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11.02.2025 Cross-regional statement at the adoption of decisions at UN Women Executive Board

Who H.E. Erik Laursen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN
Who H.E. Erik Laursen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN
When 11.02.2025

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Madam President,

I deliver this statement on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda, Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, EU as a donor, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and my own country Denmark.

We live in an increasingly violent and fragmented world, and we are experiencing turbulent times. We are facing increasing challenges, pushbacks and backtracking on gender equality. We underline that for us, the advancement and fulfilment of the rights of all women and girls is key to achieving global stability, resilience, and sustainable development.

In the spirit of and with the goal of maintaining this Board’s consensus, our delegations demonstrated maximum flexibility to reach this decision on Item 4, Organizational Culture.

While the language does not make it as clear as we believe it should be, our firm expectation is that the agencies will continue, in accordance with previous Board decisions, to do all they can to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including through combating and preventing racial discrimination and racism, and ensure disability inclusion and access, to promote and protect diversity, equality and inclusion, in all its forms and at all levels.

 

As the Secretary-General has said, achieving gender equality and consistently delivering for women and girls is a collective responsibility shared by every entity within the UN System, and a cornerstone of the QCPR and current reform efforts. It requires collaboration and emphasis at every level.

As the lead entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, UN Women plays an especially important role. We are convinced that your work and commitment make a real difference for 100s of millions of women and girls around the globe.

 

We want to thank the entire UN Women staff, here in New York at HQ and around the globe for their personal commitment and untiring work to advance gender equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with UN Women on these issues, to ensure that all personnel are respected, feel safe and have equal opportunity to thrive and succeed.

 

Thank you.

 

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