Excellencies, colleagues,

I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.

Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.

A Liberian diplomat, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th and 76th sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the UN and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.

The Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General just called on my to convey their condolences.

Colleagues,

When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.

In this regard, I have already benefited from the board’s advice, from when we met on October 28th last year.

Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five Rays of Hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.

I made sure that the composition of my office is gender balanced. 

I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.

Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.

And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.

Dear colleagues,

While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.

Our work continues.

We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and workplace harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal workspaces.

And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.

Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.

With the board’s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.

There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board’s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.

As an example, the ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’ is fast approaching. We must recognize that women’s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.

As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology. 

In this regard, I would also like to update you that my Office is working closely with the United Nations Department of Operational Support to enhance the services of eight lactation rooms at the UN, including a new room that will be easily accessible to Member States, as well as visiting High-Level delegations during the High-Level Week.

The existing rooms are also being refurbished and the quality of the facilities will be further improved. Better signage will be installed throughout the UN for wayfinding.

We are looking to inaugurate these refurbished rooms with new signages around the week of International Women’s Day.

Colleagues,

Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on “achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes”.

As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.

Dear colleagues,

Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.

We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board’s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.

I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world. 

Thank you