President Higgins: Gender equality is a right and not a gift

The President Michael D Higgins has told a gathering of leaders that gender equality is a right and not a gift.

He was speaking on day two of the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey.

He told delegates gender equality is needed for every aspect of sustainable development.

The summit, organised by the U-N, is trying to reform the global emergency aid system.

President Higgins says culture and mythology cannot be used to justify rights violations.

"And we must recognise, and I'm very clear on this, that no distorted version of culture or mythical structures should be used to justify violations of womens rights."