Statement by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

8 March 2021

Excellencies,

It is a pleasure to join you on this significant day, International Women’s Day.

When we last met, back in October, I had been in office for approximately sixty days. I turned to you for advice on how best to harness the momentum of the high-level meeting on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in order to mainstream gender equality in the General Assembly.

You were unequivocal in your assessment: that there was much left to do if we were to hold steady, and preventing backsliding on gains made.

You expressed concern over the impact of COVID-19 on gender equality. You highlighted the need for urgency in this Decade of Action, if we were to achieve gender equality by 2030.

When I asked you how we should model our behaviour in the United Nations to inspire tomorrow’s leaders, your response was clear:

  • Keep talking about gender.
  • Step up my own engagement – from advocate to Champion.
  • Raise gender equality as an issue beyond likeminded groups such as this one.
  • Amplify the voices of women throughout all activities of the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

I heard you, and I have heeded your advice.

As many of you are aware, upon your advice, I became an International Gender Champion. It is, without doubt, a serious responsibility which I do not take lightly. I consider it my obligation to raise gender equality not just when the time is right, but to make the time to discuss gender equality.

I have raised the issue of gender throughout my bilateral engagements, and have amplified the voices of women at all high-level events.

In particular, the UN General Assembly Special Session in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic featured many women in science. It is my hope that by passing the microphone to women who have excelled in their field will inspire girls and young women around the world to fulfill their potential.

Furthermore, I trust that this will help break down stereotypes that persist around women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated fields.

I have also established the Advisory Group on Gender Equality, which has met twice to date. This group, comprised of six members from across the multilateral system have generously given up their time to share their unique perspectives and insights into our work in order to accelerate women’s empowerment here in the General Assembly.

As we enter into ‘CSW Season’ I am pleased to share with you that I will host an event focused on the prevention of violence against women and girls. The shadow pandemic of gender-based violence that has emerged over the past year has only reinforced my belief that we need to seek innovative and tangible solutions to meet the challenges facing women around the world. I hope that I can count on your support at this event.

I will also hold a Morning Dialogue on gender equality in the coming weeks.

Beyond our own circles, I have engaged with members of civil society at a global interactive dialogue, and also plan to convene another session – specifically on the issue of gender equality – with the support of UN Women.

Furthermore, I will be holding an event on digital cooperation and connectivity in April. This event will call for greater multilateral and multi stakeholder cooperation to accelerate global, and equitable, digital connectivity. The international community must address digital inequalities, including inequalities based on gender.

Excellencies,

At our last meeting I was struck with the sense that our time together felt like a conversation between friends, rather than a meeting. You spoke of each other’s accomplishments, plans for the future, and partnerships. I had the sense that the members of this group ‘have each others’ backs’! This is the kind of support that I can only hope my granddaughters will encounter as they navigate the world. I thank you for inviting me to participate in these stimulating conversations which have inspired me start discussions on gender equality within my gender-balanced Cabinet.

I think this is key to ensuring the mainstreaming of gender equality throughout all of the actions of the Office of the President of the General Assembly. Indeed, I find these interactions so beneficial that I decided to record some of our conversations in order to share the insights of my team with the wider world. You will be able to see these later today on my Twitter feed.

Excellencies,

On International Women’s Day, I think it is important to reiterate the fact that women’s empowerment is something that we need to work on every single day.

Every day women experience gender-based violence.

Every day we see all-male debates in parliaments around the world, all male political races and electoral processes.

Every day female nurses are risking their own health to tend to COVID-19 patients.

There are six months remaining in the 75th session of the General Assembly.

What do you suggest I do to maximize every one of these 190 days, to make progress on gender equality?

You are our role models here on the international stage – I look to you for guidance. 

I thank you.