18.06.2025 Joint Nordic Statement at the Annual Session of the UN-Women Executive Board

By Joint Nordic Statement delivered by Erik Laursen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN

Checked Against Delivery

 

Madam President, Madam Executive Director,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Denmark.

Madam Executive Director,

UN-Women and the United Nations development system stand at a pivotal moment.

The world faces an alarming convergence of crises – protracted conflicts, pushback on gender equality, climate emergencies and growing economic instability – all of which intensify threats rights and well-being of all women and girls.

As discussions on the UN80 initiative and the Humanitarian Reset move forward, we emphasise the need for reform that enhances the UN system’s relevance and effectiveness.

We expect UN-Women to remain a strong and vocal advocate for keeping gender equality as a priority across all efforts — while ensuring sufficient reporting and resourcing of its Triple Mandate, including its vital role in coordination, normative leadership, and translating policy into practice. The Nordic countries remain committed to supporting UN-Women in this endeavour.

In this context, it is essential that UN-Women’s next Strategic Plan is designed with enough flexibility to adapt and course-correct as needed. At the same time, UN-Women’s ability to deliver on its core mandate must remain a central priority— during and beyond the reform process.

The Nordic countries are deeply concerned by the global pushback of gains made, and by the resurgence of discrimination and violence targeting women and girls.

Time and again, we witness how women and girls suffer disproportionately in war, displacement, poverty and disaster. Whether through loss of livelihoods, exposure to sexual and gender-based violence or lack of access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, they are too often left behind or left unprotected.

This is why we need UN-Women to remain a strong, principled champion for gender equality, an organisation not only equipped to respond to crises, but firmly committed to placing all women and girls’ rights and agency at the heart of sustainable development.

 Madam Executive Director,

The Nordic countries are long-standing and committed partners UN-Women. This is reflected not only in our consistent financial contributions, but also in our political commitment to advancing gender equality and the rights of women and girls, in all their diversity.

As we look ahead to the next Strategic Plan, we highlight several key priorities:

  • UN-Women must continue to lead in advancing global normative frameworks, and ensure these are translated into real change at country level supported by strong national ownership.
  • We encourage you to strengthen your coordinating role across the UN system, promoting accountability for gender equality and coherence in implementation.
  • With core and non-core funding under pressure, the Strategic Plan must align ambitions with available resources. Cost-efficiency, reform, and a strong focus on core mandates will be essential.
  • We support the Pivot to Countries and Regions, and stress the need for this transition to be well-resourced, transparent, and inclusive of staff input at all levels.
  • Legitimacy and sustainable financing depend on transparency, clear reporting, and delivering results. A culture of accountability, risk management, and innovation must underpin every aspect of programming.
  • On funding, the Strategic Plan must reflect the principles of the UN Funding Compact, while actively seeking new partnerships, including with philanthropy, the private sector, and international financial institutions, to diversify funding streams.
  • Finally, gender equality and human rights must remain front and centre. We therefore expect the next Strategic Plan to maintain a strong and sustained focus on human rights, non-discrimination, reaching marginalised groups, and fully implementing the UN Gender Equality Acceleration Plan

Madam Executive Director,

In the Nordic countries, UN-Women has steadfast and reliable allies. We remain deeply committed to the advancement of gender equality and sustainable development—and to standing with UN-Women in this important work, with a shared commitment to leaving no one behind.

We look forward to continued close engagement as we work together to shape the next Strategic Plan.

Thank you.