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7 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n I would like to start by thanking the International Gender Champions Network for organizing this event, and for their kind invitation to this launch of the Impact Group on the \u201cOcean\u201d, whose aims I can do nothing but commend.<\/p>\n I believe that working at the intersection of sustainable development goals 5 and 14 \u2013 gender equality and climate action \u2013 is of utmost importance.<\/p>\n The ocean covers 70% of our planet\u2019s surface and is home to over 80% of all life, making it the largest biosphere in the world. Yet, its health is rapidly deteriorating.<\/p>\n It is becoming warmer, higher, and more acidic – drastically limiting its ability to sustain life underwater and on land.<\/p>\n Although a vast majority of the ocean remains unknown to us, we do know that current human activities exert an extreme and unsustainable pressure on the ocean.<\/p>\n As we work to stifle the negative impacts of the strain placed on our ocean, ensuring the inclusion of all voices is essential.<\/p>\n While women are engaged in all aspects of the ocean from fishing to conservation, yet their voices are often missing from decision-making roles.<\/p>\n While it is a fact that half of seafood workers worldwide are female and they play an essential role in supplying marine food for three billion people who depend on it for their daily source of protein, yet, across the supply chain, there is substantial segregation of work and pay by gender, with women all-too-often denied a voice in fisheries management.<\/p>\n Unconscious bias, involvement in low-paying jobs at sea, and the added burden of care responsibilities limit the opportunities for women.<\/p>\n We must empower women. They can protect our oceans and marine resources. They have the potential to be powerful agents of change.<\/p>\n Facilitating access to capacity building, financing, and decision-making positions could enable women to play a more important role in marine conservation.<\/p>\n In the case of microfinance initiatives, women have better protected marine ecosystems by prioritizing business sustainability.<\/p>\n While it is heartening to note that female scientists represent on average 38% of researchers in ocean science, about 10% higher than science overall, more needs to be done.<\/p>\n Going forward, it is vital that we incorporate a gender-lens in policy-making.<\/p>\n We need to ensure women\u2019s full integration in the blue economy and support networks of women within the marine and aquaculture sector.<\/p>\n We must improve data collection on the impact of ocean degradation on women\u2019s health, well-being and employment opportunities.<\/p>\n It is precisely in this context, I am of the view that the Impact Group on \u201cOcean\u201d can help address some of these issues.<\/p>\n I commend the International Gender Champions Network for this much needed initiative to help empower women in the field of ocean affairs.<\/p>\n As both an International Gender Champion and a strong advocate for protecting our ocean and advancing the science needed, I wholeheartedly commend this initiative, and all involved.<\/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":" Virtual<\/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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ 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-267389","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