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9 May 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Your Excellency, Madam First Lady, Ms. Dominique Ouattara,<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Distinguished colleagues,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I congratulate the Government of Cote D\u2019Ivoire, through you Madam First Lady, for hosting today\u2019s timely event.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 2nd edition of the Global Land Outlook released last month, presented a stark reminder – 40% of the planet\u2019s land has degraded, directly affecting half of humanity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If we do not reverse the current trend, we stand to lose 95% of the Earth\u2019s land by 2050.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We can no longer live in the delusion that land degradation is a far-distant scenario. It is happening and unfolding in our very own backyard. And it is women who are, as is far too often the case, bearing the brunt of the impacts.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In developing countries where land degradation is more pronounced, women often have the role of providing food and water. Given their substantial role in agriculture and food production, women are disproportionately affected when land is degraded and becomes scarce.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Adding to the problem is the issue of land ownership. While no systematic global data exists, preliminary estimates suggest that women account for less than 20 per cent of the world\u2019s landholders.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must acknowledge that when women do not legally own their land, or where customs and practices prevent their ownership of land, they are not recognized as farmers or \u201cvalue-chain\u201d actors.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This gender-bias approach excludes women from access to extension services and inputs available to bona fide farmers, a majority of which are men.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Without access to new agricultural technology and agricultural supportive systems, women are unable to increase land productivity and yields, or invest in sustainable land management.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n My friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Not only is this a failure of society, but a clear violation of human rights. Inaction is too costly, for humanity, for prosperity and for the planet.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This caucus is thus, an important platform to translate the bold commitments of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) into gender-responsive and impactful actions on the ground.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We need to understand the undercurrents of these disproportionate impacts. This requires us to target gender issues and rights-based policies to address the differing impacts of land degradation on women and men.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Likewise, the connection between ecosystem type, cultural practices and primary economic production must be considered in addressing gender concerns in the drylands.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Because we cannot close the gender equality gap if we do not adequately measure the inequalities.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Women remain untapped resources and their inputs, knowledge and guidance are essential in climate action as well as land restoration and mitigation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must provide avenues and support measures, including laws that will protect the right of access to land ownership during the whole life cycle. We need to ensure equal hereditary rights for women and girls.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies, dear friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We have much to accomplish. This is why we need to speak out on this issue, and more importantly why we need to walk the talk – to keep gender equality at the heart of all our discussions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n No single government can accomplish this on their own. It must be a unified effort and spirit, with the United Nations, policymakers, implementing agencies, the private sector, civil society, and communities sharing the responsibilities.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I congratulate this caucus on the adoption of the declaration that aims to shore-up support and concrete actions on gender equality for effective land stewardship.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us continue to work together with gender equality as an explicit and non-negotiable objective for sustainable development.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I wish this meeting every success.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/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":" Abidjan, Cote d\u2019Ivoire<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"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":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-265420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n