Applauding Qatar’s Gender Parity, Deputy Secretary-General Says Only with Women Voices, Leadership ‘Will We Reach the World We Want and Need’

Following are UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the dinner discussion with leading women of Qatar on women’s empowerment and gender equality, in Doha today:

I am honoured to join you in this beautiful setting.  This museum takes visitors on a journey through the history and progress of this beautiful country.  Here in the company of such amazing women leaders, I am prompted to also note the history and progress of women in Qatar and in the region, and the impacts you have made on the world.

Qatar has the highest labour force participation rate among women in the broader Arab region and was the first country in the Gulf to grant women the right to vote.  Gender parity has been achieved in primary education and there are more girls than boys in secondary education.  Educated girls are our future.

Inspired by the trailblazing efforts of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, your country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed Saif al‑Thani, is a leader in her field.  In addition to being an outspoken and seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Al‑Thani is the co‑chair of the group of friends of gender parity — the largest group of friends in the United Nations system, one that is supporting the Secretary‑General in making the reforms towards parity that are essential for the future standing and effectiveness of the Organization.

In leading by example, Qatar is an important ally of the United Nations in becoming a system that works for women and men.  Indeed, like Ms. Munira bint Nasser al‑Misnad and Ambassador Al‑Thani, all of you are leaders in your respective fields.  I encourage you to use your positions to support other women.

As we enter a decade of action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, women must be at the centre, pushing, driving and leading the change.  Only with your voices, your leadership will we reach the world we want and need.

Next year offers many galvanizing opportunities.  The year 2020 marks the twenty‑fifth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the seventy‑fifth anniversary of the United Nations and the twentieth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security.

The Beijing Declaration remains history’s most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights.  And it has inspired tangible, wide‑ranging progress.  Since 1995, more women serve in political offices, more girls have access to education, there are more laws against gender‑based violence, and more women and girls live under constitutions guaranteeing gender equality.

Nonetheless, the world is still far short of the targets established by the Platform for Action.  Gender equality is the challenge of our lifetime, and of this generation.  Now more than ever, we must join forces and break down the barriers.  It is time to end discrimination against women in laws.

There should be no more discrimination against women in access to quality education, particularly in crucial subjects like ICT [information and communications technology] and STEM [science, technology, engineering and math].  It is time to end discrimination in the workplace and to ensure equal pay for equal work. 

And there absolutely must be no more harassment, trafficking and exploitation of women and girls.  There must be zero violence against women and girls, and no discrimination against women in leadership positions and access to opportunities especially in the business and public sectors.

The sustainable and inclusive world we want is built on the bedrock principle of equality for all.  While there has been progress, it has been slow, and not at the rate we need to achieve our justifiably ambitious goals.  Here in Qatar, I applaud the appointment of four women to the Shura Council two years ago.  That is an important milestone. But there is much farther to go.

Globally, the proportion of women in parliaments has doubled since 1995 but is still only 24 per cent.  We are seeing only minor progress on women´s participation in the labour market.  Women still suffer disproportionately from violent extremism, conflicts, humanitarian disasters, forced displacements, climate change and poverty.  And violence against women and girls is still estimated to affect one in three women globally.

We are nearing the end of our annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender‑Based Violence.  This epidemic transcends borders and cuts across all levels of education and socioeconomic background.  It is the appalling manifestation of an unequal power dynamic between women and men, and symptomatic of the gaping inequalities that taint our societies.

Without addressing these inequalities, our efforts to advance human development will remain stagnant.  Our approach must be inclusive of all women and girls, including — and especially — the most marginalized.  The data we have are limited, but it is estimated that 1 in 5 women around the world live with disability.

Compared to men, women with disabilities are three times more likely to have unmet health care needs; three times more likely to be illiterate; two times less likely to be employed; and two times less likely to use the Internet.  Women and girls with disabilities are also at higher risk of sexual violence and other forms of gender‑based violence.  We can no longer afford to take gender‑neutral approaches in anything that we do, and that is why this moment in the struggle is so important.

I again congratulate the women of the State of Qatar for their leadership across Government, civil society, academia and the private sector to promote greater commitment to the Beijing Platform and related international frameworks.  I am pleased to note that Qatar’s Constitution declares, in article 35, that “all persons are equal before the law; and there shall be no discrimination whatsoever on grounds of gender, race, language or religion.”

Equality under the law is a first, important step, but this must also be translated into policies and legal frameworks, and more importantly, into actions.  We need inter‑generational dialogues, dialogues between people from all walks of life — women from the private sector, women who are in primary caregiving roles, women in political positions, women in academia and civil society.

We need to capitalize on the momentum of a global movement and show joint leadership.  We need to move the needle and change the conversation, and we can only do that if we work together.  I look forward to exchanging more with you over the course of the evening.  Thank you.