(3rd meeting) High-Level Political Forum 2025
Economic and Social Council
Date: 15 July 2025
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/ar/asset/k1b/k1bfbvko4g?lang=en
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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ECOSOC · President [0:00]:

Thank you so much. The 3rd meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council at its 2025 session, is now called to order. Excellencies and distinguished delegates, I invite the Forum to continue its consideration of sub-item A of agenda item 2, Which is the review of Sustainable Development Goals 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17. This is the panel discussion on SDG 5, which is, as we all know, the SDG which refers specifically to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Thank you. And we are going to have an interactive panel discussion on this question, which we hope will be very inclusive and take a broad approach to this important discussion on SDG 5. We're hoping to explore exactly what else needs to be done and what more needs to be done to accelerate the progress towards SDG 5 and the empowerment of all women and girls worldwide. It will assess progress to date, identify challenges and opportunities for accelerating achievements, and highlight solutions that are backed by science and evidence for advancing SDG 5 and the interlinked goals and and targets. The session today will recognize progress made while identifying challenges since the last review of SDG 5 some 3 years ago. New areas of opportunity, partnerships that have promise, case studies will all be discussed. How to tackle persistent barriers to achieving gender equality, and emerging challenges to the empowerment of women will also be covered. I would first invite the Forum to view a video highlighting key findings from the newly released 2025 SDG Progress Report related to Goal 5 on gender equality. This video will help set the stage and provide valuable context for our deliberations today. So please play the video. 3 decades after the Beijing Declaration, gender equality remains out of reach. Women remain underrepresented where decisions are made. Despite some progress, women hold just 27.2% of parliamentary seats worldwide, and their share in local government has stalled at 35.5%. In 2024, 59 countries held elections, yet women's representation saw little change. In the workplace, only 30% of managerial positions are held by women. At this pace, it could take nearly 100 years to reach parity. On average, women and girls devote 2.5 times as many hours per day on unpaid domestic and care work as men, limiting their access to education, income, and leadership. 1 in 5 young women were married before age 18. Over 230 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation. Ending this by 2030 2030 will require a 27-fold acceleration. Meanwhile, only 26% of countries track how public funds support gender equality. But progress is possible. Since 2019, 99 legal reforms have advanced gender equality, from workplace protections to equal pay and freedom from violence. In 2025, nearly 43% of new elected parliamentarians under age 30 are women, offering a glimpse of a more equal future. Achieving gender equality demands bold action: stronger laws, gender-responsive budgets, inclusive leadership, and scaled-up investment at all levels. For more information, read the SDG Report 2025. Well, I think the video shows very clearly 2 things. One, that we're behind, I think, and everybody recognizes that. But secondly, that we've made some progress and that more progress is not only necessary but also entirely possible. And so it gives me great pleasure to welcome our panelists. My good friend, former PR, Sima, who is the Executive Director of UN Women. I'm delighted to be here with her. Zara Khanna, who is the Youth Ambassador for an organization called She Loves Tech. Mr. Albert Bodevans, who's the Head of Data and Insights at Equal Measures. 2030, as well as our lead discussant, Ms. Farah Ghanoush Ansari, who's the Senior Officer for International Advocacy at Masawa. I'm very also pleased to welcome our moderator and also a good friend, Jan Beagle, who is the Director-General of the International Development Law Organization in Rome. Now, my job now becomes much easier. Because all I do is hand over the conduct of the discussion to Jan, the moderator. Thank you so much.


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [6:16]:

Thank you very much, Mr. President and distinguished delegates. As Director-General of the International Development Law Organization, which is the only global intergovernmental organization which is focused on advancing peace and sustainable development through the rule of law, and also as a longtime advocate for women's and girls' rights, I'm very pleased to moderate today's review of SDG 5. And as we all know, this year marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and 25 years since Security Council Resolution 1325, both historic milestones. And as someone who was there for both of these landmarks, I believe that we must protect them, but we must be honest, business as usual will not get us to gender equality. There are examples of progress, including legal reforms, but progress is definitely very uneven and slowing. Discriminatory laws still exist in most countries, and even where protections are in place, enforcement is often weak. Violence against women remains pervasive, economic exclusion persists, and women in marginalized communities and fragile settings face the greatest setbacks. So IDLO puts equal rights for women and girls at the center of its work, and our experience from some 100 countries over the past 4 decades shows us that closing the justice gap for women and girls can dramatically accelerate progress on SDG 5. But to do that, we must take concrete action. First, identifying and ending discriminatory laws and policies. Second, by building justice systems that listen to and reflect the needs of women and girls. Third, legally empowering women and girls to know their rights and accessing remedies when those rights are violated. Fourth, ensuring women's equal participation and leadership in the justice sector. And finally, ending gender-based violence. This is truly a game changer because it allows women and girls to live free from fear and contribute fully. But as IDLO's recent research with UN Women, UNDP, and other partners shows clearly, justice for women is critically underfunded. And while data is scarce, where available, it shows that countries typically spend less than 1% on countering violence against women and girls. So at IDLO, we remain committed to working with governments, justice institutions, civil society, and the private sector to deliver rule-of-law solutions that advance gender equality. And today, we have an impressive set of speakers to help us reflect on how far we've come and, more importantly, on the urgent actions needed to deliver on the promise of SDG 5. And as the Vice President of ECOSOC said yesterday when opening the HOPF on behalf of the President, He said, this is a crucial moment for us to think collectively out of the box, and I believe that our panel can certainly do that. So I'm going to begin the first round of interventions by inviting our panelists, who have been introduced by the President, to reflect on the following question: Despite the progress that has been made, the world continues to lag in its pursuit of gender equality and women's empowerment. What can be done differently in the next year and what should be reinforced and accelerated? And I'm asking our panelists to limit their interventions to 3 minutes so that we can have 2 rounds and then have an interactive discussion with all of you. So, let me call first upon Madam Sima Bakus, Executive Director of UN Women. So, Sima, In your very particular position, you have a unique global perspective on both the progress and the challenges in achieving gender equality. In your view, what are the key areas that require renewed focus or a shift in approach to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda? Thank you.


UN Women · Executive Director · Sima Bakus [10:26]:

Thank you very much, Jan, for your moderation, and thank you Mr. President, for your leadership, and thank you all for being here with us this morning and these 2 weeks. It's important that we all continue to discuss SDG 5 and all of the SDGs. As you know, nearly a decade since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, SDG 5 remains the most off-track of all goals. Progress is too slow, too uneven, and too vulnerable to setbacks. This year's review is not only a moment to assess where we stand, but it is also a call, as we've heard, to act boldly and collectively in the short time we have left. We know that if we continue at the current pace, true gender equality in economic life, in leadership, in safety will remain generations away. And I know that we all agree that this is unacceptable. With just 5 years to go, we have an opportunity to scale up, to accelerate, and to truly deliver on the SDGs and on SDG 5. The UNAID initiative can help propel gender equality forward, ensuring enhanced regional and cross-regional coordination, increasing efficiency and effectiveness, and eliminating duplication in the work we all do. It is a unique opportunity to make the UN more effective, more efficient, and more impactful for all women and girls. Strong, sustained investment in multilateralism also is essential if we are to accelerate progress on sustainable development, peace, and security. And at the heart of these ambitions lies gender equality, both as an accelerator and an enabler of SDG implementation. As the Secretary-General of the United Nations reminded us yesterday at the launch of the SDGs Report 2025, investing in women and girls remains one of the most powerful drivers of progress across the entire 2030 Agenda. So what can we do differently, as Jan was asking me? Let me offer 5 concrete proposals. First, we need to work and continue to work with governments to advance nationally owned development priorities and to continue to coordinate with and through Resident Coordinators and across the UNCTs. Second, we need to move from fragmented efforts of whole-of-government to whole-of-government approaches and whole-of-society approaches. Gender equality cannot be the remit of one ministry or one actor. It must be embedded across all policy areas, backed by political will, by budgets, by data, and grounded in evidence-based solutions. Third, we need to invest at scale in care systems and in social protection. Unpaid care continues to limit women's full participation in economic and public life. Care is not a side issue. It is a central issue to achieving progress across health, education, poverty, climate action, technology, and all. Fourth, push forward against the pushback. The erosion of rights is growing. We must invest in women and youth-led organizations We must protect civic space. We must counter misinformation and tackle misogyny heads-on, be it online or offline. And fifth, we need to invest in robust gender data systems that track real impact, ensure follow-up, and address intersecting inequalities. What gets measured gets done. And we must reinforce and accelerate coordination financing, and accountability. These are the engines of delivery. That means fast-tracking SDG 5 implementation and embedding gender equality across the entire 2030 system, including through voluntary national reviews, because gender equality is our single best solution to realize sustainable development, peace, and security. The ongoing discussions also on the revitalization of the Commission on the Status of Women are another key opportunity to ensure that commitments to gender equality not only remain steadfast, but more importantly, that they are implemented. So, as we mark 30 years since the Beijing Platform for Action, let us all match our ambition with delivery for all women and girls, and I thank you. Back to you, Jane.


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [15:35]:

Thank you very much, Seema. I now turn to Albert Motaban. Mr. Motaban, from your perspective at Equal Measures 2030, where does the data say we need to focus most to accelerate progress? Over to you.


Equal Measures 2030 · Head of Data and Insights · Albert Motaban [15:52]:

Great, thank you very much. Equal Measures 2030, if you haven't— if you aren't aware of the organization, is a coalition of civil society organizations at the national level, at the regional level, at the global level that works to connect the global and the local and works through the framework of the SDGs. I think there's kind of 3 kinds of issues that we see that are important to reinforce and accelerate. And they're not necessarily new ones. They're things that we're doing already, but maybe we need to do them more and better. One was mentioned already by the Director from UN Women about reinforcing the use of national and global gender data, like those in the Equal Measures SDG Gender Index, and really the important UN work that's happening right here. Whether it's the wonderful work of the team at UN Women, UNDP efforts, tools on social norms, the UNDP social priority maps that show you where, in fact, where each country's priorities are in terms of the SDGs, whether it's SDG 5 or whether other channels are important to interrogating gender issues. But it's not just to measure. It's not just to count, it's really then what happens. And I think one of the things that are really important and that I think we see a lot of demand from stakeholders is really arguments that make the case for the benefits of investing in gender equality. Not only what's the status of women and girls, but what's the impact of women and girls on societies, on economies. And then also to use these tools for kind of more nuanced understanding of the causal chains across the SDGs. So we like to work in our sectors and we really like to work on our specific issues, but really the answer is— or the need for mobilization really is one that crosses sectors. And we can use these data to identify blockages or keys to progress, for example, how gaps in economic growth might be related to gaps in SDG 8, that might be related to gaps in SDG 5 on gender-based violence, as was mentioned already, as well as unpaid care and reproductive rights. So that's one area that I think is important, that's really around the data. But it's also then, again, about the use and about promoting efforts to focus on the how to implement policies at scale. As was mentioned by our moderator, there actually has been really good progress, and good scores for countries on putting gender equality reflective or anti-discrimination legislation and laws into place. Countries do that well. Governments do that well. It's really that next step. And that's one we struggle with in general in development is really how do we make something happen? How do we ensure that those equal opportunities for women and men for balancing work and family, for land and asset security, for public procurement are met. Because when we look at the gender-related outcomes, we see that it's oftentimes where countries may fall short of reaching the ambitions that they've set for themselves. So we should complement that global data picture with practice on the ground. And again, there's many good examples, many good examples from organizations in the UN and organizations that the UN works with that promote approaches that are rigorous and evidence-based, and trying to adapt policies and practices from across sectors is really an engine of innovation. A lot of innovation comes from looking at what other sectors are doing, what other— what the health sector is doing, what education is doing that might be relevant on a specific issue. Or might be an actual data source. And then finally, just something I'm sure you already hear quite a bit is this idea of mobilizing society-wide efforts. So continuing to mobilize a wide range of partners is recognized by all of you, and it's imperative to the SDG 5 specifically, and there's many good opportunities for those kinds of partnerships around SDG 5, gender equality and inclusion. So we need to think about developing value propositions to engage those working on the ground. They have the expert knowledge of the issues faced by women and girls, and these include civil society, women's rights organizations, as well as the private sector and others. These roles could relate to using and generating data and evidence, and there's a full day next week on citizen data, which I highly recommend all of you to have a look at. And also then more of this idea of like how to turn data into information, how to link national and global data to local stories and narratives. Stop there.


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [20:57]:

Thank you very much. I'm now turning to Zahra Khanna. Zahra, you bring an important perspective on how younger generations view the challenges and opportunities in advancing gender equality. From your experience, what should be prioritized or done differently in the coming year to make progress by 2030? Thank you so much.


She Loves Tech · Youth Ambassador · Zahra Khanna [21:18]:

Hello. So there is one key barrier that remains on our way to true gender equality: education. There is unequal access to education for women all over the world, and we are overlooking one very key tool to aid us in bridging this divide. Artificial intelligence, more specifically AI-powered learning programs. AI-powered learning programs can approach students on an individual level, offering personalized feedback, which is especially important to those who face cultural or other barriers to gaining education. Let me give you 2 examples. There's Khan Academy's KhanMingo, which is a free personalized tutor which engages with students using the Socratic method, fostering critical thinking, and which offers courses on a range of subjects that will be essential in the coming years for their future jobs, such as mathematics to English. Another example is Rory, which was piloted in Khana and which, which operates via WhatsApp, so it's available on all mobile devices. This is especially important because mobile penetration is so high, and while 129 million girls lack access to education, 4.9 billion people worldwide have access to smartphones. To that end, there are 3 things that we must do. Firstly, accelerate connectivity. We must distribute more internet hotspots. One single internet hotspot can power a village and hundreds of girls gaining access to the wealth of knowledge available online. Secondly, we must distribute more devices via which girls can access this knowledge, such as smartphones and tablets. And finally, governments must invest in creating these AI-powered programs. That are culture and language specific to cater to the job market that these girls are going to be advancing into. 2030 is a year in which girls and the youth of today are going to be taking the workforce by— are going to be heading up the majority of the workforce. And this is also a generation that is of schooling age today. The progress that we make by 2030 will be made tangible by how we support the girls and learners of today, and I believe that this is most possible through AI-powered education. Thank you.


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [23:56]:

Thank you very much. Yeah, very, very interesting. So, I'm going to turn back to Mr. Motovanis and just to say that the SDG Gender Index shows us that between 2019 and 2022, almost 40% of countries home to more than 1.1 billion women and girls stagnated or even went backwards on gender equality. What are the main drivers of this backsliding, and how can we address the impediments to progress? Over to you.


Equal Measures 2030 · Head of Data and Insights · Albert Motaban [24:32]:

Great, thank you. Um, so I think, I think we agree that, you know, if there isn't progress on SDG 5, if isn't progress on gender equality, really the whole SDG framework is at risk. If we're not addressing the issues in SDG 5, then we won't succeed in reaching the SDG goals as a whole. It's good to see from the UNDESA report just released that there's some new data which is showing promising trends. We saw, in terms of maternal mortality rates, declining, in terms of adolescent birth rates globally going down. So results like this will help to put the trajectory for gender equality back on track, but it is a rather slow trajectory at present. So a girl born today would see gender equality achieved in her 97th year. So there's still quite a distance to go. So what's driving the backsliding? In our recent report, we talked about some of the key contexts which have changed during this period, and we talk about a resource crunch, so that means in terms of international financing, about domestic austerity measures, but also about what's happening in the household and a lot of fears about declining household incomes and ability to pay for food, pay for rent and so on over this period. It's a democracy crunch. So gender equality is closely linked with democracy, but we've seen that the foundations of democracy are at risk due to economic inequality, social and political polarization, and the closing of civic space. And then finally, the safety and security crunch. And we often think about this in terms of violent conflict and militarization, which indeed has increased during this period, but for girls and women it's also about the realities that hit them personally, their choices and their personal safety. So to address this backsliding, I think there's a few things that could be considered. And one is really about elevating women's and girls' leadership, power and voice. While we saw that the share of women in parliament, for example, is 27% globally, That's improved, actually. And when we look at the trend over time, it's showing a more or less positive but slow growth. So I think that's continuing to value that, not only in parliaments but in businesses, in communities, in water and utility boards at the county level, I think is something that can go a long ways. As was mentioned already about equality laws and policies, I think the reform process or the adopting of equality laws can engage the different stakeholders— civil society, government, lawmakers, and the wider public— in debate around norm setting to create pressure and structures for accountability. Then, of course, closing the data-sensitive— sorry, the gender-sensitive data gaps are vital to monitoring these laws and policies. Finally, increasing investments in public services and social infrastructure, including care, as was mentioned already by the Director of UN Women. The social transformation needed for gender equality must be funded, and it requires gender-responsive budgets, progressive taxation, and strong investment in public services and public infrastructure, just like care. Thank you.


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [28:04]:

Thank you so much. I'm turning now to Ms. Khanna. As a young woman in a field largely dominated by men, could you share with us what you see as science and evidence-based solutions to address the challenges to gender equality, and what promising approaches can we scale up or replicate? And maybe what barriers have you encountered and how can we eliminate them?


She Loves Tech · Youth Ambassador · Zahra Khanna [28:28]:

Absolutely. As a young AI engineer and also a woman, I'm incredibly lucky to be living in Singapore, which is ranked 8th worldwide in terms of gender equality. Our Digital Development Minister is a woman, and at the workplace where I'm interning, 50% of female engineers are women. But this is the exception, not the rule. And here are some key ways that I believe that we can bring the whole world into a more gender-equal future. Firstly, it's imperative that we recognize that worldwide, less than a third of STEM engineers are women. This is because, starting from a very young age, women start to fall behind in STEM studies. We need to implement early intervention programs, such as those of Vigyan Jyoti in India. Vigyan Jyoti offers STEM programs for girls outside of school to help catch them up on fundamental STEM subjects and knowledge. Vigyaa Jyoti has reached over 20,000 girls in India. Another such program is mShule, which operates via SMS in Kenya and targets low-income families. This program has reached, again, 20,000 families, half of which are women. Another fundamental approach is through mentors. Women lack role models in their respective STEM fields. Because STEM has been seen for so long as a male-dominated field. A US study showed that women who have female mentors in their chosen sectors don't drop out and stay the course of their programs, whereas those who don't drop out at a rate of 18%. I'm very lucky to have seen this firsthand with Mentor Connect in Singapore, which connects women and young girls to female role models in their chosen fields. Finally, language in jobs is a very, very big problem. Because job descriptions tend to use gendered language such as fearless, which women technically see as male-type terms, it has a stigma surrounded with males going forth as more assertive. We must combat this by changing to more gender-neutral language, and AI tools such as Textito analyze these job descriptions and switch it out so that women are not deterred from following their dreams and potential career paths. I do have to note that artificial intelligence does display the bias exhibited by humankind against women for decades in STEM, but if we work together to build responsible responsible AI and programs, we can all move together into a more gender-equal future. To conclude, through early STEM intervention, mentorship programs, and more gender-neutral language, we can all move together to achieve SGD 5 by 2030. Thank you so much.


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [31:37]:

And now turning to the Executive Director of UN Women, Seema, how can we leverage the commitments on gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in the Pact for the Future to expedite the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, particularly on SDG 5, and also taking into account earlier commitments in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women?


UN Women · Executive Director · Sima Bakus [32:07]:

Thank you again, Jan. This is a very important question at this particular time. 2025 is a pivotal year for all women and girls, and I believe that the Pact for the Future offers us a vital opportunity to recommit to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and also to turn that commitment into concrete systematic action. The Pact builds actually on the foundation of the Beijing Platform for Action, the 2030 Agenda, and CEDAW. But global commitments must urgently translate into national priorities, into laws, and into institutions. CEDAW provides us the legal backbone to turning ambition into enforceable rights. Its reporting mechanisms also offer built-in accountability, and we must use them. Aligning laws and policies with CEDAW is how we move from words to women's rights and how we make the promises of the Pact of the Future real in people's lives. So it is an important part and parcel of what we continue to push forward for women and girls. The Pact also reaffirms what we already know: gender equality is not a side issue. It is central to peace, it is central to justice, and it is central to sustainable development and to the credibility of the multilateral system itself. Importantly, the Pact's call to revitalize the Commission on the Status of Women offers a practical path forward. A more inclusive, efficient, and impactful CSW can become the key platform for tracking SDG 5, for coordinating action and monitoring implementation, linking the Pact, the Beijing Platform, and the 2030 Agenda in one coherent effort. And that is also important if we are talking about, you know, know, reducing duplication, improving efficiencies and effectiveness for women and girls. And the timing could not be more critical this year as we mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, which is a milestone, yes, very much so, but also a call to action. Earlier this year, we launched the Beijing 30 Action Agenda, as you all know, and we focused on 6 critical areas. Digital inclusion, as we heard the refreshing thoughts and leadership of Zahra Karna, freedom from poverty, which is also related, zero violence against women, leadership of women, peace and security, and climate justice. Cutting across these areas is, of course, the full engagement with young women and youth. These are not distant goals. They are urgent demands for women and girls around the world, and we have heard many, many women and girls around the world tell us that these are their priorities. We have also heard these priorities in all of your reviews and reports that came to us on Beijing+30. Again, as the Secretary-General reminded us yesterday at the launch of the 2025 SDGs report, These goals are within reach, but they require our urgent action now, today. So UN Women remains fully committed to supporting governments, to partnering with civil society, and to ensuring that the momentum of the Pact translates into tangible progress. And my dear delegates, next week's multilateral multi-stakeholder hearing on the Beijing+30 is a key moment to center diverse voices and to push forward for urgency, and we look forward to your participation in that. Also, the high-level meeting on Beijing+30 at UNGA 80 in September will provide a critical opportunity to recommit, to accelerate promises, and to amplify progress, and so will the Global Leaders Meeting in Beijing in October. over. So together, let's make this SDG 5 review a turning point where we move from declarations to delivery and from promise to lived realities for all women and girls across the globe. I thank you.


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [36:44]:

Well, thank you very much to our panelists. I think we've heard, although we're talking about SDG There's really a strain through everyone's interventions about strong, sustained investment in multilateralism, which I know our President will be very pleased to hear, and that gender equality is central to peace and sustainable development. I think we've heard about whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, particularly about financing. Investment at scale is necessary, gender-responsive budgeting. We've heard a lot also about social infrastructure and particularly care systems. Robust data systems, particularly at the national level, but also at the global level. It's necessary to make the case for investing in women and girls. Major focus on education, particularly STEM, for women and girls, and the whole issue of digital inclusion. Elevating women and girls' leadership and voice, particularly important. And as Seema just said, accountability mechanisms. Absolutely essential. I have to say that from the point of view of IDLO, it is very good to hear that aligning laws and policies with CEDAW will really make a major difference, and I completely agree with that. I'm going to turn now to our lead discussant, Ms. Firghana Ansari, who is a Senior Officer for International Advocacy at Musawah. Ms. Ansari is an international lawyer and leads Musawah's engagement with international human rights mechanisms. Ms. Ansari, you have the floor.


Musawah · Women's Major Group · Senior Officer for International Advocacy · Firghana Ansari [38:17]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Oh, it's working now. Thank you so much for your patience. I'm delivering this statement on behalf of Women's Major Group. 10 years into the 2030 Agenda, the promise of leaving no one behind rings hollow for millions of women and girls, and this reflects some of the things that the panelists have already shared. The Ministerial Declaration, as it stands today, includes elements that weaken existing commitments on SDG 5, and without revisions to these to strengthen these aspects of the Ministerial Declaration and confirming existing commitments to gender equality, the women's major group and feminists across the world will be unable to support the current text. We urge all member states committed to gender equality to take this position. And now I want to speak a little more about a global movement that's working on equality in family laws and practices, Musawah, that I represent. We assert that we cannot achieve sustainable development without addressing the root causes of gender inequality. Across the world, discriminatory laws continue to restrict women and girls' rights in marriage, inheritance, mobility, custody, nationality. Harmful practices such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation still persist. These discriminatory laws and practices have impacted lives of countless women, including myself. These are often justified, and I want to talk a little bit more about this, is under the guise of freedom of religion or belief. But let us be clear, freedom of religion or belief cannot be invoked to justify discrimination against women and girls. States do have a duty to ensure that all laws align with gender equality and human rights obligations. And this is not just theoretical. Family laws in my country have impacted me directly. I've lived under legal systems where interpretations of religion have shaped public policy in ways that directly affect my rights. But if religion is used to inform public law affecting women, then women like me also have a right to shape those interpretations. And we are agents of change and we must be included by states in partnerships as part of the solution. We're not just subjects of these systems. The language on families in the Ministerial Declaration must reflect that the human rights of individual family members must be given primary importance. And it must recognize that families exist in many different forms, including families with single mothers whose rights must be ensured. Women's economic disempowerment is deeply tied to legal and cultural structures, and these— without addressing these realities, we cannot build just and inclusive societies. As the UN Women Executive Director has stated, gender equality must be embedded in all policy areas and backed by political will. Often, we do not lack solutions, but we lack the courage and commitment to act on them. Reform is not only possible, it is necessary, and it is necessary for me to have some hope only through achieving this goal and through making sure that the political will here exists. Gender equality is not a siloed goal. Thank you so much for your time today.


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [42:10]:

Yes! Yes! Thank you so much, Ms. Ansari, and to the Women's Major Group. I would like to thank all the panelists for their contributions and I turn the floor back to the Chair for the interactive segment. Thank you.


ECOSOC · President [42:38]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you very much to everyone, the panelists, the moderator, and the lead discussant. I think that the discussions have been particularly helpful as we go forward, and we're now going to proceed to the interactive discussion. And here's where You're not gonna like what I have to say. We have had notice of far more people wishing to speak than we actually have time. So this is not an unusual problem in the UN, and we have devised a quite simple technique to deal with it, and that is to limit time to 2 and a half minutes in this case. And at that point, the mics get cut off, because if we don't have that discipline, I'm afraid people do tend to go on. The good news for 4 speakers is that I've asked that the mics not be turned off in their case, and that is for the ministers and special guests who have come and to whom we're giving voice. I can say that they come from all regions, So it's not being done in any way. I'll be calling first in a moment on the Minister for Social Security for Finland. I'll also be calling for the Special Representative of the President of Kyrgyzstan, for the Secretary General of the All-China Women's Federation in China, and for the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in Uganda. So those 4 can breathe a little bit easy, but don't go too far over Don't press your luck, just be alert to it. That's one part of the news. The other part of the news is some people have a tendency when there's a time limit to say, well, I'll take whatever speech I've been given and I'll just speak really fast. This is not a good idea. Okay. The reason it's not a good idea, in general it's not a good idea, but the reason particularly here at the UN, it's not a good idea, is we have some very hardworking people in the booths behind you. Many of you don't even know they're there. They work very hard. These are our interpreters, and you have to be fair to them because they— it can't provide good interpretation if they can't understand what you're saying. So that's just friendly advice from me, and you can always provide a written a copy of your statement to, uh, by an email to estatements@un.org. So that also helps us. Okay, we'll begin with the recommendations for Finland. And Madam Minister, you're most welcome.


Finland · Minister for Social Security [45:45]:

Thank you very much, Honorable Chair, Your Excellencies. Distinguished delegates, thank you very much for the panelists for your powerful opening words and contributions. Finland stands firmly for gender equality today, even more firmly than before. Our commitment might be challenged, but we know firsthand that gender equality is necessary. No society can reach its full potential with involving only half of its population. Gender equality is not an ideology to be debated. It's a matter of human rights and dignity. It's also an opportunity. Everyone benefits when women and girls everywhere in all their diversity have the right to decide over their own bodies, obtain equal access to education and jobs, and be included in decision-making at all levels. With women involved Economies grow, communities become more just, and dreams of peace become more durable reality. Still too many women and girls face violence and discrimination. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence deserve protection, justice, and support. These are not privileges but basic human rights. Harmful practices such as early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation have no place in any society. We are seeing a troubling pushback on gender equality, especially on sexual and reproductive health and rights. This is not the direction we want to go. Gender equality is fundamental for achieving the SDGs. Let's invest in women's leadership. Let's ensure women have a seat and a voice at all tables. especially when peace is being negotiated. Let's also invest in comprehensive sexuality education, digital access, and economic opportunities. I will invite you to build a future where everyone can reach their full potential. Thank you very much.


ECOSOC · President [47:55]:

Thank you very much, Minister. I now give the floor to the Special Representative of the President of the the Kyrgyz Republic. Your Excellency, you have the floor.


Kyrgyzstan · Special Representative of the President [48:06]:

Thank you, Chair. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, on 18th of July, we are going to present Voluntary National Review Achieving the SDG in Kyrgyzstan, in which the implementation of gender equality is reflected through cross-cutting, comprehensive, and multi-level approach. Let me now share with some important achievements and aspects to accelerate progress. A new National Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality until 2030 and the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2025-2027 were approved. These documents focus on 5 priorities: economic empowerment, education and culture, justice and protection, women's political participation, and gender-responsive policy. We adopted a state program on supporting women leadership until 2030 aimed at creating a pool of women leaders, building their competencies and supporting their career growth in public administration and local governments. We are implementing programs to build digital skills among women in remote areas. We support women's entrepreneurship in ecotourism. Organic farming, crafts, and the green economy. We support economic empowerment through inclusive social programs. Since 2022, more than 35,000 low-income households across Kyrgyzstan have benefited from the Social Contract Program, receiving grants and interest-free loans to start microbusinesses. Many women have become successful entrepreneurs and even job creators. We integrated gender indicators into the National Adaptation Plan and updated NDC, ensuring women's participation in climate strategies. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country where mountains cover 94% of the Kyrgyzstan territory. In the context of climate change, growing social and economic pressure, and demographic shifts, sustainable development cannot be achieved without the full participation of women, especially those living in mountain areas. In 2023, the UN General Assembly, at the initiative of Kyrgyzstan, declared 2023-2027 as the 5 years of action for the development of mountain regions. The national roadmap for this initiative outlined specific steps to improve infrastructure, support women entrepreneurship, ensure access to basic services, promote digital inclusion, and protect natural resources with strong focus on women who make up half of the country's population. And on April 25th, in Bishkek, we hosted the International Conference on Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development where our President in opening speech emphasized that without the participation of youth and women, a sustainable future impossible. We propose to create an international platform, Mountain, Youth, Women, and Climate, where their voices and ideas can be heard and supported. Our action must not only affect but also fair and inclusive. I would like to use this opportunity to call on international opportunity to support this initiative for knowledge exchange, joint action, and resource resource mobilization for women and youth projects. Thank you very much for your attention.


ECOSOC · President [51:35]:

Thank you very much. I thank the Special Representative very much, and I now give the floor to the Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation. Dr. Li, you're welcome.


All-China Women's Federation · Secretary-General · Dr. Li [51:53]:

Present. Colleagues, gender equality is a core issue concerning human dignity, social justice, and global development. It's a key driver for achieving the 2030 Agenda. When women receive education, they create greater value for families and society. When women participate in decision-making, they shape more inclusive and sustainable policies. When women engage in the peace process, lasting peace and stability are more likely to be achieved. Without the full— so all parties have to work together to promote gender equality and translate the global consensus into concrete actions. China always believes that gender equality is not a choice but an imperative. President Xi Jinping points out that women's rights are fundamental human rights. It is important to synchronize the development of women and children with economic and social progress, systematically integrate the protection of women's rights into legislation elevated as a national will and embedded it into social norms. China unswervingly pursues the basic national policy of gender equality and has established a comprehensive legal system to protect women's rights, including over 100 laws and regulations. We have— more than half of the current university students in China are women. Women's labor participation rate is 63.7%. Women account for 55% of internet startups, and more women are moving from traditional roles into emerging fields such as AI, big data, new drug discovery, and tech innovation, contributing their wisdom and strength to high-quality development. President and colleagues, achieving gender equality cannot be done overnight. It requires us to redouble our efforts and mainstream the concept of gender equality into every policy investment and action so that all women and girls can shine in an environment This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women. China will work with the UN Women to host the Global Summit of Women in Beijing. We stand ready to work with all parties to accelerate the implementation of the BDPA and the SDGs, and to jointly write a new chapter in the global advancement of women's causes. Thank you very much.


ECOSOC · President [54:17]:

Thank you. I thank the Secretary-General and now give the floor to the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda, Her Excellency Justine Kachule Lumumba. Madam, you have the floor.


Uganda · Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister · Justine Kachule Lumumba [54:35]:

Thank you, Chairperson, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I want to thank the panelists. I appreciate their presentations. Uganda has made significant progress in advancing SDG 5 on gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. Our constitution and national legislation continue to champion the rights of women, with gender equality now firmly embedded in public finance laws and policy frameworks. We have enacted progressive legislation such as the Succession Amendment Act 2022 and the Public Procurement and Disposable Assets Amendment Act 2021, which advance women's rights to property and access to public procurement. Uganda has also ratified key international conventions including ILO Convention 190 on sexual harassment and Convention 189 on domestic workers and strengthened policies on migrant work protection and care responsibilities in public markets. To eliminate gender-based violence, we rolled out multiple national strategies, including Spotlight Initiative, gender-based violence courts, and special programs for female genital mutilation, child marriages, and teenage pregnancy. Notably, the percentage of women experiencing physical violence since age 15 dropped from 51% in 2016 to 23% in 2022. And government has continued to extend judicial services to the lowest administrative level, that is the sub-county, so that women can easily have access. Women participation in leadership and decision-making has grown, with women now constituting 33.8% Of Parliament, 45.8% of Cabinet, and 45.7% of all local government leaders. In public service, out of the 31 permanent secretaries, 16 are women. Access to sexual and reproductive health has improved, with skilled birth attendants at 91%, fertility rates dropping, and cancer screening and mental health services expanding. Thank you. funding. On economic empowerment, Uganda has invested over $32.31 million under a program called WEP, which is Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Project, supported also under the parish development model, where money that is sent to the lowest level, 30% is for women. This has now culminated to $280 million at the lowest level. As we talk now, government has committed $217 million under the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women, all intended to increase women's access to entrepreneur services, including women who are refugees, and also in the host communities. Supported by— we have also taken on efforts to— on issues to do with land ownership, because land is a big asset in our community. And land ownership has increased because we have taken on a program where certificates for customary ownership have been expanded to the lowest level, including the National Land Information System at the sub-regional level. Our priorities in the next 2026 to 2030 is ending gender-based— gender digital divide, scaling up economic empowerment programs, and gender-responsive services. We remain committed as Uganda to accelerate progress on SDG 5 through inclusive partnership, innovation, and investment in gender equality. I thank you.


ECOSOC · President [58:40]:

Thank you. We thank you, Minister, for that very impressive statement. Thank you very much for that. Colleagues, we now turn to the general group. Everyone, we're all equal here, 2 and a half minutes each, and we look forward to hearing both from member states as well as from A number of stakeholder groups, and I will start with Switzerland to be followed by Norway and the LGBTI stakeholder group. So Switzerland first.


Switzerland [59:22]:

Monsieur le Président. Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues in Switzerland, gender equality and the prohibition of all forms of discrimination based on gender are among the fundamental values enshrined in the Swiss Constitution. But beyond law, challenges remain in Switzerland when it comes to making gender equality a reality, especially when it comes to several key targets of SDG 5. Women still do not enjoy the same professional opportunities as men do in terms of salary, roles, or careers, and women and LGBTIQ individuals are particularly affected by gender-based violence. 70% of women have been victims of domestic and sexual violence. To address these challenges, Switzerland is implementing its Equality Strategy 2030, which covers 4 priorities at all levels of state. First of all, promoting equality in the— in professional and public life with the goal of attaining 40% women in leadership roles in para-public enterprises. Secondly, improving work-life balance. Thirdly, preventing and combating gender-based violence through a national prevention campaign, as well as by amending our penal code for sex crimes to criminalize stalking. And lastly, combating all forms of In its international commitments and efforts toward development cooperation and humanitarian aid, Switzerland strongly promotes gender equality. Last week, Switzerland committed even further to women's rights during the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Gender equality must remain a priority for all of us. It is not a goal in and of itself, but rather a prerequisite for making progress toward all of the SDGs. It is our common responsibility to give it the resources that it deserves. Thank you.


ECOSOC · President [1:01:41]:

I see— I thank the representative of Switzerland. I give the floor now to Norway, to be followed by


Norway [1:01:54]:

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Norway is concerned that the world is off track to achieve SDG 5 by 2030. Structural barriers such as discriminatory laws and social norms continue to hinder progress. Violence against women remains pervasive. Over the last decade, gender-responsive laws and policies have been crucial, but implementation gaps remain. We need to invest more in public economic empowerment and leadership opportunities for women. Gender-sensitive policy— sensitive policies in STEM, economic inclusion, and leadership quotas have proven effective, addressing unpaid care work and strengthening sexual and reproductive health rights are also key. The normative frameworks remain essential in shaping gender equality policies. They provide a foundation for legal protections and accountability mechanisms. Eliminating discriminatory laws and ensuring robust implementation of gender-responsive policies are critical. Norway has built a sustainable welfare state on women's participation in the labour market. This has been a tremendous effect on the economy. A modern, competitive economy needs the best heads and hands regardless of gender. Equality in the labour market can only be achieved through equality at home. That is why family policies are essential supported by welfare schemes like affordable quality daycare, flexible working hours, and generous parental leave. This enables full participation in the workforce, and I thank you.


ECOSOC · President [1:03:51]:

Thank the representative of Norway. I now give the floor to the LGBTQI stakeholder group. Distinguished


GAY · LGBTI stakeholder group · Human Rights Officer · Beshi Sunupong [1:04:01]:

Chair, my name is Beshi Sunupong. I'm a trans youth from Thailand and a human rights officer from GAY representing the voice of people who are underrepresented in the UN space. This statement is in consultation with over 340 organizations worldwide within the LGBTI stakeholder group, part of major group and stakeholder coordination mechanism. As we reach the final 5 years of 2030 Agenda, The progress on SDG 5 remains unacceptably slow. Across the globe, LGBT women and girls continue to face violence and exclusion from patriarchal society, not because we LGBTI movement failed, but because gender equality efforts failed us. We are told that SDG promised to leave no one behind, but why are LGBT people still criminalized and face gender-based violence worldwide? According to the EUGOWorld database, 64 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts, and more than 10 criminalize divergent expression and identity. According to the TGEU report, at least 5,000 trans people are reported murdered between 2008 and 2024. At current rate, it will take 286 years to close legal protection gap and remove discriminatory law worldwide. However, we see a rise of anti-gender movement distorting human rights and gender concepts aimed at gaining the power for politics. Too many governments recognize only 2 genders. Also, they are attempting to replace gender-based violence with sex-based violence at multilateral organizations, excluding trans and gender-diverse people from gender equality frameworks. Given this challenge, gender equality cannot be achieved when LGBTI people are left behind. We urge member states to meaningfully engage LGBTI CSOs in policy development to address gender-based violence worldwide, address funding disparity by sustaining resources for LGBT movement as a part of feminist and gender equality funding, ensure decriminalization, full legal recognition, and protection of trans and gender-diverse people. Let me be clear, human rights are indivisible. civil and universal LGBT rights are under attack. At the same time, human rights are under attack. SDG will fail if you fail us. I thank you. Thank you. The chair


ECOSOC · President [1:06:41]:

thanks you for your meaningful intervention. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Uruguay, followed by the Holy See and Guatemala. Uruguay. Muchas gracias, señor.


Uruguay [1:06:54]:

Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's a pleasure to see you heading up this morning's meeting, and we thank the excellent panel that's up there with you. Women continue to do almost 3 times more care work, unpaid care work, than men. The pay gap persists in all sectors and parity in decision-making is still far from being achieved. At the current pace, it will take more than 170 years to achieve it. The implementation of SDG 5 in the first 10 years has left valuable lessons. One of the most relevant is that universal policies are not sufficient if they don't include an intersectional approach that includes factors such as age, race, disability, migratory situation, just to mention a few. Therefore, it's essential to have disaggregated statistics and adequate information systems. Another key lesson has been equality policies that are more effective when they generate synergy with other development objectives such as poverty eradication, health, decent work, and education. For Uruguay, gender equality is something we can't do without to achieve sustainable development. We have spent more than a decade engaging in public policies that seek to redistribute the care responsibilities and reverse structural inequalities that women face in the home, in the workplace, and in their social lives. An example is the formulation of public policies for care and also there's an issue of the lack of representation of women in decision-making roles. Commitments made in the Declaration and Beijing Platform of Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, remain fundamental frameworks. Their full implementation coupled with effective accountability mechanisms must be integrated in all processes to revise and follow up on SDG 5. At the same time, these instruments must serve as a guide to deliver legal and political commitments. The speaker's microphone


ECOSOC · President [1:09:27]:

was cut off. That's the— what we call the fickle finger of fate produced by, I think, AI. So we can thank AI for that. I now call upon the distinguished representative of the Holy I see Archbishop Gabriel in his place. Archbishop, please. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.


Holy See [1:09:52]:

Thank you, distinguished panelists, dear delegates and friends. My delegation welcomes the discussion on Sustainable Development Goal 5. Gender equality is rooted in the equal God-given dignity of every man and woman, inalienably grounded on his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance. This principle, which is fully recognizable even by reason alone, underlies the primacy of the human person and the protection of human rights. Any meaningful discussion of SDG 5 must address the systemic obstacles to the integral development of millions of women and girls, including poverty, violence and exclusion. Addressing these injustices is a moral imperative and a prerequisite for long-term development and progress. Efforts to this end, including investments, will have an immediate and transformative effect on the lives of every human being and entire communities. At the same time, the roles that women and men play within families and communities must be protected. All too often, the international community's development efforts treat gender equality primarily as a matter of individual autonomy, detached from relationships and responsibilities. However, it is crucial to emphasize the relational understanding of the human person, valuing the complementarity of women and men and affirming the family as a place of relationships. Policies that support and protect families, motherhood, maternity need to be implemented alongside the promotion of equality between women and men. Mr. President, in the concluding 5 years of the realization of the 2030 Agenda, my delegation calls for a renewed commitment to the integral development of every woman and girl. Thank you very much. Thank you, Your Grace. Thank you so


ECOSOC · President [1:12:08]:

much for that. We're now going to turn to the representative of Guatemala, followed by Azerbaijan, and then followed by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries. Guatemala, please. Excellencies, distinguished delegations,


Guatemala [1:12:29]:

Guatemala reaffirms its commitment to gender equality as a cross-cutting axis of sustainable development. SDG 5 is not an isolated goal, but rather it is the guiding thread that strengthens the whole of the 2030 Agenda. We have achieved significant progress. Guatemala moved up from position 122 to position 93 in the Global Gender Gap Index for 2024. 45% of the SDG 5 indicators are showing progress. The participation of women in decision-making positions grew from 29.8% in 2015 to 36% in 2023. Currently, we have 6 female ministers. One of them is indigenous and one is the Vice President. In Congress, the number of female lawmakers went up from 39% to 20%. We also have 12 female mayors and more than 490 female elected municipal officials and councillors. The Presidential Secretariat for Women has strengthened gender institutionality, boosting the intersectional link and the focus on equity in policies and public budgets. The institutional budget has increased and we have promoted territorial mechanisms and conventionality control mechanisms. We have also prioritized the fight against violence against women. We'd highlight the adoption of the immediate search mechanism, and we also have support centers with a budgetary increase of 52 million quetzales. We also have measures for women with disabilities and other vulnerable women. We are also promoting access to land and leadership capacities. However, we would mention that there are still structural challenges. It's urgent to strengthen policies with legal backing and sufficient budgets and update their content in the face of new realities such as climate change, local participation, and the peace and security agenda for women. We reiterate our commitment to the human rights of all women. The speaker's microphone was cut off. Muchas,


ECOSOC · President [1:14:58]:

muchas gracias por su intervención. Thank you very much for your statement. Azerbaijan, followed by the Council, followed by Nepal and Colombia. Thank you, Mr. President. The Republic of Azerbaijan


Azerbaijan [1:15:12]:

remains firmly committed to advancing gender equality through concrete policy measures and legislative reform. In 2024, the National Family Code amended to remove legal exceptions that had previously permitted early marriages. This important reform aligns national legislation with international human rights application and reflects Azerbaijan's loyalty to the recommendation of United Nations. At the same time, Azerbaijan has reinforced its legal and institutional framework to more effectively prevent and respond gender-based violence. Promoting women economic empowerment remains a key national priority for Azerbaijan. In 2024, women constituted approximately 2/3 of participants in vocational education and training programs, and accounted for over 40% of beneficiaries under state-supported self-employment initiatives. Despite ongoing structural barriers, empirical data indicates measurable progress in women's economic outcomes, with average monthly income of women increasing by 7.5% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Ladies and gentlemen, Azerbaijan has also achieved notable progress in advancing women participation in political life. In 2024 elections resulted in an increased representation of women in both the national parliament and local municipal councils. This positive development reflects a joint effort of the government, civil society, international partners, and marks important step towards strengthening political institution and ensuring more inclusive and representative governance. Civil society organizations and trade unions continue to serve as essential partners in advancing gender equality and promoting social justice in Azerbaijan. With over 3,700 registered non-governmental organizations operating nationwide, the country benefits from a diverse and active civil landscape. In 2024 alone, 24 new gender-focused initiatives implemented through state support grant mechanism. Importantly, women now represent 51% of trade union membership, playing a central role in safeguarding labor rights and advocating for fair and decent working conditions. I thank you. Thank the representative from Azerbaijan. I now give


ECOSOC · President [1:17:39]:

the floor to the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen, the palm


CPOPC [1:17:49]:

oil sector plays a vital role in advancing SDG 5. Across Malaysia and Indonesia, the industry supports millions of women workers, smallholders, and leaders. The sector is confronting its challenges and positioning itself as a driver of economic and gender inclusion. These reforms are not accidental. They are driven by demand for sustainable sourcing, Stricter ESG certification, national gender equality framework, and evidence that women's inclusion brings growth. These drivers have turned gender equity into a strategic priority for many. The impact is visible. First, we see growth in leadership representation. In Malaysia, we see growth in leadership representation where women hold 22% of management roles in palm oil industry. In Indonesia, Golden Agri Resources reports 31% of senior roles are held by women. SG Guthrie, for example, increased female leadership from 16% to 25% between the years 2018 and 2022. Second, our study on women smallholder performance shows that they record higher productivity at 0.44 tonnes per acre per month versus 0.36 for men. When it comes to monthly income, women earn USD 243 compared to men's USD 202. And all the women were educated and above the poverty line, while some men remained below it. Third, gender-responsive reforms shows that key players are taking a strong stance. SDGAR III implemented a group-wide policy ensuring safer workplaces and 100% access to maternal healthcare for eligible women workers. Cargill's South Sumatra program led to a 30% rise in household income and tripled women's participation in farmer groups over 4 years. Wilma increased women in supervisory roles by 40% and enforced zero recruitment fees for women. Fourth, safety and land rights. Gender sensitivity training is now mandatory in all national and voluntary certifications. And finally, policy and certification alignment. Certification schemes now include gender clauses covering equal pay, anti-harassment, grievance mechanisms, and representation in decision-making. As we approach 2030 milestones, CPoP-C urges stakeholders to continue this progress by expanding women's access to land capital training, enforcing policy frameworks, and elevating data transparency. Let us move beyond intentions to impact. Thank you. Thank you, and congratulations for reaching the finish


ECOSOC · President [1:20:20]:

line. Very important to keep your eye on the— on your microphone. When it starts to flash, it means come to your conclusion. I now call upon the delegate from Nepal, followed by Colombia, Mexico, and Chechnya. Thank you, Mr. President. Nepal has put gender equality at


Nepal [1:20:46]:

the center of its national agenda. Our constitution guarantees equal rights, reserves, and one-third of parliamentarian seats for women. We have strong laws against domestic violence. Women's properties and inheritance rights are better protected. Nepal has integrated gender-responsive budgeting into both national and subnational level. With this, Nepal has made significant steps in Goal 5. Women now occupy 33.5% of national parliament, 36% in provincial parliament, and 41% in local assembly, achieved through legally enforced quota. Legal frameworks are promoting gender equality cover 89% of SDG 5. Successfully, we are successful partnership between government and civil society are demonstrating the power of local leadership and accelerate the gender-responsive SDG implementation. But the problems remain in society. Many women work in low-paid and informal jobs, and payment gap is large. Women's labor force participation remains low at 26%, which is significantly lower compared to men's 54%. Funding, data, and effective implementation are still weak. We need more global support and sharing the best practices. We need stronger community programs. We must invest more in women's economic empowerment. In conclusion, gender equality is not the option. It is a center to development. Nepal will keep pushing SDG 5 forward. We stand ready to work together and make equality in real sense for all. Thank you. Thank the delegate from Nepal. I give the floor now to the


ECOSOC · President [1:22:51]:

representative of Colombia, followed by Mexico and the Czech Republic. Thank you very much, President. Colombia reiterates that


Colombia [1:23:03]:

SDG 5 is not an isolated goal, but rather a structural pillar that can catalyze the achievement of the whole of the 2030 Agenda. Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is not only an ethic imperative, but also an indispensable condition for sustainable development, social justice, and global resilience. We require intersectoral, transformational, and human rights approaches that recognize the multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination that women and girls face in all of their diversity. This involves eradicating structural violence, redistributing care work, and guaranteeing their economic, physical, political, and social autonomy. To this end, multi-stakeholder and multi-level alliances are fundamental for mobilizing resources, knowledge, skills, and political will. My country, for example, has focused its efforts on the development of alliances with civil society, in particular with women's organizations, organizations of human rights defenders, and feminist movements that historically have been key actors in the promotion of transformational agendas. What's more, we have promoted South-South and regional cooperation, collaboration with the private sector, with international bodies and multi-stakeholder platforms that enable concrete commitments to be implemented, as well as collective commitments and global synergies. Some good practices in my country, for example, are comprehensively including the gender perspective in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, allocation earmarked resources for gender equality, including budgets that are sensitive to this issue, establishing specialized gender units, ongoing training, and intersectoral coordination mechanisms and inter-institutional actions, alliances with countries in protecting the most excluded women, and including accountability at all levels. Mr. President, the Pact for the Future reminded us that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is an essential prerequisite for sustainable development. In times of crisis, it is our duty to have this as our goal and remember that there can be no future without women. Thank you very much. Thank the delegate from Colombia. Now give the floor to the


ECOSOC · President [1:25:29]:

delegate from Mexico and then to the Czech Republic, followed by UNICEF. Muchas gracias. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Mexico is


Mexico [1:25:38]:

participating in this space With a profound conviction, that is accelerating achievement of SDG 5. Gender equality should not only be a principle, but rather a daily reality. Mexico is living through an historic time. For the first time, a woman is leading the presidency of the republic. Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum has made it clear that meaningful equality is no longer just an aspirational goal, but rather a constitutional principle. Furthermore, Mexico has a Congress with gender parity. Even given this, we recognize that real equality still faces structural challenges that we must meet with decisions, transformational public policies, and a gender approach. Mexico understands that the full inclusion of the 51% of our population is an essential condition for collective well-being. That's why our National Development Plan is aligned with the 2030 Agenda, prioritizing gender equality, a life free of violence, and the active and full participation of women in the transformation of the country. In the Secretariat for Women created by this administration, we are driving forward a cross-cutting agenda that places women at the very heart of public decisions. We have launched the Women's Bill of Rights and signed an agreement to host the 16th Regional Conference on Women of Latin America and the Caribbean in coordination with ECLAC, reaffirming our regional and global commitment. Here we will put special emphasis on exactly how we can build a society of the future. We are driving forward the Mexico plan, the Plan México, a strategy for development with a gender perspective that recognized women that are entrepreneurs that provide care and leadership in their communities. This plan includes women's forestry for equality. We have seen an increase in the economic participation of women from 31% in 2018 to 45.5% in 2025. Investing in equality is not only the fair thing to do; it is also smart. We will not make any steps back, and like we say in Mexico, now is the time of women. Thank you. I like that. Es tiempo de mujeres. Let's remember that. Check ya,


ECOSOC · President [1:28:16]:

UNICEF. Czechia, please. Thank you, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The 2030


Czechia [1:28:25]:

Agenda sets out an ambitious vision for a better, fairer world, yet challenges persist. To address them effectively, we must also respond to new developments. First, the world is becoming increasingly digital. Online hate speech has become a frequent tool to silence women and girls. Public roles, particularly politicians and journalists. While AI brings many opportunities, it also poses new risks, including the rise of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Second, we are witnessing a growing global backlash against gender equality. Alarmingly, anti-gender ideologies are reaching also younger generations. Many boys are given— being drawn into the manosphere, adopting more radical views than their female peers. Third, we must engage men as fathers, leaders, and allies, and also as sons. Fourth, we live in turbulent times. We have faced the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental disasters driven by climate change, and armed conflicts, including Russia's aggression against Ukraine. These crises affect women disproportionately, and women must also be actively involved in crisis management and recovery. For Czechia, gender equality remains a cross-cutting priority. In 2024, we revised our gender equality strategy and adopted 2 new action plans on preventing gender-based violence and closing the gender pay gap. We also updated the legal definition of rape to include cases where survivors freeze during an assault. Domestic violence laws were strengthened and criminal courts were specialized on sexual violence. Excellencies, SDG 5 is deeply interconnected with all other SDGs. Gender must be mainstreamed across all policies and areas. Women's full participation in decision-making, politics, crisis response and peacebuilding must be ensured. Finally, we must continue to share good practices and strengthen partnerships through this forum and the Commission on the Status of Women. Thank you. You obviously brought— you brought some family members here,


ECOSOC · President [1:30:49]:

I think I just saw. UNICEF, followed by Armenia, Ireland, and Rwanda. There we go. Apologies for that. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Excellencies, distinguished


UNICEF [1:31:10]:

delegates, gender equality is at the heart of UNICEF's child rights mandate. Today, I'd like to share with you a few opportunities we have before us to bolster the leadership of women and girls, especially adolescent girls, protect their rights, and turbocharge the futures of communities and economies. Global financial cuts, as we all know, the pushback on child rights and gender equality, and a series of regressive policies across countries and regions are leaving young women and girls behind. For example, whilst more girls than ever before are completing primary school, we still see major gaps in Asia and Africa. When it comes to completing secondary school, twice as many adolescent girls compared to boys are out of school, unemployed, and untrained. Girls are also doing twice as many household chores and care work than their male peers and siblings. Harmful stereotypes and discrimination against girls and women are resulting not only in a skills gap and an education gap, but an equality gap. Over 90% of girls in low-income countries simply don't have access to the internet. Compared to just 10% of boys. That leaves them out of jobs that include digital elements and excludes them from online learning opportunities. Conflict and crises exacerbate these inequalities. But we can and must disrupt these patterns, and when we do that, economies grow too. Investments in adolescent girls yield substantial economic and social returns, with estimates showing potential gains ranging from 4-to-1 to a 10-to-1 return on investment. Based on evidence and the practice of many governments in the room today, there are 3 immediate ways we can harness the economic power of girls. First, we need to fast-track girls' full and equal participation in education, skills and learning. Let's give them cash transfers and help them address financial barriers to education. Let's make classrooms safer, free of stigma, violence and discrimination, through teacher and student training and curriculum reform. If we spend just $2 a day on a girl completing her secondary education, we can grow a country's economy by 10%. Second, we need explicit efforts to ensure dedicated adolescent health services in health systems reform. That includes financing empowered community frontline health and nutrition workers, most of whom are women. When these workforces are properly supported, we see huge reductions in maternal and child health mortality and savings I thank the— I thank very much the representative from UNICEF and


ECOSOC · President [1:33:43]:

now call upon the delegate from Armenia, to be followed by Ireland, Rwanda, and then Canada. Thank you, Chair. In light of the Beijing 30, it is crucial to accelerate


Armenia [1:33:56]:

progress towards achieving gender equality across all sectors. Including ensuring that women and girls are at the center of the sustainable development efforts. Despite the significant action undertaken so far, the global trajectory for SDG 5 is deeply concerning due to persistent systemic, structural, and political challenges, discriminatory legal frameworks, underinvestment in policies and institutions, and unequal participation of women in decision-making and economic life. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by conflicts and and humanitarian crises, facing elevated risks of injustice and inequality. In addition, the lack of reliable disaggregated data continues to obscure the specific needs of women and girls living in poverty, with disabilities, in conflict-affected areas, and Indigenous and minority communities. The current situation clearly indicates that gender equality cannot be achieved through fragmented policies. It requires a whole-of-government approach anchored in strong institutions sustained financing, and intersectional analysis. Armenia is resolute to building a society where women and girls realize their full potential, free from all forms of discrimination and violence. In our national context, the principle of gender equality is incorporated across all legislation, encompassing both the Constitution and sectoral laws, as well as conscious policymaking, which focuses on protecting and promoting women's rights through inclusive and gender-responsive regulation. relations. Mr. Chair, as we look ahead, it is essential to ensure that our further collective actions and commitments place gender equality at its core, not only as a standalone goal but also as a cross-country imperative that underpins progress in upholding peace and security, promoting human rights, and achieving the 2030 Agenda. I thank you. Well done. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the representative


ECOSOC · President [1:35:43]:

from Ireland, to be followed by Rwanda, and then Canada. Thank you, Chair. 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration


Ireland [1:35:53]:

and Platform for Action. On this anniversary year, we are at a pivotal moment to ensure that progress towards gender equality does not further stall or reverse. Ireland continues to defend gender equality as a fundamental human right and a central, well-established pillar of both UN and EU policy. A Better World, Ireland's policy for international development, commits to directly funding gender equality programs, as well as to ensuring the integration of the needs and interests of women and girls across all our interventions and partnerships to promote synergies across the SDGs. SDG 5 is a cross-cutting goal that is essential for the achievement of other SDGs. For example, in relation to SDG 13, women are among the most vulnerable and exposed to the widespread adverse impacts of climate change, while also being first responders and leaders in disaster risk reduction. Addressing gender equality, climate change, and biodiversity in tandem can have positive multiplier effect when tackled, yet undermine each other when considered in isolation. In relation to SDG 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, the research and evidence is abundantly clear: peace agreements that involve the active participation of women lead to longer-lasting peace and more sustainable recovery. Gender equality has been promoted and advanced in Ireland under a whole-of-government policy framework provided by the National Strategy for Women and Girls, which includes measures to tackle the gender pay gap, to eliminate all forms of violence against women, to recognise unpaid care and domestic work, eliminate harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, and to ensure women's full and equal and meaningful participation in politics. The Programme for Government commits Ireland to progressing gender equality in our society, and preparation of a new strategy for women and girls is already at an advanced stage. Ireland's approach has also benefited greatly from and been enriched by women's rights organizations and the greater participation of women in politics. Women's rights organizations and movements are critical in efforts to create transformative change and achieve gender equality at local, national, and global levels. Achieving full human potential and sustainable development is only possible if women and girls fully, equally, and meaningfully participate in all aspects of society and have the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and opportunities. opportunities. Thank you. I thank the delegate from Ireland. I now give the floor to the delegate from Rwanda,


ECOSOC · President [1:38:07]:

to be followed by Canada. Thank you, Mr. President. As we enter the final 5 years of the 2030 Agenda, one thing is


Rwanda [1:38:17]:

clear: we cannot achieve sustainable development without gender equality. The 2024 Gender Snapshot paints a sobering picture reminding us that at the current pace, gender equality will remain out of reach by 2030. We must act with urgency, backed by financing and political will, to change this trajectory. For Rwanda, this reinforces a lesson we have long learned: progress requires political will, accountability, and inclusive governance. We have placed gender equality at the heart of our development model, not as an aspiration, but as a foundation for sustainable development. Rwanda remains a global leader in inclusive governance, with women occupying over 60% of seats in the parliament, over 35% of cabinet positions, and 55% in the judiciary. As highlighted in our Beijing+30 report, economic empowerment has also advanced, with 96% of women financially included through saving and credit cooperative society known as SACOS, and mobile banking. In education, gender parity remains stable in primary and secondary schools, while female participation in STEM stands at 46.2%. Mr. President, despite these gains, we remain vigilant. We are scaling up efforts to reduce unpaid care burdens through early childhood development centers and prioritizing gender-responsive data systems. Rwanda supports leveraging the CEDAW, Pact for the Future, and the upcoming World Social Summit as frameworks to accelerate SDG 5. However, frameworks alone are not enough without financing, technology transfer, and political coherence. In Rwanda, we believe that gender equality is not a women's issue. It is a leadership issue, a development issue, and a justice issue. We reaffirm our commitment to SDG 5 and stand ready to work with all partners to deliver on the promises we made in 2015, not just in words, but through real and measurable change. I thank you. Amen to that. Now turn to Canada. Thank you, Mr. President. distinguished delegates. In


ECOSOC · President [1:40:39]:

Canada, Gender-Based Analysis


Canada [1:40:41]:

Plus is recognized as essential for the development of effective policies, programs, and legislation across all federal departments and agencies. A challenge we face is the need to improve disaggregated data collection so we can better understand and address systemic inequities. Canada's Disaggregated Data Action Plan is a whole-of-government approach increase and improve statistics on diverse populations. By informing policy decisions, these data will strengthen efforts to address systemic racism, gender gaps, and allow us to adopt intersectional and inclusive approaches. For example, Canada's National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of violence through a comprehensive intersectional lens. It includes initiatives such as the establishment of emergency shelters and transitional housing for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people to provide culturally relevant support and reduce systemic barriers. Canada has work to do to ensure parenting and household responsibilities are equally shared between women and men. The gender gap in unpaid domestic and child care responsibilities are barriers for women's labor force participation. Federal, provincial, territorial, Indigenous partners are working together to expand access to regular regulated early learning and child care services for families no matter where in Canada they live. These efforts are helping mothers return to the workforce or pursue their studies. All provinces and territories are delivering early child Early learning and childcare for an average of ten dollars a day, or have reduced fees by at least fifty percent, making life significantly more affordable for families in Canada. À l'échelle internationale, le Canada cherche à prioriser les objectifs qui serviront de Canada seeks to prioritize objectives that drive the SDGs, including SDG five. We know that gender equality is a powerful catalyst for positive change in all sectors and all SDGs. By fostering gender equality in key areas like health, education, and economic opportunities, Canada tries to place women and girls at the heart of its efforts toward international aid. Thank you for your attention. Si je peux dire vive le Canada, merci beaucoup pour ça. Vive Canada, thank you very much


ECOSOC · President [1:43:10]:

for that. I'm going to introduce the next stakeholder group in a minute, but I'm going to be. I'm turning the chairmanship of the last portion over to my colleague, Ambassador Maritza Chan from Costa Rica. I have to do some— a press conference about the whole of HLPF, which is going on, as you know, for the next 2 weeks. I want to thank you all for the discussion today and thank the panelists very much for their presentations and just make one simple observation. I think we understand that while all SDG goals are equal, some are a little bit more equal than others. Why? Why is that? Because they are the catalyzers. They are the catalyzers. They are the goals that allow us to achieve the other goals. And I think we all have to understand that this is especially true of gender equality. Because that is going to be a major driver to our ability to achieve all the other goals. Bravo. Thank you. So I'm going to give the floor now to the stakeholder group for communities discriminated on work and descent and hand the floor over to my colleague from from Costa Rica. Thank you. Distinguished delegates, my name is Simona Torotskoi and I'm a Roma woman and I'm honored


Simona Torotskoi [1:44:40]:

to address you today. I'm here to bring forward the voices of millions of women and girls who continue to face discrimination which is systemic, inherited, and intergenerational based on work and descent as defined by the UN Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Elimination of Discrimination based on work and descent. I'm also here to announce the launch of our new UN Women policy paper on July 17th. Communities discriminated on work and descent— Dalits, Roma, Haratins, Burakumin, Kilambola, Palenque, and many others— make up an estimated 270 million people worldwide. These communities are defined not only by their historical marginalization but by the ongoing reality of exclusion exclusion rooted in caste-like hierarchies, inherited occupations, and deeply embedded social norms. Women and girls from these communities face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, often invisible in mainstream and policy advocacy. Despite international treaties and committees, including the CEDAW, the ICERT, the lived realities of women from our communities remain largely unaddressed. Women from communities discriminated on work and descent are often denied access to basic rights, education, health, justice, and political participation. In Africa, Haratin, Osu, Wolof, and other communities studied in segregated schools. In my community, a Roma woman gave birth on the pavement in front of the hospital. In South Asia, Dalit women are denied access to justice. And in Latin America, quilombola women, human rights defenders, are murdered and denied access to their land. Our women face high rates of violence, trafficking, forced labor, and statelessness. In many contexts, they are excluded from decision-making, both within their community and within broader society. Legal frameworks exist, but they are rarely enforced or adapted to our realities. Yet, we need broader systemic change. As we launched this policy paper, as I said, on July 17th, we call on the international community, UN agencies, and member states to explicitly recognize this form of discrimination and also to develop and implement national action plans that address the compounded discrimination faced by our women. I thank you. Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the Group for Communities Discriminated


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [1:47:15]:

on Work and Descent for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Vietnam, followed by Malaysia and Indonesia. Vietnam, the floor is yours. Thank you, Madam Chair. Gender equality and empowerment of women are key drivers for the 2030 Agenda.


Viet Nam [1:47:32]:

Vietnam welcomes the progress achieved. However, structural barriers continue to impede progress. This calls for more inclusive, resilient, and gender-responsive development approaches. Vietnam has a longstanding commitment to promoting gender equality and women empowerment, which are reflected in our constitution, laws, and mainstreamed across all sectors. Over the last years, we have strengthened our legal frameworks, improved gender data systems, and developed national targets aligned with SDG 5. We launched a Gender Equality Index for the public sector, adopted a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. Women now hold leadership roles in 59% of ministries and 75% of provincial governments. Female representation in the National Assembly exceed 30%. Female leadership in enterprises reached about 35%. To accelerate progress, we suggest to focus on 3 key areas. First, investing in inclusive education for women and girls, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to close gender gaps in future-oriented sectors. Second, promoting digital inclusion by expanding women's access to internet, digital tools, and financial technologies, especially in rural and remote areas. It is important to build safe, inclusive digital environments that prevent online gender-based violence and empower women to lead innovation and entrepreneurship. Third, strengthening global partnerships for gender equality. We call on the international community to increase investments, share best practices, and fulfill existing commitments under CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Actions, and SDG 5. We stand ready to work with all partners to advance women empowerment agenda and support women realizing her full potential. I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Vietnam for her statement, and I now I now cede back the


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [1:49:44]:

floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia, followed by Indonesia and Interpol. Good morning, Madam President, Excellencies. Malaysia is cognizant of its international obligations


Malaysia [1:49:56]:

as a state party to CEDAW, as headed in July 1995. Our federal constitution upholds the principles of non-discrimination against women. Article 8 ensures equal treatment for all, while Article 8 specifically prohibits gender-based discriminations. This strong legal foundation supports our ongoing efforts to eliminate gender inequality and promote equal rights for women. Malaysia's Gender Gap Index, MGGI, has shown promising progress. Standing at 0.705 in 2023, showing that Malaysia has achieved educational parity with equal or higher enrollment of girls at the pre-primary and secondary levels, giving us optimism about the future of gender equality. Women's labor force participation saw a significant rise from 55.6% in 2022 to 55 to 56.2% in 2023. Under the Madani Economy Framework, Malaysia is committed to further increasing this figure to 60% by 2033 through targeted measures to empower women and promote gender equality across all sectors. Madam President, gender mainstreaming has been institutionalized through empowerment of women, guided by the National Women's Policy 2025 to 2030 and its associated action plans. This policy comprises of 4 focus areas and aligns with the National Development Plan. In conclusion, Malaysia remains fully committed to achieving SDG 5, and promoting sustainable and inclusive development. Using science-based and inclusive policies will accelerate the progress. With that, I thank you, Madam President. I thank the distinguished representative of Malaysia for his statement, and I now give the floor to Indonesia,


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [1:52:13]:

followed by Interpol and the UAE. Indonesia, the floor is yours. Thank you, Madam Chair. Indonesia reaffirms its commitments to SDG 5 by promoting gender equity through a multi-sectoral,

evidence-based approach. Over the past decade, we have made significant progress. Women's representation in the national parliament has grown to 22.2%, while managerial positions held by women in the civil service reached 35.5%. The prevalence of child marriage declined to 5.9%, and violence against women also showed a decrease trend, reaching 5.7%. This progress was driven by legal reforms, including the law of sexual violence crimes, and by gender mainstreaming revitalizations across ministries and regions. Community-driven models like Gmachita and empowerment in remote areas such as the Loy-Nang tribe illustrates scalable, inclusive solutions combining education, economic access, and reproductive health. However, persistent challenges remain. Cultural norms still limit women's agency and gender expectations, contributing to stagnating female labor force participation. Regulatory implementations— regulatory implementation gaps and unequal access to decision-making also hinder further progress. Going forward, Indonesia will intensify its focus on science and evidence-based solutions to address these structural barriers. Our strategy will be centered on, first, data-driven policy, We will strengthen the use of sex-disaggregated data and adopt life cycle approaches. Second, investing in the care economy. We will formally recognize and invest in the care sectors, promote flexible work arrangements, and actively engage men in caregiving roles. Third, closing the digital divide. We will ensure that women, particularly those in rural and remote areas have equal access to digital technology and literacy. We continue to draw guidance from Beijing Platform for Action, CEDAW, and Pact of the Future. Indonesia stands ready to collaborate globally to ensure the promise of SDG 5 becomes a reality. I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia for his statement. I now give the floor to Interpol, followed by the United Arab Emirates, and then Thailand. Colleagues, I remind you we only have 3 minutes per each speaker, and we would like to finish with the list of speakers as much as we can. Interpol, the floor is yours. Madam Chair, since the launch of the 2030 Agenda, we have spoken at length about the importance of empowering women and girls.


Interpol [1:55:26]:

But the empowerment of women is not just a standalone goal. Rather, women drive progress towards every Sustainable Development Goal, and they achieve results. Indeed, Interpol has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of women in advancing international security. In 2020, our report found that by merely increasing the number of female officers, we can tangibly improve police operations. When women are at the table, corruption is reduced, community trust is strengthened, and policing becomes more effective, particularly in response to gender-based crimes. This is why Interpol is committed to supporting women's leadership in law enforcement. Through Project Sunbird, we are tackling systemic barriers faced by female police leaders in Southeast Asia. Through Project Momentum, we have trained female officers in the Middle East and North Africa in digital skills relevant to women in cyberspace. And through Project WIM in Action, we have united female officers across 35 African states to share resources for intelligence operations. Madam Chair, colleagues, too often we have heard the narrative that women are merely victims, but they are also leaders. They are changemakers. And they will lead the charge to turn SDG 5 from a goal to a reality. Interpol stands ready to work alongside the United Nations to support them in this journey. I thank you. Hear, hear, Interpol! I now give the floor to United Arab Emirates, followed by Thailand and Saudi In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [1:57:41]:

and Gracious. Esteemed attendees, peace and blessings of God be upon you. It is my pleasure to be among


United Arab Emirates [1:57:49]:

you today in this event, and I would like to extend our full appreciation to the organizers. The United Arab Emirates has been keen to translate recommendations into realistic policies through advanced legislative frameworks such as the Wage Equality Law and our Constitution, which guarantees equality in rights and opportunities among the 2 genders. These strategies enhance women's position in leadership and decision-making positions. The UAE woman has become a central part to decision-making processes, whether in the government or in the diplomatic field, or the private sector. In the government sector, for example, women fill half of all seats in our parliament. And in the cabinet, we have 10 ministers from among women handling crucial ministries such as the Ministry of International Cooperation and the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Society and Family Empowerment. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Esteemed attendees, because we believe in women's crucial role in upholding societies, the UAE has been keen to expand

its efforts in women empowerment all over the world through qualitative initiatives such as the initiative of Sheikha Fatma, Dr. Al Mubarak, in the implementation of a strategy for women's participation in peace and security in order to mainstream women's participation in this field, and over 500 women have benefited from this initiative so far. The UAE is considered the biggest Arab participant in UN Women. Our contribution has exceeded $46 million since 2010. This includes $15 million that were allocated to supporting women's empowerment projects worldwide in 2023. This is in addition to allocating more than $10 million to supporting women affected by conflict situations in 2024. Esteemed attendees, together we can build a world where women are an equal partner and a leader and a decision-maker. Thank you very much, and peace and blessings of God be upon you. I thank the distinguished representative of UAE for her statement. I now give the floor to Thailand, followed by Saudi Arabia and Ghana. Over


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:00:18]:

to you. Thank you, Madam President. Thailand recognizes that gender equality is a fundamental right and a key driver of progress across all SDGs. Significant


Thailand [2:00:28]:

progress has been made in advancing SDG 5, including first, enhancing women's human capital. Thailand's 15-year free education policy has contributed to higher education completion rates among girls and raised female literacy to 94.6%. Percent as of 2022. We have also promoted women participation in STEM through scholarships, training, and role model initiatives. Thailand's National Digital Economy Plan also ensures women's inclusion in the digital transformation. Second, to combat gender-based violence, Thailand has strengthened legal and institutional frameworks, including the establishment of a nationwide network of one-stop crisis centers to offer immediate support to victims and survivors. Third, on the economic front, we have introduced care economy measures to support working families, such as extending paid maternity leave to 98 days and expanding childcare services for children under the age of 3 years old. Key lesson learned is necessity of having adaptable legal frameworks that can keep pace with societal changes. Thailand's ongoing review of Gender Equality Act and the recent passage of the Marriage Equality Law demonstrates our commitment to broadening protection and promoting inclusivity. The role of robust data collection is equally important, especially gender-disaggregated data, which enable us to identify gaps and tailor interventions effectively. Lastly, meaningful and lasting progress depends on stakeholder engagement and local participation to ensure policies are translated into actions on the ground. As a member of the Human Rights Council, Thailand underscores the importance of mutually reinforcing the relationship between the SDGs and human rights frameworks. We value the UPR and the CEDAW reporting process, as well as the VNR process, as essential mechanisms to mainstream gender perspectives throughout the 2030 Agenda implementation. I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand for her statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia,


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:02:44]:

followed by Ghana and FAO. Thank you, President. Thank you, Madam Chair, esteemed representatives of international organizations, Peace and blessings of God be upon you. The Kingdom


Saudi Arabia [2:03:00]:

of Saudi Arabia over the past years has witnessed unprecedented qualitative changes in the field of women's empowerment. This is a reflection of an ambitious vision as part of our Vision 2030, which believes that women have a crucial role as a partner in comprehensive national development. Within the framework of international cooperation and achieving sustainable development, our Vision for the Kingdom 2030 has been a turning point in women's empowerment so that women can be an effective partner in all development fields. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken quickening qualitative steps in order to enhance women's participation. We have made women's economic and social empowerment a crucial part of our national plans. Since 2017, women's participation economically has doubled from 17% to over 36% as of 2024. And women's empowerment in the workforce has exceeded 53%. And women's participation in middle management and higher management has exceeded 43%. And this is proof of women's leadership experience. Experience and preparedness to play crucial roles in national development. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in collaboration with a number of bodies, has pushed forward this issue through initiatives including the Leadership Development Initiative and another initiative that provides specialized training to more than 122,000 female researchers. We also have the WUSUL initiative, which has taken hundreds of thousands of women to the positions they need in the workforce. And we have an initiative that has allowed over 400,000 mothers to be able to continue to participate in the workforce. And 142,000 women have benefited from flexible working models. More than 40,000 freelance opportunities have also been provided. This is reflected clearly in reality, thereby creating an incubator for the Saudi woman. I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana, followed


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:05:33]:

by FAO. Germany and Morocco. Thank you, Madam Chair, distinguished delegates. Ghana remains unwavering in its commitment to SDG 5, recognizing that gender equality and the empowerment of


Ghana [2:05:48]:

especially women and girls are fundamental to national development. In 2024, Ghana enacted the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act as a transformative legal The components of the law include: 1, mandatory representation of at least 30% of women in key decision-making bodies; gender-responsive budgeting; protection against discrimination; political party compliance to promote gender equality in electoral processes; and 5, private sector incentives for companies that comply with gender equity policies. There have been significant gains in addressing gender-related issues regarding incidents of intimate partner violence, reported cases of rape and defilement, as well as a reduction in child marriages. Despite these strides, Ghana's representation in decision-making roles remains low. Ghana acknowledges that passing the affirmative action law is only the beginning. Effective implementation demands robust funding, supporting regulatory frameworks, and vigilant civil society engagement that challenge deep-rooted gender norms. Ghana stands ready to lead by example, given that our current Vice President is a woman, the very first in our history. We are committed to ensure that our laws are not just symbolic but drivers of real change. We ask the international community to stand with us in scaling up financing, nurturing female leadership through capacity building, and embedding gender equity across all levels of governance so that indeed no one is left behind. Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Ghana for her statement. I now give the floor to FFO, followed by Thank you, Chair, and good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:07:50]:

I'm happy to make this statement on behalf of FAO to emphasize our work on SDG 5. Women perform key functions in


FAO [2:07:58]:

agri-food systems. According to FAO's flagship report, The Status of Women in Agri-Food Systems, agri-food systems are a more important source of livelihoods for women than for men in low- and lower-middle-income countries. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, 66% of women who work work in agri-food systems, and in South Asia, 71% of women who are working are engaged in agri-food systems compared to 47% of men. Despite their key roles, women face significant barriers in accessing resources, technology, education, training, finance, and economic opportunities, and many of these challenges are multiplied for young women who compared to young men are more dependent on agrofood systems employment but are less likely to have necessary resources to establish independent livelihoods. Speaking specifically about SDG 5 indicators for which FAO has custodianship, in almost half of the countries reporting on SDG 5.A.1, men own twice as much land as women, and two-thirds of countries that report on SDG 5.A.2 lack adequate legal protections for women's land rights. Therefore, stronger legal frameworks, policies, and implementation strategies are urgently needed that promote women's equal inheritance rights, full tenure security, joint land registration, legal empowerment, and leadership in land governance. These efforts must be complemented by targeted programs that challenge and transform discriminatory social norms. Empowering women is not only a fairness issue, it is an economic imperative. FAO estimates that closing the gender gap in farm productivity and wages could boost global GDP by nearly US$1 trillion and reduce food insecurity for 45 million people. I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of FAO for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany, followed by Morocco. Costa Rica,


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:09:57]:

and France. Germany, over to you. Thank you very much. Germany views SDG 5 as the backbone of the 2030 Agenda. Systemic inequalities and structural barriers faced by women and girls in all their diversity


Germany [2:10:13]:

hinder progress across the board. Investments in gender equality, on the other hand, create multiplier effects across all SDGs. So far, progress remains too slow and uneven. The Beijing+30 process and the gender snapshots show some improvements. Legal framework and women's labor force participation have advanced. Yet political representation, the elimination of gender-based violence, and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights are still lagging behind. Marginalized groups face the greatest challenges. One key lesson from the past decade is clear: gender-neutral policies are not gender-neutral policies. Moving forward, we need to embed gender equality into all our policies, into climate financing, inclusive economic policymaking, and digital transitions. To embody this shift, Germany supports locally led solutions that improve gender equality while advancing broader SDG goals, whether by supporting women-led climate resilience efforts or funding intersectional data systems. These are examples of science-based policies at work. We also support feminist civil society organizations financially and politically in times of shrinking civic space and severe underfunding. Germany fully supports the Pact for the Future's commitment to eliminate discriminatory laws, ensure equal rights, and promote the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of society. Looking ahead to the World Social Summit, we have a critical opportunity reimagine international cooperation. To achieve the 2030 Agenda, gender equality must be treated as foundation. It is not an add-on, but the basis for just, resilient, and peaceful societies. Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Germany for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco, followed by Costa Rica and France.


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:12:40]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation expresses its appreciation for the substantive and rich panel discussion on SDG 5 and the highlights on its interlinkages with the other


Morocco [2:12:51]:

SDGs. Morocco welcomes this year's focus on SDG 5 review in line with this year's HAPF theme, and we would like to to emphasize the urgent need to bridge all the digital divides, including the gender divide, and promoting women and girls' access to digital technology. We also believe that the Global Digital Compact provided a crucial roadmap linking SDI with the SDG 5. Madam Chair, in the words of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI during the 2nd Women in Africa Initiative Summit, No country, economy, business, or society can tackle today's challenges nor ensure optimal use of its resources and energies without the full involvement of women. In this regard, the Kingdom of Morocco considers women empowerment a cornerstone of development. The constitution of my country includes 18 provisions related to women's rights, enshrining the principle of equality and prohibiting all forms of discrimination. Madam Chairperson, at the international level, Morocco ratified the CEDAW and its Protocol in 1993 and remains committed to the Beijing Platform for Action, which notably places the empowerment of women among its 12 strategic objectives. To further ensure progress on women's rights, His Majesty King Mohammed VI initiated the reform of the Family Code in 2011. 2022, driven by the need to address inherent challenges in its implementation while taking into account the ongoing evolution of our society. The reform is being conducted through broad consultations aiming several areas of family law, while proposals from the head of government were presented in this regard to His Majesty the King at the end of 2024. Currently, the amendment process is primarily at the stage of review and formulating recommendations. In concluding, I once more would like to reaffirm the commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to the multilateral effort to ensure that women's and girls' rights are upheld and respected. Thank you very much. I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of Morocco for his statement, and it's now my honor to give I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:15:21]:

Rica. Madam President, gender equality is not just one goal among many. It is the key that opens all other doors to sustainable development. Women drive economies. They transform financial


Costa Rica [2:15:46]:

barriers. They transform borders, but financial barriers keep them on the margins. Without access to credit, without land, without fair markets, their potential remains chained. This structural inequality is not only unjust, it stifles growth and perpetuates poverty. Please allow me to be clear. We must reform the financial architecture so that women can access resources that guarantee their full autonomy. First, specific and sustained financing for women in vulnerable situations. The CSW69 Political Declaration recognized that Afro-descendant, indigenous, rural, Migrant and refugee women and women with disabilities face multiple and intersectional discrimination, excluding them from development. Public-private partnerships must establish preferential credit lines for women's cooperatives, rural enterprises and businesses led by women, in particular women in situations of vulnerability. Second, condition international financing on gender equality policies. International financial entities must link loans and debt relief to compliance with specific targets. For example, increased public spending on care, access to services for rural women, and reduction of wage gaps. Third, we must reform the governance of international financial institutions. More women from the Global South in decision-making spaces, and we need it now. Madam President, 30 years after Beijing, we must move from gender-sensitive approaches to being truly transformative. I thank the distinguished representative of Costa Rica for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of France. Madame la Présidente. Madam President,


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:18:16]:

Excellencies, Excellencies, it's an honor for me to speak today about SDG 5. Gender equality, a goal that is both cross-cutting and fundamental. The localities in France


France [2:18:30]:

play a key role in promoting the rights of women and girls. They take action in key areas for emancipation: education, healthcare, employment, public safety, and political participation. As a driver, it must be fully incorporated into local policy. Institut Unie France is a working group dedicated to SDG 5 and feminist diplomacy. We support French communities and their international partners to include the gender approach into all cooperation projects and to support elected women officials and local leaders. French communities are actively taking ownership of international strategies of France for a feminist diplomacy that translates principles into local— on the local level, and by supporting sexual reproductive rights, by strengthening participation of women in politics, as well as by combating gender-based violence. This local dynamic strengthens coherence and the overall impact of feminist diplomacy in France. Together with state diplomacy, we affirm the growing role of diplomacy of cities in French territories, focused on concrete solutions and lasting transformations. Lastly, To strengthen implementation, we must ensure that local communities have increased access to financing, training, and to spaces for multilateral dialogue such as the one we are in today. In conclusion, I'd like to affirm my conviction that equality is built every day in every community and territory and project. and that communities are on the front lines for making gender equality a reality. And our women elected officials are the first at the front lines of this effort. Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of France for her statement, and I now give the floor to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, followed by the Philippines, India,


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:20:52]:

and Brazil. Over to you. Thank you, Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the International Union for Conservation of Nature reaffirms its commitment to advancing gender equality as a cornerstone of


IUCN [2:21:05]:

sustainable development, environmental integrity, and climate resilience. As we have heard today, SDG 5 is foundational to the success of all other Sustainable Development Goals. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and climate impacts, yet they are also powerful agents of change. Women, particularly Indigenous women and those in rural communities, are often frontline defenders of nature. Their leadership must be recognized, resourced, and protected through inclusive decision-making and targeted capacity building. As the world confronts converging crises, from biodiversity loss and climate change to conflict and economic instability, We need to accelerate, not reverse, the realization of gender equality and women's and girls' rights. Environmental governance must be gender transformative. This includes integrating gender considerations into biodiversity finance, climate adaptation, and nature-based solutions to ensure equitable outcomes and avoid reinforcing existing inequalities. To do this, we need gender-disaggregated data, including for key environmental indicators. As we approach the midpoint of the SDG timeline, the IUCN urges all stakeholders to accelerate action on SDG 5. Without it, we cannot achieve a just, green, and peaceful future. Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of IUCN for her statement. I now give the floor to the Philippines, followed by India, Brazil, and the Russian Federation. Philippines, over to you. Madam


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:22:49]:

Chair, the Philippines stands firm in its commitment to SDG 5, Gender Equality, a key driver of progress across all the SDGs. Gender is integrated in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,


Philippines [2:23:04]:

which aims to increase women's participation in the labor force, From 51.7% to 54% by 2028. As of May this year, we have exceeded the target and reached 55.9%, advancing both SDGs 5 and 8. We have moved from 25th to 20th globally and 3rd in East Asia and the Pacific in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report, with a gender parity score of 78.1%. We have strengthened the implementation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act by establishing over 2,200 anti-sexual harassment desks and 1,700 hotlines, complemented by enhanced police training and engagement in nearly 40,000 local government units, or 93% of the total. Country. Key here is to overcome the stigma of reporting amid patriarchal social structures. CSOs have vigorously been working with the government to recognize, measure, and redistribute unpaid women's care work and the passing of a law that will prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and social and sexual characteristics. Characteristics. These are important steps in ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially of LGBTQI groups that need legal protection from discrimination and violence. Reaffirming its commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action and the Philippines' reelection to the Commission on the Status of Women, we will continue championing best practices, global dialogue, and gender-responsive action to achieve gender justice. In conclusion, we affirm the vision and work for a world where every woman and girl lives free from violence, discrimination, and inequality. Despite global challenges, the Philippines remains committed to bold policies, inclusive partnerships, and sustained investment in gender equality. Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines for her statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India, followed by Brazil, the Russian Federation,


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:25:28]:

and Zimbabwe. Thank you, Madam Chair. India has made significant progress in key areas of SDG 5, particularly in legislative reforms, digital inclusion, and expanding access to essential services. A significant


India [2:25:44]:

step that India has taken to ensure women's meaningful participation is the constitutional amendment in 2023 to reserve one-third seats for women in national and state legislatures, marking a historic milestone in our national journey to foster women's equitable representation in public life at all levels of the federal structure. India also recognizes the importance of inclusive participation in STEM fields to pursue innovation and achieve sustainable development. We firmly believe that empowering women through science, technology, and innovation is not only a matter of equity but also a catalyst for sustainable development and inclusive growth. The Government of India has implemented flagship programs like Women in Science and Engineering, KIRAN, Vigyan Jyoti, Women Scientists Scheme, aimed at encouraging women's participation in science and technology. I'm happy to inform that India has one of the highest proportions of women in STEM education globally, with female enrollment in STEM graduates reaching an impressive 40%. Over the past decade, the number of female scholars securing PhD degrees has gone up by 107%. Flagship programs such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao— Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child— have seen significant success, with an improved gender ratio in several states and a marked increase in female literacy. Moreover, through the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, over 12.9 million women have received maternity benefits, contributing to improved maternal and child health outcomes. To enhance synergies across SDGs, gender has been integrated across health, nutrition, education, and climate policies. Government programs like Poshan Abhiyan and Jal Jeevan Mission are being implemented with a gender-sensitive lens recognizing women as agents of change in their communities. Over the past decade, India has learned that community-driven, data-informed, and rights-based policy approaches yield lasting impact. Policies must be reinforced by localized implementation, and digital public infrastructure has proven to be an effective tool for outreach and transparency. Madam Chair, we are committed to transforming institutions, challenging discriminatory norms, I thank the distinguished representative of India for her statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil, followed by the Russian Federation and Zimbabwe. Thank


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:28:18]:

you very much, Madam Chair. Brazil believes progress begins with strong laws and social policies. Over the past 2 decades, we have enacted key legislation, from the Maria da Penha Law to the National


Brazil [2:28:30]:

Policy on Prevention of Feminicides, anchoring zero tolerance for gender-based violence. In 2024, our National Care Policy recognized care as a social right and shared responsibility, supporting both paid and unpaid caregivers. To ensure these laws translate into real protection, we have expanded support networks, The Women's Helpline 180 operates 24/7, and we now have 30 women's houses and referral centers nationwide. In 2025, Lilac Rooms were introduced as safe, trauma-informed spaces within police and judicial settings. We're advancing women's economic autonomy through specific programs addressed at women workers and farmers alongside universal protection such as maternity leave and childcare. Our policies embrace diversity. Forums led by quilombola women and LGBTI activists inform inclusive policymaking. The Rogeria Forum now standardizes how violence against LGBTIQI+ persons is recorded, and our gender-based violence protocol ensures protection for all survivors. We also promote traditional knowledge and African heritage. Recognizing women's roles in caregiving, spirituality, and community leadership. To track progress, we have launched the National Observatory on Hate Crimes and implemented federal gender-responsive training. Our SDG 5 working group used disaggregated data to guide investments and monitor outcomes. Madam Chair, Brazil remains committed to gender equality at home and in global forums because, as the minister from Finland said in the beginning of the session, gender equality is not an ideology. Thank you very much. Obrigada, Brasil. I now give the floor to the Russian Federation, followed by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Over to you. Thank you, Madam President. Indeed, today's discussions have affirmed that


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:30:40]:

women and girls are still facing discrimination, limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. All of this


Russian Federation [2:30:49]:

requires greater efforts from the international community to attain SDG 5. However, it's important to recall a number of important risks that are less spoken about. First of all, we are concerned that the issue of protecting women's reproductive rights are often included on the agenda of negotiations on specialized topics, for example, on eradication of poverty or ensuring decent employment, overcoming digital divide between developed and developing countries, or even peacebuilding. We believe this kind of approach only reduces the quality of intergovernmental cooperation on the remaining SDGs. It's difficult to attain true equality between women and men without ensuring that opportunities are provided, for example, by eradicating poverty as well as hunger, or ensuring that rights to education are upheld in the Global South. A key intergovernmental of the UN for the entire range of issues related to gender equality must remain the Commission on the Status of Women, or CSW. Practical steps for implementing it can only be attained after states reach an agreement on all issues related to reform and transformation within the UNAID initiative. Secondly, we are seeing an increasing trend toward shoehorning discussions on sexual minorities' rights within the topic of women's rights, the insistence of certain states to use the term gender in intergovernmental documents while frenetically removing any reference to biological sex is a lamentable step backward when it comes to achieving SDG 5. As a result, women and girls are once again risking becoming invisible and being left behind by state policies and programs. By the way, the Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council recently came to the same conclusion. The Rapporteur on Violence Against women and girls. She presented a report on sex-based violence as opposed to gender-based violence. Thank you for your attention. I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation for his statement, and I now give the floor to Zimbabwe, followed by the UN Office for DDE. Thank you, Chair. Zimbabwe remains a strong advocate


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:33:28]:

for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. We affirm that gender equality is not just a goal but a key enabler of progress across all the SDGs.


Zimbabwe [2:33:39]:

Empowered women and girls are agents of transformation whose advancement contributes significantly to poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth, and the promotion of peace and stability. To advance progress towards the empowerment of women and girls, Zimbabwe has taken the following decisive actions. Number 1, legal reforms. The enactment of the Marriage Act of 2022 sets the legal minimum age of marriage at 18 years. This eliminates child marriages while safeguarding the dignity and development of young women and girls. Number 2, education and leadership opportunities. My government continues to enhance access of quality education for girls, particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM fields. Mentorship programs are equipping young women for leadership roles. Thirdly, economic empowerment. Through the provision of microfinance, entrepreneurial training, and skills development, particularly in rural areas, the government is fostering the economic independence and resilience of women. Fourthly, leveraging Partnerships. Zimbabwe continues to strengthen partnerships to advance SDG 5, notably through the Spotlight Initiative implemented in partnership with the UN. My government is intensifying efforts to end all forms of violence against women and girls. Recently, our cabinet approved the revised Gender Policy 2025 to 2030. 2030, which embraces regional and international best practices. Excellencies, Zimbabwe is committed to transparency and accountability in the implementation of gender-related commitments. Robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for gender policies are in place. We have mainstreamed gender-disaggregated data into national statistics. I thank Zimbabwe for her statement, and I now give the floor to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, DRR. Thank you, Madam Chair. As we reflect on a decade of implementation of SDG 5, it is clear that while progress has been made in areas such as girls' education and women's political participation, deep structural inequalities


UNDRR [2:36:19]:

persist, particularly in the face of growing climate and disaster risks. Gender inequality, when compounded by environmental and economic shocks, becomes a multiplier of vulnerability. From UNDRR's perspective, disasters are not gender-neutral. Women and girls, especially those in marginalized communities, face disproportionate impacts due to unequal access to resources, decision-making, and protection. These disparities are not inevitable. They are socially and economically constructed, and therefore they can be changed. The Gender Action Plan to support the implementation of the Sendai Framework, developed with UN Women and UNFPA, is a key tool to accelerate gender-responsive disaster risk governance. It supports countries in integrating gender equality into national DRR strategies, improving disaggregated data, and ensuring women's leadership in resilience building. Countries like Nepal, Somalia, and Colombia are already aligning their policies, while tools like the Women's Resilience to Disaster Policy Tracker are helping monitor progress. To achieve SDG 5, we must do 3 things differently. First, put women and girls at the center of risk-informed development planning, not as beneficiaries but as leaders. Second, invest in gender-disaggregated data and local knowledge to inform inclusive policy. And third, leverage synergies between the Beijing Declaration, CEDAW, the Sendai Framework, and the Pact for the Future to drive coherent, cross- cross-cutting and cross-sectoral policies and financing, from preparedness to recovery. Gender equality is not only a goal in itself, it is a foundation for resilience, economic stability, and sustainable development. We cannot afford to leave it behind. I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Spain, followed by the Association of Caribbeans. Thank


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:38:36]:

you very much, Madam President. Spain supports gender equality as a key part of sustainable development to gender and social justice, both on a domestic and international level. On a domestic level, we have renewed the


Spain [2:38:51]:

Pact of the State to eradicate violence against women with important budgetary backing. To reduce matches violence is not only a democratic and human rights obligation, but an essential condition to fully comply with the 2030 Agenda. There will be no sustainable development without lives free of violence for all women and girls. Furthermore, Spain has set forth the third strategic plan for effective equality between women and men. Which is an instrument to guide institutional changes in this direction. And the recent organic law for parity and the balanced presence of men and women established minimum quotas of 40% of women in decision-making roles in companies, the public administration, trade unions, among others. Similarly, Spain has consolidated its commitments to joint responsibility in care. Supporting the Global Alliance for Care with a view of emphasizing the value they have for societies. When it comes to international cooperation, gender is a cross-cutting part of all of our actions, and we are thus engaging in a new strategy for feminist cooperation in the framework of our feminist foreign policy. Spain's cooperation has specific programs such as those focused specifically on promoting the full and effective participation of women in all areas of economic, cultural, and political fronts. When it comes to commitments to key bodies such as UN Women and as part of the Conference of the Via, we have focused on gender equality in financing for sustainable development on all fronts, the fiscal level, Budgets, and also when it comes to decision-making for financial institutions. Spain is committed to a transformational agenda that closes the gap between words and actions, and multilateralism needs to be feminist; otherwise, it won't be effective. Thank you very much. Agradezco al distinguido representante de España. I thank the distinguished representative of Spain for his statement. And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Association of Caribbean States. Mike,


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:41:16]:

Mike from the Association of Caribbean States, please. Muchas gracias, señora presidenta. Listo. Es un placer. Thank you very much, Madam President. It's a real pleasure to see you heading up this distinguished panel. It's a pleasure to greet you, distinguished Ambassador. The Association


Association of Caribbean States [2:41:37]:

of Caribbean States is a unique mechanism not only for the region that it represents but also because it provides technical and political support to strengthen the way we work with member states to coordinate high-level agreements and at the same time we have a mandate to promoting cooperation through projects that enable us to transform the lives of people in the Greater Caribbean, including, of course, women. In Latin America and the Caribbean, women carry out around 80% of unpaid care work, and at the same time, 1 in every 3 women suffer gender-based violence at some point throughout their lives. Without gender equality, the 2030 Agenda is simply unattainable. In this context, regional cooperation is essential. In this region, this— we are the only region to have a regional gender agenda, but we still need to do more and invest more to ensure that women and girls in the Greater Caribbean benefit from conditions that enable them to fully develop. This region that despite having great wealth and natural resources and biodiversity and the Caribbean Sea, is profoundly vulnerable to climate crises as well as economic and social crises, with the majority of the countries making up the region being small island developing states. Women are the ones that bear the brunt of these crises. It's important to mention that the achievement of SDG 5, as well as the other SDGs, are closely related to each other, and we need gender equality to achieve this. This needs to be a cross-cutting issue. Without equality, there can be no development. Thirty years after Beijing, there are still huge challenges. For example, at this pace, achieving equality in conditions for the political participation of women will take another century. We need more women making decisions because this means new ways of doing things. In our association, we are working. To ensure that we mainstream these approaches in our 5 areas of work: the protection of the Caribbean Sea, trade and external economic relations, disaster risk management— The speaker's microphone was cut off. I thank the distinguished representative of the Association of Caribbean States for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Suriname. who will be followed


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:44:11]:

by Poland and Chile. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. Suriname remains firmly committed to advancing SDG 5, and I wish to respond to the guiding questions by sharing our key progress, challenges, and priorities. First, on trends, Suriname has made important strides


Suriname [2:44:35]:

with the Equal Treatment Labor Act and a Violence and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act, both adopted in 2022, to strengthen workplace protections. We also have improved women's access to affordable housing by reserving 40% of units for single women. These steps remark— mark progress towards safer, more equitable conditions for women and girls. However, gaps remain. Women in Suriname still earn less than men across most wage brackets, face higher rates of discrimination, especially by gender and ethnic origins, and are underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles. Gender-based violence also persists as a serious challenge. Second, we have seen that good laws alone are not enough. Effective implementation needs strong institutions, adequate resources, and continuous awareness-raising to shift harmful cultural norms. We have learned that involving communities and grassroots women's groups makes policies more relevant and lasting. Going forward, we must reinforce institutional capacity, expand gender-sensitive data collection, and close funding gaps that limit progress. Third, on evidence-based solutions and synergies, RENAM is committed to using disaggregated data to guide policies that close the pay gap, expand women's economic opportunities and strengthen protections against violence and harassment. We also see clear synergies and other goals. Investing in women's empowerment and girls' education directly supports poverty reduction, decent work, and climate resilience. Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Suriname for her statements, and I now give the I now give the floor to the representative of Poland, followed by Chile. Dear Excellencies, distinguished delegates, among key actions taken


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:47:00]:

to achieve SDG 5, Poland takes various measures aimed at ensuring that women and girls enjoy full, equal, and meaningful political, social, and economic participation.


Poland [2:47:12]:

Addressing inequalities arising from the unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities is a vital step towards a more just and compassionate society where everyone has equal opportunities for growth and fulfillment. By supporting equal involvement of women and men in both family and professional life, we foster a culture of mutual respect, solidarity, and shared responsibility. One of the key issues that remains to be addressed is the inequalities in division of household work between men and women and an uncertain labor market situation for women pursuing motherhood. To address these problems, Poland launched several programs aimed at supporting parents in their child caring efforts. These programs include financial support for establishment of childcare institutions for children under the age of three. Especially in areas where they are not yet available. Moreover, working parents can also benefit from additional support through programs which aim to facilitate reconciliation of parenting and work responsibilities. Such forms of support help to improve the situation of parents on the labor market by increasing access to high-quality childcare for children up to the age of 3. For both parents of a child and especially women, they serve as key measures which facilitate pursuing professional activity. In developing these solutions, Poland takes into account a number of factors related to, among others, demographic situation of the country, the preferences and needs of the parents, and the challenges that parents face in the context of raising children and ensuring a balance between parental responsibilities and work. I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Poland for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile, followed by Papua New Guinea. Thank you very much, Madam President. For Chile, promoting gender equality


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:49:21]:

and the empowerment of all women and girls is not only a cross-cutting priority but also a structural condition for sustainable development We know that gender equality


Chile [2:49:32]:

cannot exist without fully guaranteeing sexual and reproductive rights. Chile has made headway in broadening access to sexual and reproductive health services, strengthening comprehensive education, and significantly reducing teenage pregnancy. These policies are essential for guaranteeing the autonomy of women and girls throughout their lives. We also recognize that economic equality must be part a core part of our strategies. Chile today is implementing a national care policy based on the recognition of care as a right, a job, and a social need. We are in favor of a new care economy that reduces the burden on women, that generates formal jobs, and that empowers social and gender joint responsibility. However, in order for these transformations to be sustainable, we need financing. Gender equality cannot depend only on political will. It needs adequate budgets, progressive taxation, disaggregated data, and accountability mechanisms. In this regard, we welcome the fact that the Compromiso de Sevilla that was recently adopted reaffirms the centrality of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as an essential requirement for sustainable development. We also underscore the clear call to increase investment in the care equality, to recognize and redistribute in an equitable manner unpaid work, and to reaffirm the commitment to the elimination of gender-based violence. These are not just symbolic gestures, but rather they're political decisions that must guide our actions in all multilateral spaces. Madam President, we hope that this review of SDG 5 will be an opportunity to shed light on evidence-based solutions that recognize the link between gender, economic, health, education, justice, and climate action. In Chile, we aspire to continue to contribute to this collective effort through public policies and a sustained commitment to meaningful equality. Thank you very much. I thank the distinguished representative of Chile for Thank you for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Papua New Guinea, followed by Australia. Madam Chair, Papua New Guinea agrees wholeheartedly with the


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:51:54]:

ECOSOC President and others that SDG 5 is indeed central and cross-cutting to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, and we thank this morning's panelists for their insightful presentations.


Papua New Guinea [2:52:09]:

As one of the 37 countries presenting our second VNR this year, we invite participants to access our VNR report, which is available on the relevant UN portal. This provides a comprehensive assessment of our progress on all SDGs, including SDG 5. We also welcome participants to our VNR presentation next Monday afternoon. Madam Chair, Papua New Guinea continues to face challenges in achieving gender equality. However, we have made measured progress, underpinned by strong political commitment and policy and legislative reforms, but where implementation requires to be strengthened. Our current Medium-Term Development Plan prioritizes population, youth, and women empowerment as one of 12 strategic priority areas. We have adopted the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment and established a Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality to ensure political commitment, oversight, and institutional coordination. Madam Chair, gender-based violence remains a serious concern and an affront to the dignity and rights of women and girls in Papua New Guinea. In response, our National Strategy to Prevent, and Respond to GBV promotes a whole-of-society approach, including civil society, faith-based organizations, the private sector, and development partners. This is complemented by the Spotlight Initiative of the partnership with EU and the UN system. Through this, we have expanded inter-Alia victims of GBV access to legal aid, protection shelters, and psychosocial services and addressing root causes across the country. We have earlier this year launched our National Women's Council, which was in hiatus, to enable it to play a strong woman's leadership on gender issues and national development. Madam Chair, in view of the time, we will submit our full statement, but before I conclude, let me say Papua New Guinea remains committed to further strengthening our national leadership and ownership I thank the distinguished representative of Papua New Guinea for his statement and the best of luck with the presentation of the PNR. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia, followed by Tanzania. Thank you very much, Madam


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:54:40]:

Chair, and thank you for facilitating such a timely, thought-provoking, and inspiring discussion today. Australia is firmly committed to gender equality and women and girls empowerment. Through our International Gender Equality


Australia [2:54:53]:

Strategy, Australia actively champions the human rights of women and girls. We prioritize efforts to end gender-based violence, advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, promote gender-responsive peace and security efforts, deliver gender equitable climate action and humanitarian assistance, foster women's economic equality, and support locally led approaches to women's leadership. As we know, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, but as many have pointed out, the world is unacceptably off track to achieve SDG 5 by 2030. Compounding global crises have created new and also exacerbated existing gender inequality and such as unequal access to health services, education, and economic opportunities, along with technology-facilitated gender-based violence. In this context, Australia welcomes today's discussion as a powerful reminder of the immense value in accelerating progress on SDG 5, without which we cannot make progress on the SDGs as a whole. In particular, we welcome the discussion around opportunities to address backsliding and barriers such as investment in education, AI, and women and girls leadership. We wholeheartedly support comments around the importance of accountability and the alignment of various international mechanisms and processes to transform words into actions. Thank you very much again for this valuable discussion. I thank the distinguished representative of Australia for his statement, and I now give the floor to the Democratic Republic of Tanzania, followed by the Dominican Republic. Thank you, Madam Chair. Tanzania underscores that gender equality is not merely a social


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:56:39]:

imperative, but it is a foundational pillar for achieving the entire 2030 Agenda. We view SDG 5 as a catalyst for transformative change across all Sustainable Development goals.


United Republic of Tanzania [2:56:53]:

Guided by our 2023 National Gender and Women Development Policy, we have taken deliberate steps to promote the legal, economic, and social empowerment of women and girls. These efforts include strengthening legal framework to safeguard women's rights and eliminate discrimination, expanding women leaders and political participation today over 40% of our elected council members are women. Enhancing access to financial services, digital technologies, and secure land tenure for women, empowering nearly 1.5 million women through community and government-backed financial scheme. Women using formal banking services increased from 60% 6% in 2017 to 80% in 2024, including introducing gender-responsive budget in national and sectoral development plans and scaling up multi-sectoral initiatives to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. We recognize the profound interlinkages between SDG 5 and other goals, particularly SDG 1 on poverty reduction, SDG 3 on health, SDG 4 on education, and SDG 13 on climate change. When girls completed education, when women owned land and business, and when social norms shift, entire community prosper and national resilience deepens. Looking ahead, Tanzania calls for scaling up in gender equality as development multiplier, enhanced support to national statistics system to generate timely sex disaggregated data, and strong partnership with women-led and youth-led organizations. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. I thank the distinguished delegate of Tanzania for her statements. And I now give the floor to our last speaker of this morning, who will be the Dominican Republic. We'll be eating soon, everyone. For the Dominican Republic, moving towards gender equality has involved


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [2:59:27]:

consolidating a robust institutional response that is articulated and multi-sectoral. Today we can affirm that the country has made progress with an institutional architecture focused on SDG 5, with


Dominican Republic [2:59:39]:

more than 100 gender units active in public institutions, instruments that are more aligned with international commitments, and a strategic plan for a life free of violence that has contributed to a 28% reduction in complaints of inter-family violence and a significant reduction in violence against women between 2021 and 2024. We have strengthened services for comprehensive care such as the National Service Map and the platform, the single register platform that improves traceability and coordination for victims. When it comes to economic autonomy, we underscore the measure that has promoted wage equality and working conditions with many people impacted in many different companies and public institutions. We have also driven forward the gender parity index in different sectors such as education and technology. Public policies have progressively incorporated the gender approach to budgets, planning, and training programs such as Juventud Superada and changing gender norms have addressed issues such as teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and the distribution of care work. For the last one, our country has a national policy. We welcome the fact that women's participation in the legislature have increased by 24% between 2020 and 2024. However, there are still challenges. Low representation in city halls and in the Senate. And in order to move towards closing gaps, we are promoting synergy between SDG 5 and other goals, in particular SDG 8, by way of active employment, technical training policies, and dealing with unpaid work in the care economy. The Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to An institutionality with a gender approach, with sustained social investment and real mechanisms for participation to ensure we leave nobody behind. Thank you very much. I thank the distinguished representative of Dominican Republic for her statement. Unfortunately, due to the high interest in the topic of discussion and time constraints, it was not possible to hear from all those wishing to I will now give the floor back to the moderator in order


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [3:02:07]:

to hear reflections from the panellists, as well as her own concluding remarks. Ms. Beagle, you have the floor. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. This has been a very rich discussion and we will all have our own takeaways, and in the interest of time, I will just give 4 very brief ones. Progress on SDG 5 requires the elimination of discrimination. Discrimination in law and in practice. The laws on the


IDLO · Director-General · Jan Beagle [3:02:32]:

books are not always the laws on the street or in the home. Secondly, change requires adequate financing backed by robust data and political will, especially to support increased access for girls to education and technology and to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. Third, women's leadership and voice is essential Women must be agents of change, and especially young women. But I'm very happy to see so many men here today. We really need the broadest possible partnerships to effect change. And then, last but not least, we must support UN Women. They are our global voice, and they will help to ensure that gender equality and SDG 5 is an accelerator and an enabler of the entire 2030 Agenda. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I once again thank the moderator for expertly guiding the discussion. I also thank our distinguished speakers and participants for their substantive and valuable contributions. I also thank our interpreters for allowing us to continue for 10 more minutes. We have thus completed


Costa Rica · Ambassador · Maritza Chan [3:03:48]:

our program of work for this meeting. The forum will reconvene this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. to continue with its program of work. Detailed information on the program is available on the HLPF website. The meeting is now adjourned.