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And a third step would be to tackle gender stereotypes head-on and to get men and boys on board, to turn nascent supporters into a bold force for gender equality. \u00a0We cannot avoid the hard questions:<\/p>\n
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Why should gender-based violence be accepted as the norm?<\/p>\n
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Why is it not<\/u> ok for men to show fear or weakness; or to take on the role of primary care-giver?<\/p>\n
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And why should others control the bodies and the futures of women and girls?<\/p>\n
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To counter these harmful stereotypes, we must provide men, women, boys, girls, adolescents and young people with mentoring and skills to build healthy social relationships \u2013 relationships that promote tolerance and diversity, honour non-violent masculinities and emphasise self-respect and the values and practice of gender equality.<\/p>\n
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Bringing this change about however \u2013 protecting human rights, ensuring access to quality education, overcoming destructive gender norms \u2013 will not happen without leadership and investment.<\/p>\n
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The international community must now move from talking about gender equality to accelerating efforts and increasing investments in gender equality, and especially in adolescent girls.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s the right thing to do and it is the smart thing to do.<\/p>\n
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It is a social and economic imperative and key to achieving the SDGs.<\/p>\n
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But to do so, we need all actors on board.<\/p>\n
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We need to move beyond action from experts, governments or the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ in the traditional sectors.<\/p>\n
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And that is the discussion I hope we will have today.<\/p>\n
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I am very happy to co-host this lunch today with Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµFPA as they, over the past decades, have been a crucial partner in working with governments and other actors to empower adolescent girls and provide access to health, including access to sexual reproductive health information, education, commodities and services.<\/p>\n
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But Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµFPA and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ cannot do it alone. We all have the potential to impact positively on the lives of adolescent girls, to create the conditions for the most promising future of these young women.<\/p>\n
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I am therefore very pleased that we have many different actors around the table \u00a0today \u2013 government, private sector, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, civil society, academia, media and not least the adolescent girls themselves.<\/p>\n
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And I hope we can focus on building new alliances, identifying investment opportunities and sharing lessons learned these past few decades.<\/p>\n
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Ladies and gentlemen, if we equip them with skills and opportunities, and if we guarantee them lives of safety and dignity, 600 million adolescent girls will take big steps forward in their own lives and that of their families, help jumpstart economic growth spur innovation and action for a better future, for people and planet.<\/p>\n
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This is a remarkable opportunity; one which we must not let pass.<\/p>\n
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I therefore look forward to engaging with you all in today\u2019s discussion.<\/p>\n
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Thank you and \u2018bon appetit\u2019.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Key note address by H.E. Mr Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the General Assembly, at\u00a0High-level Luncheon on\u00a0Investing in Adolescent Girls: A prerequisite for Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development \u00a011 March 2016 \u00a0 \u00a0 Honourable Ministers, Under Secretary-General Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Excellences, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon to you all. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":202,"featured_media":47184,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[1874,2332,661,2328],"class_list":["post-47180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-statements","tag-2030-agenda","tag-adolescent-girls","tag-luncheon","tag-unfpa"],"yoast_head":"\n
High-level Luncheon on Investing in Adolescent Girls - General Assembly of the United Nations<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n