– As delivered –

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

17 March 2021

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

I thank the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, for convening this important event.

Ms. Simonovic is a member of the Advisory Group on Gender Equality which I established in October in order to mainstream gender equality throughout the work of the General Assembly. I avail of this opportunity to thank her for her contribution to the 75th session of the General Assembly thus far, and for her dogged focus on implementation of human right instruments.

As you all know, this session began with the high-level meeting to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. In 1995, only two pertinent mechanisms existed, namely: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

In the 25 years that followed, seven independent women’s human rights mechanisms have been mandated at international and regional levels to address discrimination and gender-based violence, in order to implement the comprehensive Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Each mechanism alone is making great strides towards ending discrimination and violence against women. Yet, we must utilize all resources at our disposal to build upon and amplify the work of others. The EDVAW Platform is strengthening cooperation between mechanisms under the existing human rights normative framework.  

Moreover, the Platform has demonstrated the collective power of these mechanisms by issuing joint statements on critical issues at key junctures – for example the impact of COVID-19 on gender-based violence last year.

The Platform demonstrates what we already know: we simply cannot implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action if we work in silos. Indeed, in this Decade of Action to implement Agenda 2030, we must work together if we are to meet the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality.

I thank you – each and every one of you here today – for dedicating your time to this most worthy purpose.  If we were working to prevent the suffering of just one woman, this would be worthwhile; but the fact is one in three women around the world have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

You have created a toolbox for tackling violence against women. Such practical tools are to be commended.  They make it easier to get on with the job that so many governments and organisations in the world have committed to.  In conjunction with this, each of us has a responsibility to have conversations today that will chart a more equal, safer and more prosperous future. 

We need to have conversations with our loved ones, and ask them to speak with their friends. This is how we will overcome casual sexism and its harmful discourse; and address the root causes of gender-based violence.

Excellencies,

There is much work to do as reports of gender-based violence increase, and women are disproportionately impacted during conflict.

We must continue this work until every woman feels safe in her own home, on the street, or in the workplace. Until every Member State creates laws which protect women, and are upheld by law enforcement and justice systems.

I am confident that those of us here today will persist until every woman, everywhere, feels safe to exercise the fundamental human rights, to which she is entitled.

Once again, I thank you for having me in this very important meeting. I wish you all the best in your important endeavours. I will be following in what will be the outcome and try to carry it through my work in the General Assembly.