[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Her Excellency, Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl,<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Fellow Champions,<\/p>\n
I thank the Permanent Mission of Switzerland for organizing this Annual Meeting of International Gender Champions.<\/p>\n
The IGC network-wide pledges, namely the panel parity and gender-based violence pledge, are significant landmarks on the road to gender equality.<\/p>\n
As one of the first to sign these pledges, I call upon leaders and gender champions who have not done so to sign up, and to join efforts in shifting institutionalized and unacceptable norms of gender inequality.<\/p>\n
Dear friends,<\/p>\n
The commitments outlined by the IGC gender-based violence pledge must be met with decisive and accelerated action.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s interactive dialogue is thus a timely opportunity to build synergies across our respective commitments and implementations.<\/p>\n
This is particularly important as we strive for sustainable recovery from the global pandemic. In doing so, we must continue to ensure that the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence, sexist behavior, and sexist attitudes remain a priority.<\/p>\n
With at least a third of women experiencing some form of violence in their lifetime, – a number that has increased during this \u2018shadow pandemic\u2019 – violence against women and girls remains a devastating example of human rights violations.<\/p>\n
As global citizens, this goes against all our morals and principles.<\/p>\n
As leaders we are uniquely positioned to effectuate change, to promote and protect the principles of human rights, including the elimination of gender-based violence.<\/p>\n
Addressing gender equality, and by extension the IGC gender-based violence pledge, is about making that change.<\/p>\n
It is about re-shaping power imbalances.<\/p>\n
It is about empowering women and girls to combat violence, to speak their truths, and to give voice to their concerns.<\/p>\n
It is about enhancing women\u2019s participation in political, economic, and social spheres, giving them the chance to speak out against violence, harassment, or intimidation, which continue to haunt women in positions of power.<\/p>\n
Because women and girls have the right to freely pursue their potentials without fear. Across the world, women are making breakthroughs in their respective fields as leaders, scientists, doctors, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and so much more.<\/p>\n
We owe it to the women and girls out there, who constantly face fear and ridicule, to stand up and raise awareness for their rights as global citizens.<\/p>\n
As President of the UN General Assembly, gender equality remains at the heart of my \u2018Presidency of Hope\u2019. Each of my priority areas, my rays of hope, are seen through a gender lens. Be that recovering and rebuilding sustainably from the pandemic, responding to the planet, respecting the rights of all or revitalizing the United Nations.<\/p>\n
Colleagues, over the past five months of my Presidency, I am proud of the work we have accomplished to advance gender equality.<\/p>\n
This includes achieving gender parity within my own team at OPGA.\u00a0 In fact, the women now outnumber the men.\u00a0 This also includes establishing the role of \u2018Special Adviser on Gender Equality\u2019, \u00a0to ensure that we remain on track in our goals and ambitions.<\/p>\n
To further strengthen our work, I have reconstituted the Advisory Board on Gender Equality. The expanded membership of the Board is to ensure synergy and coherence between Member States, Civil Society, and the private sector.<\/p>\n
I am grateful to note that among us today are two of my board members, the Executive Director of UN Women, and the SG\u2019s Special Envoy on Youth.<\/p>\n
Outside of the General Assembly, I have had the pleasure of meeting with women scientists, leaders, frontline workers, and aspiring youth and students, both here and during my travels abroad. I have heard and acted on their advice and suggestions.<\/p>\n
And I will continue to speak with women and girls at every opportunity.<\/p>\n
Engaging youth remains an important priority and I am proud to have launched the PGA\u2019s Fellowship for HOPE program. As part of this program, 8 youth diplomats, of which 5 are women, have joined the OPGA for the 76th<\/sup> session.<\/p>\n It is my hope that through this program, these young diplomats can strengthen their understanding of the UN and multilateral system.<\/p>\n I have also pledged, as part of the IGC Parity-Pledge, to never participate in single or unequal gender panels. I am proud to note that by declining such invitations, organizers have in turn taken the moral responsibility to alter the composition of their panels.<\/p>\n These snow-ball effects are the very reason why we make these pledges and why we commit to them.<\/p>\n You see, this pledge and our commitments are significant landmarks for which we must always stay the course.\u00a0 Because even the smallest of actions can amount to greater and impactful changes.<\/p>\n That being said, I will continue to build upon this momentum for the remainder of the 76th<\/sup> session.\u00a0 The busy months ahead of us are opportunities to do so, which includes the upcoming International Women\u2019s Day and the Commission on the Status of Women.<\/p>\n Excellencies, fellow champions,<\/p>\n Today, I reaffirm my commitment to championing the rights of women and girls, for panel parity and to advancing the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence.<\/p>\n And going forward, rest assured that I remain committed to work alongside you to uphold and fulfill our collective pledge for women and girls everywhere.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Annual Meeting of the International Gender Champions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":353,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> 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.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> 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.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> 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.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> 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.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> 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.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s 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.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s 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.<\/p> 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.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> 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.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> 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.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,505,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-257413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-gender","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n