Meeting With Women Heads of State and Government

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

21 September 2021

Excellencies

Thank you very much for accepting my invitation for this afternoon. 

I am deeply honoured to be in the presence of powerful women leaders, and I commend you all on your exemplary leadership that has and will continue to inspire and empower many more women and girls all over the world.

Excellencies,

Gender equality is a topic that is close to my heart.  As long as women and girls are denied their opportunity and rights, I will continue to advocate on this policy. 

While I am proud to carry the title of ‘gender champion’, I am not an expert. I do not have your lived experiences. I can be empathetic and intellectually aware of the challenges, but until you have had to break through those glass ceilings, you can never really be more than an ally.

For that reason, I will be in listening mode today, and I will rely on the advice of the esteemed women around the table.

I began this process when I met with female ambassadors prior to assuming office. I am continuing this process with you today. And I will maintain this process throughout the session, through both my Gender Advisory Board, as well as through a series of engagements where I speak directly to our constituents, particularly women. This will also include a series of podcasts that I intend to begin in the coming weeks.

Excellencies, I intend to keep the momentum going.

The outcome of all of these discussions, I hope, will be a 76^th session that is not only gender sensitive but gender proactive, consistently championing policies and actions that empower all women and girls.

Under my presidency of hope, the five rays of hope will remain guiding principles in our work for this session. Each ray will be reviewed and assessed by our Gender Advisory Board; each action scrutinized.

To date, I have initiated actions on:

• Ensuring gender parity in the composition of my Office, including at the senior cabinet level;
• Working to enhance the family room at UNHQ for all UN delegates and staff;
• Launching a Youth Fellowship Programme that will invest in young diplomats, with a particular emphasis on young women;
• And hosting and attending gender equality forums – such as this symbolic meeting as a testament to our commitment.

I have also given a commitment that I will not take part in any panel that is not gender balanced.

 This is only a beginning. There is much work to be done.

I will count on your support and views in going forward.  We need to draw on shared lessons to change the narrative on gender parity – to renew our commitments as a show of faith that we will continue to fight for all women and girls.

The context and scope of gender inequality varies across communities – but remains pervasive – exacerbating the marginalization of vulnerable women and girls – and excluded women to progress through ranks.

With your support, we can close the gender gap across all communities, and usher in a gender-equal world – and make meaningful contributions to the works of the reconstituted Advisory Board on Gender Equality.

Excellencies, this will not be a one-off meeting.  It is one of many more to come.  Let us work together to mark the beginning of a change for women and girls.

I thank you again for this opportunity and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thank you very much.