At a time when women’s rights are coming under fire in some parts of the world, it is important that the UN sends the message that women’s economic empowerment matters.

That’s the opinion of the head of the International Trade Centre (ITC), which helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries to access global markets.

ITC Executive Director Arancha González is in New York for the annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which opened this week.

She told Dianne Penn why this year’s theme of women’s economic empowerment is good for families, businesses and economies.

Duration: 5’46”