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Remarks by the President of the General Assembly 7 March 2025, General Assembly Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n [As Delivered]<\/strong><\/p>\n Your Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I thank Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women for convening this important and timely event.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I am truly delighted to take part in this meeting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls remain among the highest priorities of my presidency.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let me begin on a positive note: over the past five decades, we have made notable strides in advancing gender equality.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n International frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security have laid a strong foundation for progress.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Women\u2019s representation in parliaments worldwide has nearly tripled, rising from just 10 percent fifty years ago to 27 percent today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Girls have greater access to education than ever before, and maternal mortality rates have declined alongside a reduction in child marriage to 18.7 percent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, domestic violence laws exist in 165 countries, and women continue to lead groundbreaking scientific advancements\u2014including the development of COVID-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Across every sector\u2014peacebuilding, human rights advocacy, climate action, and the private sector\u2014women are driving transformative change.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is fitting that we celebrate these achievements in a year marked by major milestones.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This year\u2014the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the twenty-fifth anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325\u2014offers a moment to reflect on progress and honour accomplishments. It is also important to rally greater support for gender equality and women\u2019s empowerment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Because we cannot afford complacency.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These anniversaries occur in a disturbing reality. While we have made undeniable progress, full gender equality remains out of reach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The journey is far from over and much remains to be done.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Consider this: at the current rate of change, ending extreme poverty among women could take another 137 years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Around the world, laws continue to discriminate against women and girls, limiting their opportunities and freedoms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 18 percent of countries, women still do not have equal rights to confer citizenship to their spouses and children.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In more than half of all countries, legal restrictions bar women from working in the same jobs as men.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And while we celebrate the growing number of women in parliaments, progress remains slow. At the current trajectory, gender parity in legislative bodies may not be achieved until 2063.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond legal barriers, economic and technological inequalities continue to widen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Millions of women remain excluded from the benefits of rapid technological advancements due to disparities in education and skills training.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is a tragic and enduring reality that women remain disproportionately vulnerable to violence. This state of affairs is fueled and reinforced by social norms that normalize sexism and misogyny.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One in three women\u2014approximately 736 million\u2014has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Moreover, conflicts worldwide inflict some of the gravest violations of women\u2019s and girls\u2019 rights, increasing their vulnerability to conflict-related sexual violence and exploitation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellences,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nous devons faire bien plus\u2014non seulement pour honorer nos engagements actuels, mais aussi pour tracer d\u2019urgence une voie vers une \u00e9galit\u00e9 pleine et enti\u00e8re entre les genres.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nous avons l\u2019\u00e9lan n\u00e9cessaire pour agir, avec l\u2019adoption du Pacte pour l\u2019avenir au d\u00e9but de cette session.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ce Pacte, ainsi qu\u2019un de ses annexes, la D\u00e9claration sur les G\u00e9n\u00e9rations Futures, r\u00e9affirme notre devoir de mettre pleinement en \u0153uvre les engagements internationaux relatifs aux droits des femmes et des filles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mais les engagements seuls ne suffisent pas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Atteindre l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 des genres exige une mobilisation totale des Gouvernements, de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 civile, du secteur priv\u00e9 et de tous les acteurs concern\u00e9s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cela requiert une volont\u00e9 politique forte, des investissements soutenus et une transformation fondamentale des structures qui perp\u00e9tuent les in\u00e9galit\u00e9s depuis tr\u00e8s longtemps.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n La t\u00e2che qui nous attend est immense, mais elle n\u2019est pas insurmontable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ensemble, honorons le pass\u00e9, agissons avec urgence aujourd\u2019hui et construisons un monde o\u00f9 les droits de chaque femme et de chaque fille sont garantis\u00a0; o\u00f9 l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 n\u2019est pas une aspiration mais une r\u00e9alit\u00e9, et o\u00f9 les femmes et les jeunes filles sont pleinement autonomis\u00e9es pour fa\u00e7onner leur propre avenir.<\/p>\n Je vous remercie.<\/p>\n Media Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email:\u00a0birchs@un.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser\/ Social and Digital Media\/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email:\u00a0mariam.shaikh@un.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n More Information and Updates\u00a0:\u00a0Website<\/strong><\/a>: \u00a0YouTube:\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0X (Twitter):<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Instagram<\/strong><\/a>: \u00a0LinkedIn:\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Photo Repository<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0Bluesky<\/a><\/strong>; Weekly Highlights<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Mr. Philemon Yang
Event on the 50th<\/sup> Anniversary of International Women\u2019s Day<\/strong><\/p>\n