UN General Assembly president calls for end to "gender-based political violence"

UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa on Friday called for an end to "gender-based Political violence" -- discrimination against female politicians.

Asked at a news conference on International Women's Day about the challenges for young women who want to enter public life, Espinosa said: "There is something that is called gender-based Political violence. And I see the younger generations are afraid of being put in that situation."

"As politicians, when we are out there, very rarely people recognize our achievements. They sometimes make comments about the way we dress, our hair. They make comments about issues that don't have anything to do with your job, your responsibility, your capacity to deliver," said Espinosa, herself a longtime female politician, first in Ecuador, now at the United Nations.

"I think that we should start discussing seriously, seriously, about Political... discrimination against women in politics."

She gave the example of the current Vice President of Panama, Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado.

When de Saint Malo de Alvarado was asked to run for the current office, her daughter cried, for fears that her mom might be mistreated by public opinion, said Espinosa.

She encouraged young women to "be out there in the public sphere speaking out loud, demanding the rights to be respected."

"This is really happening. We see so many very strong and loud, intelligent women's voices out there," she added.

Espinosa also called for universal schooling for girls and more job opportunities for young people -- women and men.