Secretary-General Tells Women Parliamentary Speakers United Nations Counts on Them to Be ‘Constant Champions of Equality’

Following is the text of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for the Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament: “United for Shaping the Future”, organized by the Federal National Council and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in Abu Dhabi from 12-13 December:

Your Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, your excellency Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, your excellency Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Honourable Saber Chowdhury, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Honourable Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the IPU, distinguished women Speakers of Parliament, honourable parliamentarians, ladies and gentlemen,

As women holding the highest decision-making positions in the world’s parliaments, you lead our most representative institutions.  With this responsibility comes the opportunity to improve lives and counter threats to peace and our planet.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides new impetus for global cooperation on the social, economic and environmental priorities that will define the future.

The United Nations counts on you to be constant champions of equality.  We look to you to translate global goals into national policies and legislation.  Let us also insist on good data to help advance gender equality.

Together, we can bring the 2030 Agenda to life and build a future of opportunity and dignity for all.

Please accept my best wishes for a successful summit.