Gender Equality Essential for Sustainable Development, Deputy Secretary-General Says in Message to General Assembly Platform of Women Leaders

Following is UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s message for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Platform of Women Leaders:  “Transformative Solutions by Women Leaders to Today’s Interlinked Challenges”, in New York today:

I sincerely regret that I cannot join you in person today and send my full support to this newly formed [United Nations General Assembly] Platform of Women Leaders.

I am grateful to Their Excellencies, Csaba Kőrösi, President of the seventy‑seventh session of the General Assembly; Abdulla Shahid, President of the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly; and Sima Sami Bahous, Under‑Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Women [United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women], and also grateful for the cooperation of the Council of Women World Leaders for creating this unique and vital space to amplify the voices of women leaders at the UN General Assembly.

Gender equality is intrinsic to sustainable development.  It is central to effectively addressing the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts, both new and continuing.  These crises have created new challenges and compounded old ones.  Violence against women and girls has intensified.  So, too, have the gendered effects of humanitarian disasters, poverty and climate change.

As Heads of State and Government, you are the women whose voices are heard first and loudest in deciding national and global policies on peace and security, sustainable development, humanitarian action, the protection of human rights, climate action and crisis response.  You are the women whose leadership inspires women and girls everywhere.

Women’s equal participation and leadership is a matter of justice and the realization of human rights — and an issue of effectiveness.  No global problem can be solved without the contributions of half the world’s people.  But, the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.  On the current trajectory, it will take another 132 years to reach full gender parity.

That is why we need strong leaders committed to gender equality around the world — because women make a world of difference.  The United Nations and I personally support you every step of the way.  I wish you a productive discussion.  Thank you.