Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly

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Opening of the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women

6 March 2023

[Pre-recorded Video Statement]

Mr. Secretary-General, Director Bahous, Madame Chair, Excellencies,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

I truly regret that I am not with you in person today.

Every year, UN Headquarters vibrates with the energy brought by thousands of participants from across the globe, united around a single goal: to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality for the benefit of all.

Over the next two weeks, you have the opportunity to discuss lessons learned and new solutions that can shape the global agenda on women’s rights.

I commend the Commission for choosing a priority theme that gets to the core of the problem: the many barriers that women and girls are still facing today.

Promoting quality education in the digital age for them is critical to achieving the SDGs and our promise to “leave no one behind”.

We need the experience of women to address the complex and interlocking crises of our day – from climate change and conflict, to poverty, hunger and, increasingly, water scarcity.

If we do not harness the potential of half of humanity, how are we supposed to reach the ambitious goals set forth in the 2030 Agenda?

As it stands, women are still a minority in digital IT, computing, physics, mathematics and engineering.

They account for less than 35 per cent of people working in the global ICT sector.

They are 20 per cent less likely than men to use the internet – but 27 times more likely to face online harassment or hate speech, when they do.

New technologies, if used well, offer a strong and equalizing force to rapidly change this state of affairs.

Young entrepreneurs are developing new apps to protect women and girls from violence.

Online learning in some regions is narrowing gender education gaps, preparing women for digital jobs and connecting women to work opportunities.

And the advanced AI applications that will power our economies tomorrow can be designed in ways that rule out gender discrimination today.

By tackling stereotypes that prevent girls from pursuing STEM careers, we can work to change mindsets and increase the diversity of thought in our workplaces.

“The future is not a place that we are going to go. It’s a place that you get to create,” as author Nancy Duarte reminds us.

Excellencies,

I proudly stand with all of you today in championing a gender equitable transformation.

I will continue to work with my Advisory Board on Gender Equality to mainstream this perspective across the General Assembly’s work.

I believe that science has a role in all our discussions here at the United Nations.

As you embark on negotiations, I encourage you to ensure that gender equality policies are anchored in scientific evidence.

I believe this will foster more productive discussions on issues viewed as “contentious” or divisive.

This Commission has proven, time and again, that difficult discussions can and do lead to meaningful change.

To transformation.

I wish you good luck for a productive session.

I thank you.