Being invited to speak at the United Nations Headquarters is not just about attending an international event. It means stepping into a space where words—even the difficult, uncomfortable, and urgent ones—carry a different weight. I had the honor of being there, representing the Consulta Femminile Interassociativa di Milano and AIDIA, to share the perspective of someone who designs space, sustainability, and cities with a technical and distinctly female gaze.
It was intense. Not only because of the many encounters, languages, and cultures—but for the depth of the dialogue. The energy in the air was palpable: hundreds of women from all over the world, each carrying her own experience, each with battles still being fought. From structural violence endured in some countries to the daily struggle of simply being heard—even in places where rights appear to be guaranteed.
In my speech, I spoke of sustainability, of course—but not just in environmental terms. I spoke of cities that must shift perspective and truly respond to the needs of those who inhabit them—women included. I spoke of the urgency to dismantle not only the glass ceiling but also those invisible, deeply rooted glass foundations that still prevent too many women from feeling entitled to engage with science, space, energy, and transformation.
I met delegates from Iran, Burkina Faso, the United States, and many more countries. With several of them, a common language quickly emerged—made not only of words, but of shared and eloquent looks. That is a place where even silence speaks—often, it shouts. In each woman, I recognized a common tension: the awareness that our work is never just technical—it is also political, cultural, and social.
New York was bathed in sun, unusually clear. Walking among its skyscrapers after the sessions at the UN felt surreal. And yet, it was helpful. Distance brings clarity. I came home with many insights and one clear conviction: when women’s thinking is free and grounded in expertise, it generates real solutions, new visions, and a deeply rooted sense of reality. It’s time for this thinking to have more space—even in places of power, even in the biggest projects.
At the same time, we must continue to remind the world—in every context and with as many voices as possible—that in far too many places (not corners, but entire countries), women are still treated as beings not even considered fully human. They are reproduction tools, caregivers without rights or a voice. This is not rhetoric. In New York, this truth was unmistakable—emerging from every conversation.
We, as Western women, have a crucial role in evolving global culture—bringing methodology, innovation, and competence to the highest tables. But we also carry the immense responsibility of being spokespersons and allies for those social realities—many of them—that are still trapped in a profoundly dark Middle Age.
It is not enough to be present. We must have influence. And we must act now. We must continue to speak, to negotiate, to persuade—and never lower our guard in the pursuit of truly being heard.