Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Philemon Yang,
at the Opening of the Platform of Women Leaders
24 September 2024
[As Delivered by Blanca Montejo, Deputy Chef de Cabinet]
Excellencies,
On behalf of the President of the General Assembly, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the third annual Platform of Women Leaders.
I express also my sincere thanks to 蘑菇视频 Women and Executive Director Bahous for the close collaboration in co-hosting this special event.
I extend a heartfelt welcome to the extraordinary current and former women Heads of State and Government who are with us today.
We are honoured by your presence.
Your insights are essential to shaping inclusive policies that pave the way for future generations of women to thrive, and indeed, lead.
We are eager to hear your recommendations for advancing women’s participation in decision making and building solutions to achieve peace, prosperity and sustainable development that place human dignity at their core.
As former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan observed nearly 20 years ago that:
“Study after study has taught us, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
We also know that when women participate equally in decision-making, peace agreements are more inclusive and less likely to break down.
Women participating in peace processes tend to focus more on reconciliation, economic development, education and transitional justice.
These are elements that are critical for sustained peace across our societies.
Governments with greater participation of women are more representative, accountable and transparent.
And policy direction is more reflective of the needs and experiences of all society, including women and girls.
Yet, women are still underrepresented in decision-making at all levels in many countries.
Despite growing numbers of women leaders in recent decades, there have never been more than 17 countries with women in the highest positions of power in a single year.
This is less than 10% of the number of men who have held these positions.
Moreover, the 2024 Gender Snapshot Report reveals that none of the indicators or sub-indicators of Sustainable Development Goal 5 – on gender equality – have been met.
We cannot hope to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with half of the global population on the sidelines.
We must do more to integrate women’s voices into every level of decision-making.
We must start by tackling gender inequality at its roots. This means:
- Ensuring that women and girls have equal access to quality education,
- It means stamping out stereotypes that hinder their advancement,
- Closing the gender pay gap, ending workplace harassment, and of course,
- Engaging more men and boys as agents of change.
Empowering women to participate equally in decision making is a job for us all.
I look forward to hearing from you on what we, the international community, and we – the women and men gathered here today – ?can do to support gender equality and the continued empowerment of women and girls.
I thank you.
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