigh in the balance," she explained. "Their mental and physical wellbeing must not be an afterthought, but a priority".

The session was addressed by the major international speakers such as Norway's Minister Åsmund Aukrust, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, and panelists Dr. Fadoua Bakhadda and Sheema Sen Gupta. Together, they emphasized the need for treating gender-based violence with empathy, experience, and collective leadership.

Musida also highlighted the power of people's leadership, the value of international solidarity, and the importance of respecting human rights in humanitarian intervention. "These aren't theoretical issues. They are human rights. And they are worthy of our whole attention," she went on.

In a world where conflicts and crises keep on spiraling upwards, Musida's voice is a powerful reminder that gender protection and equity are not a luxury they are a necessity. Her message joins the momentum of an increasing movement calling for policies that actively protect and empower those most at risk, especially women and girls too frequently neglected in times of crisis.