Sustainable Development Not Possible ‘Without Equality for All Women, Girls’, Says Deputy Secretary-General, at Generation Equality Midpoint Moment Event

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the Generation Equality Midpoint Moment event, in New York today:

It is a pleasure to join you today, on the eve of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, to thank you.  To thank you for never letting the world forget… that there will be no sustainable development without equality for all women and girls.

It is no secret that the world is falling behind on the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda and the promise of the SDGs.

Geopolitical tensions are exacerbating the progress made on women’s rights.

Poverty is on the rise, families continue to go hungry at night, and the planet we call home is in havoc.

Without decisive action, 340 million women will remain in poverty by 2030.  One out of every four women will be under severe food insecurity.  Even when trends are moving in the right direction, we cannot take for granted that women are doing well.

Economic growth does not necessarily mean more prosperous lives for women.  And more mobile subscribers might mean widening inequality between women and men.

Women have been, and still are, on the front lines of the multiple crises that we are seeking to overcome:  In the COVID-19 pandemic — as front-line workers and caregivers.  In the fight for the protection of biodiversity and climate action — as environmental human rights defenders and climate action advocates.  And in the fight for peace and questioning of military expenditure.

Regressive laws and policies, violence and pushback against women’s rights are exacerbating gender equality and pushing us further from the inclusive, equitable, sustainable and prosperous future that we aspire.

The Sustainable Development Goals will not be met without all hands-on deck.  We need partnerships and solidarity … based on commitment and determination.  This is what generation equality is about.

Your efforts are more important than ever.  You are a driving force for the transformations that the SDGs call for.  Be the disruption that we need.

Let’s win this game in the second half, for the women of today and for our daughters and sons of tomorrow.