UNited Nations on the Advancement of Women

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
Thank you for listening to Pictures MediaRadio. Good morning morning, colleagues.

(01:15):
Welcome back seventh meeting of the ThirdCommittee at the seventy eighth Session of the
General Assemblies. Called to order,I invite the Committee to begin its consideration
of Agenda Item twenty five entitled Advancementof Women and its sub Item A Advancement
of Women and sub Item B Implementationof the outcome of the fourth World Conference

(01:37):
on Women and of the twenty thirdSpecial Session of the General Assembly. Documentation
under Agenda Item twenty five and itssub items is listed in today's journal.
Colleagues. As is our practice,the list of speakers under this item will
be closed at one pm today,and the deadline for the submit of draft

(02:00):
proposals under the item is one pmon Tuesday's seventeen October. I would now
like to welcome the Director of StrategicPartnerships Division of the United Nations Entity for
Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women,Mister Daniel Seymour. Participants wishing to make
comments and pose questions to the speakerare invited at this time to press their

(02:22):
microphone button within the next three minutes, after which the list will be closed.
The time limit for each speaker willbe announced before the floor is given
to the first speaker. I nowinvite the Director of strate Strategic Partnership's Division
to make an introductory statement. MisterSeymour, you have before. Thank you

(02:42):
very much, you excellently, Chairof the Third Committee, Members of the
Bureau, distinguished delegates, un colleaguesand ladies and gentlemen. I'm very pleased
to introduce four reports of the SecretaryGeneral under this agenda item. I'm going
to be telegraphic, obviously, givenour constraints on time. First, is
there a port of the SG onviolence against women migrant workers? That's a

(03:04):
slash seventy eight slash two ninety two. This report found that while migration can
promote the agency and economic impairment ofwomen, the lack of safe and regular
migration pathways, paired with restrictive migrationand labor laws, increases the risks for
women migrant workers to violence. Theserisks of exploitation or abuse of women migrant

(03:25):
workers are routed in persistent gender inequalities, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination,
all exacerbated by crisis you're familiar withCOVID nineteen extreme poverty as well as increasing
anti migrant rhetoric and nationalist populism.The report found that although several Member states
reported strengthened efforts on the collection andanalysis of data on violence against women,

(03:47):
including on trafficking in persons, thereare still persistent gaps in the collection and
dissemination of sex disaggregated data, specificallyon violence against women migrant workers. It
noted measures undertaken to improve migrant women'saccess to justice by raising awareness of public
officials and strengthening the capacity of womenmigrant workers to understand and exercise their rights.

(04:11):
The report concludes, as as allof these four reports do, with
a set of recommendations for consideration bythe General Assembly. These outlying concrete measures
which can be taken by Member Statesto eliminate violence and discrimination against women migrant
workers and enhance their access to justice, services, decent work, and social
protection. Let me move swiftly,then, to the second report of the

(04:31):
SG on Improvement of the Situation ofWomen and Girls in Rural Areas that is
a Slash seventy eight slash two twenty. This reviews policy and program efforts by
Member States to improve the situation ofwomen and girls in rural areas given overlapping
crises that have compounded rural poverty,food insecurity, and gender inequalities. The
report finds significant commitment to increasing ruralwomen's economic impairment, participation and leadership,

(04:57):
indecision and policy making, and improvementof gender statists and disaggregated data. It
notes promising initiatives on improving the situationof women and girls in rural areas and
these could be scaled up for widespreadand lasting change. It argues for renewed
efforts to enact, fund and implementeconomic and social policies to improve rural women's
and girls food security and nutrition andaddress the inadequate social protection coverage, mitigate

(05:23):
escalating unpaid care and domestic work responsibilities, and build climate and environment resilience.
It calls for systematic attention on ruralwomen and girls access to land, water
and other natural resources, because ruraldevelopment policies and programs that address climate,
in environment and financial challenges will buildtheir resilience. Again. The report concludes

(05:44):
with the recommendations for consideration by theGeneral Assembly. The third report is on
the Improvement in the Status of Womenin the UN System. That's a slash
seventy eight slash two six. Itshows overall representation of women in the professional
and higher categories increasing from forty fivepoint three percent in twenty nineteen to forty
seven percent in twenty twenty one.And we now have and I'm sure you'll

(06:05):
join us in celebrating this parity atheadquarters locations for women's representation. Gender parity
among Undersecretary Generals and Assistant Secretary Generals, as well as among resident coordinators was
maintained during this last reporting period,and thanks very much to the Secretary General's
leadership, there have been a numberof very important great strides towards gender parity,

(06:27):
including through policy initiatives such as thoserelating to enhanced parental leave. However,
overall progress has been uneven. Womenremain underrepresented, underrepresented at middle or
senior management levels and also in nonheadquarters locations, and this is particularly true
in mission settings. Excellence is genderparity, as you know, is not
only about numbers but also about transformingorganizational culture, and the report highlights good

(06:51):
practices in this regard that can befound in the Enabling Environment guidelines for you
own system and in the field specificguidelines which we're proud to have used in
UN Women. Also, the networkof about five hundred UN gender focal points
plays a vital role in enhancing genderparity, and we continue to lead and
coordinate this crucial network. And again, as per the other reports, there

(07:13):
are recommendations for consideration by the GeneralAssembly. Finally, the Report of the
Secretary General on Measures taken and progressachieved in follow up to and implementation of
the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Actionand the outcome of the twenty third Special
Session of the General Assembly that isa slash seventy eight slash two one six
is concerned with the extent to whichselected intergovernmental processes of the United Nations integrate

(07:36):
agenda perspective. It focuses on resolutionsof the General Assembly and the ECOSOC and
its functional commissions, as well asthe reports of the Secretary General that are
written for these bodies, and itprovides a quantitative and qualitative assessment of progress
achieved compared with previous years. Thereport provides an overview of contributions by UN

(07:57):
Women on the integration of agender perspectsin such bodies, including the work with
the Commission on the Status of Women. Finally, the report contains recommendations for
further measures to enhance the implementation ofgender equality mandates throughout the work of the
United Nations. Thank you very much. I thank the Director of the Strategic
Partnership Division of You and Women.Now we'll open the floor for questions or

(08:20):
comments to mister Seymour. I askdelegations to limit their comments to two minutes,
and I thank you for your kindcooperation. The first five speakers on
my list are the following, theUnited States, Latvia, Romania, Poland
and Columbia. I give the floorto the United States. Thank you,

(08:45):
Chair. We also extend our thanksto Director Seymour for your presentation today.
You and Women plays a critical rolein addressing the most pressing global challenges of
our time. The global pandemic,ongoing instability and conflict, and continued the
acts of aggression and oppression have causedsubstantial backsliding and gender equality and global progress

(09:05):
towards Sustainable Development Goal five, whichis key to the twenty thirty Agenda.
We believe this regression will have acascading effect on all people and in every
sector. In particular, the lossof progress on gender equality front undermines the
full enjoyment of human rights for everyone. This has been particularly noticeable in women's

(09:26):
access to needed healthcare. All humanrights apply equally to all individuals, regardless
of gender. Without full respect forhuman rights for every individual, democratic principles
are undermined, fundamental freedoms are eroded, and the rule of law is co
opted to support those in power atthe expense of citizens who are specially concerned

(09:46):
with potential for intensification of multiple andintersecting forms of discrimination, particularly with the
rise of emerging technologies. Such discriminationdisproportionately impacts women and girls in all their
diversity, indigenous persons, persons withdisabilities, and persons of African descent,
among other underserved groups. We thankyou and Women for its sustained work to

(10:09):
advance gender equality to the benefit ofall, and for those standing against the
backsliding of gender equality everywhere. MadamExecutive Director, how will you and Women
prevent further backsliding in women's advancement globally? Thank you very much. I thank
the distinguished Representative of the United Statesand give the floor to Latvia. Thank

(10:35):
you, Chair Director. Thank youfor your presentation, and I'll be rather
brief. I commend you and womenfor its dedication to create an environment in
which every woman and girl can exerciseher human rights and live up to her
full potential. This mission requires partnershipswith government's, civil society, businesses,

(10:58):
foundations, and individuals and individuals.LATVI appraise its projects you and women have
realized through partnerships. In Wonder.Your partnerships with governments and businesses made save
public spaces projects possible. In Ukraine, your partnerships with Peace and human Tarian
Fund and local Ukrainian funds stimulated womenled humanitarian assistance. Often challenging circumstances underground

(11:22):
have demanded from you and women innovativepartnership strategies, notably working amid the Taliban's
edicts and decrees that have aimed toerrares Afghan women and girls from public life.
Latvia firmly supports you and women andits mission and strives to contribute its
share by engaging in partnerships of itsown to make positive impact. Through partnerships,

(11:45):
We've established a rehabilitation facility in Ukraineto support survivors of sexual violence perpetrated
by the Russian military. In Amibiaand Zambia, we have empowered local women
by helping them to start businesses anduse digital tools and in Uzbeki stand supporting
participation of Ozbek women in the ITbusiness sector and their access to public life.

(12:07):
Director seimer I would like to inquirein your extensive work experience, which
have been the most challenging partnerships toforge and what are the men obstacles that
you face. I thank you,I think the distinguished representative of Latvia and
give the floor to Romania. Goodmorning. Romania welcomes the report of the
Secretary General on the improvement of thesituation of women and girls in rural areas.

(12:31):
Romania reaffirms its commitment to defend allwomen's rights everywhere. We believe rural
women are important agents of economic andsocial change. In twenty twenty three,
in support of the empotment of womenfrom rural areas, the Government of Romania
lounged a program to increase employment amongwomen with the lower levels of education in
the rural areas. Furthermore, Romanahas implemented the Rural Action for Innovative and

(12:56):
Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Youth project that assistedwomen to attain education and training and self
employment. It is sustainable agribusiness.Yet women and girls from rural areas continue
to face serious challenges because of genderbased stereotypes and discrimination that deny them equitable
access to opportunities, resources, assets, and services. One of the recommendations

(13:18):
in the report is for member statesto take decisive action to eliminate the multiple
and intersecting forms of discrimination and violencefacing rural women and girls by addressing structural
barriers and discriminatory social norms. Canyou please mention measures that member states could
take at grassroots level to fight embeddedstereotypes and domestic violence and therefore empower rural

(13:39):
women in their communities and further supportgender equality. Thank you, I think
the distinguished representative of Poland a Romaniaand give the floor to the representative of
Paulis Leon said sure, we alignourselves with the statement deliver better you in

(14:00):
Union and we had the following remarksin National Capacity Chair. The work of
you and women throughout the world toimprove women's access to education and other services,
as well as its activities to addresssexual and gender based violence, including
in complex situations, are laudable.Tragic consequences are entailed for women due to

(14:26):
conflicts which we see every day inUkraine. This is done by the unjusticed
due to the unjustified war by Russiaagainst Ukraine, which has created six million
refugees, many of which are women. Many of them are subject to the
risk of human trafficking, sexual andgender based violence, sexual abuse, enforced

(14:46):
labor, just to cite a fewexamples. Un Women provides vital aid for
these needs both in Ukraine and beyond. That's why Poland is voluntarily supported this
important word by allocating over sixty milliondollars to ensure safe services provided by You

(15:07):
and Women in Ukraine and elsewhere.Director, what are the main priorities and
objectives that You and Women has setfor the coming year as regards it's work
for women and girls in conflict situations. Allow me to call our candidacy for
twenty twenty four for the Board ofYou and Women. Here we are looking

(15:31):
forward to working together with everyone fromYou and Women and as well as the
members of the Bureau and the AdministrativeBoard to ensure a world that is more
safe, inclusive and just for womenall over the world. Thank you,
like the distinguished representative of Poland.Before giving the floor to Columbia, just
let me read out the next speakersthat will be European Union, Chile,

(15:52):
Mexico and the Sovereign Order of Malta. I gave the floor to Colombia.
Thank you very much, Chairman,and thank you Director for your briefing.
I'd like to refer to two ofthe reports that you've introduced today. The
first is on violence against women migrantworkers, and i'd like to recognize you

(16:15):
to recognize and I would recognize thework being done by Columbia to reduce and
minimize violence against women migrant workers.In the second report has to do with
the advancement of women and improving thesituation of women girls in rural areas,
and I'd like to thank you aswell for recognizing efforts to improve the livelihoods

(16:41):
of women in Colombia and financing forthose women. I have comments on both
those reports. The first is howcan you use the disaggregated data to better
inform the public. One of ourstrategies has to do with the survey to

(17:03):
determine how much time youth spend inrural areas carrying out domestic work and unpaid
work. The second question has todo with the multiple and intersected forms of
discrimination. This is a terminology that'sused frequently in these reports and others.

(17:25):
It would be very useful if youcould share with us a specific example in
one of these reports where you've identifieda specific form of discrimination against rural women
or migrant women workers. Thank you, I think the distinguished representative of Columbia
and give the floor to the EuropeanUnion. Thank you, mister Chair.

(17:49):
We would like to thank mister Seymourfor today's presentation. Like other speakers before
me have mentioned, women and girlsfull and equal enjoyment of human rights is
under increased pressure. Some recent examplesinclude Ukraine, where women and girls face
heightened risk of sexual and gender basedviolence as a result of Russia's war of
aggression, Afghanistan where we are witnessingsystematic violations of the human rights and fundamental

(18:12):
freedoms of women and girls, andSudan, where women and girls have been
subjected to various forms of violence,including rape, sexual slavery, and sexual
exploitation and abuse. You and Womenplays an essential role through its normative coordination
and operational work. We appreciate thepositive results that you have been able to

(18:33):
achieve through the implementation of this tripleMandate and the Strategic Plan, especially in
the current context of multiple crises andwar. We appreciate that You and Women
is not deterred by these crises,but continues to identify and address structural inequalities.
You and Women's convenior role is crucialfor mobilizing our sustained attention and investment

(18:55):
in gender equality, including through initiativesto follow up on the implementation of the
Bay Declaration and platform for action.For example, the recent Generation Equality Midpoint
moment provided an important opportunity to takestock of the progress made and galvanize action
in this regard. The EU fullysupports the organization of a high level event
on Beijing plus thirty in twenty twentyfive. These events, in our view,

(19:18):
provide opportunities to reaffirm our commitments andto gather rally around gender equality.
Mister Seymour, can we ask youhow will You and Women work to ensure
that the Beijing plus thirty events complementspotential commitments and outcomes of next year's ICPD
plus thirty. Thank you so much. I think the distinguished Representative of the
European Union gave the floor to Chile, which does that. Thank you very

(19:45):
much Chairman, Chile welcomes the roleof you and women in working on gender
quality and the investment of women.We also welcome the reports introduced by Director
Seymour. I'd like to refer totwo point outside of the reports introduced,
but we feel that they're relevant inthis discussion. Firstly, we'd like to

(20:06):
underscore the fact that older women makeup the vast majority of the older population
and that number will increase in thecoming years. And on that point,
we would seek the support of youand women and other delegations in helping older

(20:30):
women and in recognizing the importance ofgender policies so outside of the areas where
we traditionally work. One agenda itemwhich is very important for our delegation is
that we would ask you and women, how does the agenda item the issue

(20:52):
of unpaid care? How could thatbe a platform for cross cutting gender policies
in economic and socials. And we'dalso ask you when women, what other
opportunities can we take advantage of asmember states to have a gender approach in
discussions where that approach is still lacking. Thank you, I think the distinguished

(21:15):
Representative of Chile and give the floorto Mexico GRASA. Thank you, Chairman,
and I thank the presentative of youand Women for introducing these reports.
I'd like to express Mexico's gratitude forthe work being done by you and women
to ensure gender equality. My countryhas always sought to have a strategic relationship

(21:41):
with you and women, which wouldmake it possible for us to cooperate in
implementing projects together to benefit gender equality. One of the most important was the
partnership to sustain the generation equality formthat's born fruit, and we continue to
work on that by following through onour commitments, such as for the General

(22:03):
Alliance for Care. We recognize theimportance of gender equality for women, teens,
and girls in all of their diversitythroughout the world, but also in
a national context. We'd like tocontinue to promote a common agenda to share
good practices, for example in thearea of statistics, care, protocol variety,

(22:30):
and political participation. And in thisway we would continue to build a
country and a world which are morefair and balanced. So we would ask
the following, how can you andwomen work with Mexico to find ways of
restructuring it's a feminist foreign policy.Additionally, how can you and women work

(22:53):
in a coordinated fashion with the UNsystem to ensure greater recognition of genderer quality
as a component for promoting human rightsand sustainable developments. Thank you, I
think the distinguished Representative of Mexico,colleagues, before I give the floor to
the Sovereign Order of Malta. We'vehad two more late inscriptions with Costa Rica

(23:15):
and Italy. I've decided to acceptthem an exceptional basis. But could I
please request you all in the futureto respect the time that you can put
your name on the speaker's list,because it affects the time that everyone has
to speak and we won't manage theschedule otherwise. Give the floor to the
Sovereign Order of Malta. Thank you, mister Chair. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues,

(23:41):
it is clear that empowering women shouldbe at the forefront of our efforts.
Our commitment extends to various regions acrossthe globe. In Bosnia Herscovina,
our Malteser staff provides counseling for afoundation established by women. This foundation supports
This foundation supports women in social andeconomic fields, offering small credits for business

(24:04):
startups and empowering them to take controltheir lives and futures. In India,
where slums are a stark reality,we've taken proactive approach to empower women living
in these challenging conditions through training midwives. Through training midwives, these women become
frontline caregivers for their communities, improvinghealth outcomes for themselves and those around them.

(24:29):
More than one hundred young girls betweenthe ages of fifteen and nineteen are
emerging as drivers of positive change intheir communities. In partnership with the local
organization Development for Education, we've receivedspecialized training to become nutritionists and water sanitation
and hygiene officers to share their knowledgewith women and their girls in their community.

(24:56):
An important overlook topic is menstrual hygieneand health. Every day and estimated
three hundred million people menstruate, yetmenstruation remains a taboo subject. Girls and
women who have their periods stigmatized arestigmatized and exclusion In many regions. Shockingly,
five hundred million women and girls lackaccess to the resources they need to

(25:19):
manage menstruation with dignity and health.This limits their ability to participate in education
and the workforce. Thank you,I think the distinguished Representative of the Order
of Malta and give the floor toCosta Rica. Thank you very much,

(25:41):
mister Chairman. Costa Rica welcomes thebriefing provided by the Director of the Division
of UN Women for Partnerships, andyou receive the full support of my delegation
for the work of UN Women.In particular, I'd like to refer to
the report on Measures taken as afollow up to the Beijing Declaration. We

(26:07):
believe there's a very important content inthis report, in particular the quantitative analysis
and qualitative findings of the resolutions andmandates for UN women and in the UN
system on gender equality. Here wehave three hundred and twenty eight resolutions and
reports that include the gender perspective throughoutthe UN system. Thirty three percent of

(26:33):
them come from the Third Committee,and we need to add to that the
establishment of standards from the Commission onthe Status of Women and the Board of
UN Women. So we wonder howthe UN is systematizing these mandates. Is

(26:53):
there some kind of process to systematizethese mandates and to report on them.
We'd like to know as well,Director, how can we the States contribute
to and support improving that alignment andsynergies among the various mandates on the issue

(27:15):
of genderal quality. Thank you Chairman, I thank the distinguished Representative Costa Rican.
Give the floor to Italy, MissusCHAM as just delegates to Italy,
to the United Nations, we welcomethe Secretary General Report on the Improvements of
the Situational Women and Girls in RuralAreas Esperal Mandate. Our attention is particularly
devoted to the protection and realization ofthe rights of youngers and especially those living

(27:38):
in rural areas, both in Italyand abroad. The gender gap in food
and security still persists at a globallevel, as stated in the late FAO
Report on the Status of Food andSecurity and Nutrition in the World. In
particular, young women and girls livingin rural areas are more likely to be
food and security than men due tosocial economic factors related to aggrifood systems,

(28:02):
as also highlighted by the Secretary GeneralConfraction for Accelerated Full System Transformation. Some
of the recommendations contained in the Airportcall for member states to develop and adopt
gender responsive strategies to support the resilienceand adaptive capacities of young women and girls.
To respond to the adverse impacts ofclimate change and to promote the progressive

(28:23):
realization of the right to adequate foodin the context of food security nutrition for
verbal women. In light of this, we can only ask the Distinguished Representative
of Young Women, Director Donald Seymour, to please shain example of best practice
of how such strategies can promote therealization of ruruger's right to aduquate food considering

(28:45):
both their gender related and climate relatedvulnerabilities. Thank you, I thank the
distinguished Representative Italy, and I'll givethe floor back to mister Daniel Siemur to
respond. Thank you very much.Mister Chef, excellency is this is a
wonderful set of extremely substantive questions whichI'm very very happy to give some responses

(29:07):
to. I'm just also aware oftime, so mister Shay you'll be strict
with me, I'm sure. Firstof all, thank you very much for
the kind words from many delegations forthe work of you and women. We
appreciate it. We appreciate very muchour relationship with member states as central partners
to the work that we do andcarrying out the mandate that was given to
us by the General Assembly the distinguishedDelegate of the United States. I just

(29:32):
want to thank you, particularly forreminding us of two crucial issues, one
on technology, particularly in the contextof the recent Commission on the States of
Women, and also disability. Itrelates to the issue of intersectionalities, which
we will come to in a moment. But you asked a complicated question,
a difficult question about how we collectivelyprevent backsliding as you and women, and

(29:56):
I want to maybe suggest three areas. Among the first is that this issue
requires a whole of system response.As the United Nations, it affects all
aspects of the lives of women andgirls, all aspects of the implementation of
the UN Charter, all aspects ofthe Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and
various other standards that we all worktogether to implement. And it is through

(30:19):
the coherent marrying of coordination, partnershipas well as operational activities creating norms and
standards in this governmental space that wefeel we can make progress. It's not
adequate to focus only on one andthat's why we think that the mandate afforded
us by the General Assembly words ofvery forward looking. One second is that

(30:41):
we do think that obviously the challengesthat we have in twenty twenty three and
addressing this are modern ones and thatthey demand reaching out to a range of
stakeholders, including the private sector,including faith based organization, civil society and
of course member states in a sortof virtuous collaboration that draws on the capacities

(31:04):
and the energies and the comparative advantageof all. And that's very much.
And I noticed that a number ofdelegates raised the example of generation equality.
This is the intent of that initiative, but many others too, and we
feel that that is crucial in addressingthat backsliding. We also, of course
require a range of actors to stepup on this in the intergovernmental space,

(31:29):
but also in public spaces more generally, and that's an area for additional collaboration
and consideration. And I think thecrucial thing, and it relates to the
question from the distinguished Delegate of theEuropean Union about Beijing plus thirty. We
will need collectively to find a highestcommon denominator and our role as young women

(31:52):
will be to facilitate that with memberstates as we try to commemorate in the
appropriate way the thirtieth anniversary of theBeijing Declaration of besing platform for action.
It will be extremely important that wemanage to achieve dynamics and collaborative dynamics among
member states and groupings that lead usto the most positive outcomes in that process

(32:14):
as possible. I think we're allaware that recent years have been challenging in
the intergovernmental space to arrive at,for example, agreed conclusions in the Commission
of States to Women, and wevery much want to be working with you
all in the context of Beijing plusthirty to find ways to get around that.
The seeing with Delegate of Latvia askedabout the most challenging partnerships and the

(32:36):
main obstacles. It's a great question. I think there are challenges inherent in
all forms of partnership and often thatis our job as you and women to
work within those. For example,of course you talked about difficult situations through
on it okay, thank you withregard to Afghanistan and other places. But
also you know there are challenges inherentin working with the private sector. For

(32:58):
example, there are certain challenges interms of finding areas of collaborative advantage in
terms of you and coordination. Thereare challenges with regard to working in the
most effective way across the full rangeof member states. So challenges are inherent
in our partnership work. It iscore to our mandate. But that's our
job and that's what we work towork around. And in some ways I

(33:21):
think the challenges are very much aroundcreating spaces for convening, facilitating and enabling
collaboration between different kinds of stakeholders.Those are sometimes the bigger challenges than simply
as you and women finding productive bilateralpartnerships with any particular group, constituency or
individual partner. On the question fromthe singles deligative romania on measuring, let

(33:44):
me just say we are very veryaware it is a new element of our
strategic plan and in the strategic frameworkview and women to focus specifically on social
norms. We are have the advantagethat our friends and colleagues that you and
are in the same position with theirstrategic plan, and we're working together very
much on that. There are numerousexamples, for example, working with men

(34:09):
and boys at the local level.There is an example of addressing issues at
rural level through men's parliaments and othergroups which lead to development of local policies
in countries like Senegal and budgets toaddress women and girls, unpaid care and
domestic work. But overall we doface an enormous challenge with regard to stereotypes

(34:32):
and norms, and I appreciate itbeing raised for those that may have an
interest. We have collaborated with avery large market research company, Kantar,
to do a study of attitudes.It's now twenty countries covering both global North
global South, which shows a numberof things on attitudes and its longitudinal it's

(34:52):
second iteration. One of the thingsfrom that report which I think we all
need to be very mindful of isthat it shows that some of them regressive
attitudes with regards to gender equality.And the cohort within which we're going most
in the wrong direction is young men, and I think it reiterates the points
that other colleagues have made about theimportance of men and boys. Given availability

(35:14):
of time, I'm going to haveto defer we were going to respond in
writing to some of the other questionsthat were raised. I just want to
touch maybe on the question from theDistinguished Delegate of Poland on priorities in crisis.
Broadly speaking, we believe that thereare two main things one is the
mainstreaming of gender equality through the processof crisis. That is, through,

(35:37):
for example, rapid gender assessments,providing the information necessary for the humanitarian community
for the crisis response. But wealso believe that one of the most cost
effective life saving interventions in the contextof crisis is the impairment of women.
We believe that if you are concernedabout Underphire's mortality in crisis, if you

(35:59):
are concerned about children going to school, if you are concerned about care of
the elderly or those living with disabilities, getting money and resources and power into
the hands of women in crisis affectivecommunities is the single most cost effective way
to save lives and help communities transitionfrom crisis distability. And that is at

(36:19):
the core of our work in crisis, and you will hear that increasingly as
we developed this more including through ournew membership of the Inturagency Standing Committee.
Apologies having not been able to coverall of the questions, but I thank
you very much for your attention andall those questions. I thank the Director
of the Strategic Partnership's Division of Youand Women. I would like to welcome
now the chair of the Committee onthe Elimination of Discrimination against Women s DAR

(36:42):
missus Anna Peles nerves participants wishing tomake comments impose questions to the speaker.
You are invited to press the microphonebutton now and within the next three minutes.
After that, the list will beclosed. The time limit for each
speaker will then be announced before thefloor is given to the first speaker.

(37:04):
I know this is difficult, butthanks for your corporation. Now invite the
Chair of the Committee to make anintroductory statement. Miss Peters nervous you have
the floor. President there, Chairexcellency is distinguished delegates. Today is the
first time that I have the immensehonor to address and engage in an interactive

(37:29):
dialogue with the Third Committee of theGeneral Assembly in my capacity as the elected
Chair of the Committee on the Eliminationof Discrimination against Women. In February,
SIDA elected a new bureau and welcomedsix newly elected members. Over the past

(37:49):
year, the committee held dialogues withtwenty four states parties in Geneva and adopted
concluding observes on their reports, preventinga further increase of the committee's current backlog
of forty five received state party reportsthat are pending review. In addition,

(38:14):
it adopted eleven lists of issues inrelation to reports from States parties and twelve
lists of issues prior to reporting underthe simplified reporting procedure of the one hundred
and eighty nine states parties to theSEEDC Convention. Only thirteen have opted out

(38:36):
from simplified reporting procedures since the Committee'sdecision in twenty twenty two to make it
the default procedure for the submission ofperiodic records under Article two of the Optional
Protocol ratified by one hundred and fifteenStates parties, SEIDA took action on eleven
individual complaints. It found violations ofthe author's right in six cases concerning violence

(39:02):
against a disappeared girl, obstetric violence, non refilement, failure to provide gender
sensitive drug therapy and rehabilitation to apregnant woman, continuing discrimination against women victims
of sexual violence during World War II, and finally, a discrimination discrimination against

(39:30):
a woman's human rights human rights defenderin a land dispute. Under Article aid
of the Optional Protocol, the Committeeconducted a confidential inquiry visit to a state
party and adopted the assessment of thefollow up report received from another state party
in response to an inquiry report.It also requested country visits in relation to

(39:53):
several pending inquiry proceedings on our workon general recommendations. In October of twenty
twenty two, the SEA DOC Committeeadopted its General Recommendation Number thirty nine,
which provides guidance to States parties toimplement their obligations under the Convention in relation

(40:15):
to the rights of Indigenous women andgirls. It acknowledges that Indigenous women and
girls face intersecting forms of discrimination basedon sex, gender, indigenous status,
and other factors, and calls onstate parties to prevent, prohibit, and
punish all forms of gender based violenceagainst Indigenous women and girls, including Indigenous

(40:39):
women, human rights defenders, andenvironmental activities. It also calls on state
parties to promote the meaningful and informedparticipation of Indigenous women and girls in political
and public life. The Officer ofthe High Commissioner for Human Rights is translated
General Recommendation thirty nine into several Indigenousin indigenous languages, and will continue to

(41:02):
do so through twenty twenty three.Currently, the Committee is elaborating General Recommendation
Number forty on the equal Inclusive representationof women in decision making systems. Another
draft General Recommendation on gender stereotypes ison the horizon see our plans to adopt

(41:29):
a concept note in its upcoming Octobersession. I would also like to say
that the Working Group on Gender BasedViolence against Women is working on a General
Recommendation Number thirty five, which updatesGeneral Recommendation Number nineteen on violence against Women.

(42:00):
It approved the first two sections onconflict related sexual violence and harmful practices
respectively. It also elaborated position paperWomen Piece and Security. The Committee remains
deeply concerned that sexual violence continues tobe utilized as a means of warfare in

(42:20):
armed conflicts across the globe. Recently, a UN mechanism approached SIDAR to request
an exceptional report from a state partywhere conflict related sexual violence, including exploitation
of prostitution, is reportedly rampant incamps for IDPs. In October last year,

(42:49):
the Committee reviewed the ninth Periodic Reportof Ukraine and issued recommendations to the
State party to protect and promote women'srights in this challenging context of war.
It offered technical assistance for the implementationof the recommendations to Ukraine, which extended

(43:12):
an invitation to the Committee to conducta technical follow up visit to the country
that will take place as soon asthe necessary logistical and support can be ensured
in Afghanistan. In January, CEDAreceived a response from the de facto authorities
in Kapul to its request for informationon the situation of women and girls in

(43:35):
Afghanistan. The information has been publishedon the CEDAR website and referred to in
a recent report on the Situation ofand Girls in Afghanistan by the Special Rapporteur
on the Human Rights Situation on theRights in Afghanistan, and it includes a

(43:59):
report on discrimination against women and girls. The Task Force on Afghanistan closely consults
with these and other relevant human rightsmechanisms, including the Special Rapporter on Violence
against Women and Girls on harmonization ofworking methods. We have continued to work

(44:22):
in this regard and i'd like tosay that in May, SIDAR and the
Committee on the Rights of the Childfor the first time held back to back
dialogues with a state party, offeringjoint recommendations in relation to issues affecting both
committees such as the rights of childof girls, child marriage, school dropout

(44:45):
and early pregnancy. I would alsorefer to the issue of working methods that
the Committee is adopting a method idologyfor the examination of state party reports in
the absence of a delegation drawing onthe practices of several other treaty bodies.

(45:08):
And I know that I'm out oftime, Chairman, I apologize on Treaty
Body strengthening process. Obviously, afterthe thirty fifth Annual Meeting of the Chairs,

(45:34):
the seed DOC Committee acknowledged all ofthe decisions adopted there on behalf of
the ten human rights treaty bodies.Chairmen. Before concluding, I would like
to thank our partners, including theInteragency Group for the submission of reports and

(45:55):
that includes of course you and WomenHere, Asia Pass, the Era Asia
Pacific that brought local NGOs to oursessions, International Disability Alliance and Surmi Women's
Foundation. We had informal public meetingswith NGOs. We thank all the national

(46:16):
human rights institutions and civil society fortheir important contributions. Although the work of
the c DOC Committee has become morecomplex, human and financial resources afforded by
the Member States of the United Nationshave not kept pace with the growth of

(46:36):
our work and we therefore, ifyou will allow me, Chairman, would
like to call on the General Assemblyto approve additional resources to address the inadequate
staffing levels to support the work ofthe human rights treaty bodies. It really

(46:57):
is absolutely essential at a time suchas this, when we see so much
backsliding on behalf of SIDA. Ithank you for this opportunity and I stand
ready to answer any questions you maywish to post. Thank you. I
thank the chair of CIDO, andI'm very sorry about the tight schedule that

(47:17):
we have already to all the panelists. It's very difficult, but we have
such a loaded agenda we somehow haveto get through with this, so thank
you very much for the cooperation.I will now open the floor for any
questions or comments to Miss Palais Narvez, and again I would ask the delegations
to limit their comments. This timeit's two and a half minutes, and
I thank you for your cooperation inthis regard. The first speakers on my

(47:42):
list are the following Japan, Greece, European Union, Switzerland and China.
I give the floor to Japan.Thank you, Thank you, Miss bit
Ice. Not advice for your informativebriefing. Together with the Siro Committee,
the international community has made hard oneprogress in the elimination of discrimination against women

(48:04):
for the past decades. Japan highlyvalues the Committee's efforts and expertise and is
delighted that doctor Akizukihiroko from our countrywas re elected last year to serve as
a member. I have two questionsfor you, Misspelized Narvaez. Firstly,
as elimination of discrimination against women isthe key to advancement of women, more

(48:27):
interaction between the CITO Committee and theThird Committee is necessary. Could you kindly
share any ideas for possible collaborations betweenthese two committees and reviews on how state
parties can cooperate. Secondly, wewelcome ongoing reform of the Committee's work.
Could you kindly elaborate more on thepositive impact of the simplified reporting that you

(48:49):
have observed so far. Thank you, I think the distinguished representative of Japan
and give the floor to Greece.Thank you, mister President. Since this
is the first time I'm taking thefloor, allow me to congratulate you and
the Bureau members for your election andexpress our support to your work. Madam
Chair remaining committed to the full implementationof the Sedau Convention, Greece implements a

(49:15):
coherent legal and institutional framework which providesfor mainstreaming a gender perspective across the whole
range of public policies, domestic andforeign. The General Secretariat for Equality and
Human Rights under the newly established Ministryof Social Cohesion and Family is the competed
institution coordinating the coherent integration of theperspectives of gender, sexual orientation, gender

(49:39):
identity, expression and sex characteristics inthe implementation of the work and priorities of
the government. The National Action Planon Gender Equality twenty twenty one twenty twenty
five, which is fully aligned withthe UN and EU Gender Equality Framework as
well as the twenty thirty Agenda,sets the following main priorities prevention and combating

(50:02):
of gender based and domestic violence,gender equal participation in the labor market,
in decision making and leadership positions,as well as mainstreaming gender in sectoral policies.
Madam chair As, Greece is aboutto present its combined eighth and ninth
Periodic Report to the Committee on theElimination of Discrimination against Women at its forthcoming

(50:24):
eighty seventh session. We would liketo know what member states could do in
order to enhance gender mainstreaming in allUN policies and structures. Thank you,
I thank the distinguished Representative of Greeceand give the floor to the EU.
Thank you, mister Chair. MadamChair of the c DOOC Committee. We

(50:45):
thank you very much for the importantwork carried out by you and the very
interesting presentation of your work today,in particular about the specific country situations.
The European Union would like to takethis opportunity to reiterate its call on all
states who have not yet so toaccede to the seed DOC Convention, to
fully implement the provisions laid down thereinand to review any reservations and withdraw those

(51:07):
that are contrary to the object andpurpose of the Convention. Madam Chair,
I would like to make three shortpoints in relation to your presentation. The
first one is on participation. Asyou mentioned, we welcome the work conducted
by the Sedock Committee to elaborate anew general recommendation to provide state parties with
guidance on reaching equal and inclusive representationof women in decision making systems, both

(51:32):
in the public and private sectors.The second one is on access to sexual
and reproductive health. Conflict and crisisaround the world continue to exacerbate the challenges
and barriers facing women and girls globally, including access to sexual and reproductive health.
The EU remains committed to the promotion, protection and fulfillment of all human

(51:52):
rights and to the full and effectiveimplementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and
the program action of the International Conferenceon Population and Development and the outcomes of
their review conferences, and remains committedto sexual and reproductive health and rights in
this context. The third one ison tackling gender stereotypes. Studies show how

(52:15):
gender stereotypes disproportionately impact women and girls, and this can also have a negative
impact on families and communities at large. You mentioned that SIDO will elaborate a
new general recommendation. We welcome thisand we very much look forward to the
concept. Note in this sense acknowledgingthat many women and girls face multiple and

(52:36):
intersecting forms of discrimination based on additionalgrounds that may expose them to further marginalization
in society, we ask you whatcan states do to mitigate risks for women
and girls in such vulnerable situations?Thank you. I think the distinguished representative
of the European Union and give thefloor to Switzerland. Monsieur le President Les

(53:00):
Chair Switzerland thanks the Committee for itswork. I will begin for a question
of the Chair of SEEDAW. Howcan you ensure that new technologies will strengthen
the participation of women in decision makingprocesses. They're growing threats to the right

(53:22):
of women and girls in the world. In this context, Switzerland hails the
vital role play played by the SEEDAON. Switzerland has the pleasure to announce the
candidacy of Erica Schleppe and Attorney forthe forthcoming seed EDAW session in twenty twenty

(53:43):
three. We also welcome the workcurrently done by the Committee to draft General
Recommendation Number forty. It is onequal and fair participation by women in decision
making bodies. On full, meaningfuland significant participation of women in decision making

(54:06):
processes, including in the digital space, which is vital for crafting just,
inclusive and peaceful societies. Now turningto the Women piece and Agenda Women piece
of Security Agenda, Switzerland wants tosee women involved more in conflict settlement to

(54:30):
processes and we want to see astrong agenda role in cybersecurity processes. We're
currently implementing our fifth national Action Planto implement Resolution fifteen thirty. Thank you
Glenn. Before giving the floor toChina, I will read out the next
five speakers Mexico, Cuba, Norway, Malaysia, Russian Federation. I give

(54:53):
the floor to China. Mister appreciatesCITOS the important role in eliminating all forms
of discrimination against the women as safeguardin women's rights and interests. We support
the Committee in conducting and continuing constructivedealog with the state's parties within the matter

(55:15):
of the Convention. As a signatoryto the Convention, China has been earnestly
honoring its obligations to the Convention.In May, we received the periodic review
by the Committee on the nine compliancereport, and we have conducted the fruitful
dialogue with the Zido candidly and openly. China attaches great importance to gender equality

(55:37):
and the all around development women.We have been improving our legal framework and
established the more than one hundred lawsand regulations in this regard. We are
implementing around Women's Development, an actionplan to safeguard women's rights in health,
education, employment, social security,family and marriage. So that they can
equally participate in economic and social developmentequal they enjoy the achievements of reform,

(56:01):
so that they can have a highersense of fulfillment, happiness and security.
China takes seriously the constructive recommendations bySiodoor and now is implementing fading decoration and
the program for Action earnestly at thesame time in order to help the state
parties to better implement the Convention,so that the articles of the Convention can

(56:24):
be better implemented. China hopes thatthe Communitee can owner its obligations and dischargees
responsibilities adjecatively and equitably, be factsbased and respect the information provided by the
concerned countries, and discard ideological prejudiceand avoid practices of politicizing humorrights issues.

(56:46):
Thank you, mister check, Ithink the distinguished representative of China and give
the Florida to Mexico. Thank youvery much, German, and I'd like
to thank miss Pelais Natavirus for herbriefing. The multiple and intersected forms of

(57:07):
violence and discrimination which women face,young women and girls face not only damage
those women, but they also impactthe entire society. Global crises such as
the issues of care and violence ofaffected people Unequally. Mexico has shown its

(57:30):
commitment to the work of SEED onthe recommendations of the Committee by setting up
the Commission to follow up on theSEED Committee's observations. This Commission has coordinated
domestic efforts to comply with these recommendationsand observations so that we can work towards

(57:53):
a national gender equal perspective. Welcomethe publication of Documentation thirty nine on the
Rights of Indigenous Women and Girls.Mexico is proud to have been the host
for the meeting of the Americas andNational Dialogue. We would like to ask

(58:15):
the following what strategy does SED Ibelieve is most effective so that we can
avoid backsliding and sustain our gains andmake sure that women, girls and teenage
women live free from violence and havefull autonomy over all areas of their lives

(58:35):
without being limited by discriminate discrimination andstereotypes. Thank you, I think,
the distinguished representative of Mexico and givethe floor to Cuba which I can ask
you, Yes, sir, thankyou very much. Chairman. We are
grateful for the briefing provided by thechair of the Committee. On the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women SIDA. Thatbody is one that we are grateful for

(58:59):
and we continue to support and havesupported since its creation. We've always been
proud to have been the first countryto sign and the second to ratify the
Convention on the Elimination of All Formsof Discrimination against Women, as well as
the und deniable results Cuba has achievedin this area despite the impact of the

(59:20):
global economic and financial blockade, whichis unjustly imposed on us by the United
States. Cuban women today represent fiftytwo point three percent of advisors in fifty
five point seven percent of women inthe Parliament, sixty six percent of technical
professionals, more than eighty one percentof teachers, professors and scientists, more

(59:44):
than seventy percent are working as judgesand prosecutors in areas of health and education.
And I'm just referring to a fewexamples. These results and the other
challenges we can continued to face aswe combat discrimination against women so that we

(01:00:04):
can ensure their full equality and empowermentwill be amply shown. When we defend
our Night's periodic report, we arelooking very carefully at the list of questions
submitted by the Committee so that wecan provide the most detailed and updated information
on the basis of our long historyof exchange and cooperation with you and human

(01:00:28):
Rights Treaty bodies in general and withSID in particular. Thank you, I
think the distinguished representative of Cuba andgave the floor to Norway. Thank you,
Chair. Norway attaches great importance tothe Human Rights Treaty Body system.
We value the SEDA Committee's role inscrutinizing straight state party's efforts and implementing the

(01:00:50):
Convention, and we thank the Committeefor your third review of Norway's tenth periodic
report and for your recommendations. However, we are concerned that many States parties
do not submit their periodic reports toSEED on a Treaty bodies in a timely
manner. In this regard, wefind it crucial that the reporting burden on
states must not be too heavy.We are pleased with the increased use of

(01:01:13):
the simplified Reporting procedure. We encourageSEDA and other Treaty bodies to intensify our
efforts to harmonize the roles of procedureand working methods, and to coordinate the
review cycles. The Chair's role isessential. In this context, we urge
you to be more ambitious in yourefforts to improve and align your working methods.
Furthermore, we encourage the Committee tofocus your questions during dialogue meetings on

(01:01:34):
the most pressing challenges and to allocatesufficient time for the state party's response.
In our view, this would resultin more constructive dialogues and more accurate recommendations.
Your Committee's efforts to improve the situationfor women and girls worldwide is closely
linked to the Agenda twenty thirty forSustainable Development Norway. Commence the seed DOC
Committee for your contributions to the achievementof the sustainable development goals and to the

(01:02:00):
high level political forum. The crosscutting nature of gender equality must be addressed
by all stakeholders, and if weneglect to invest in gender equality, we
jeopardize the entire twenty thirty Agenda.I thank you, I think the distinguished
Representative of Norway give the floor toMalaysia. Thank you. Mister Chair Militia

(01:02:21):
thanks Ms Novas for her presentation andcommends the work of the Committee in ensuring
women are protected and are discriminated inany forms. Mister Chair Militia is fully
committed in implementing the provision of PIDO. We are pleased to inform that we
will submit the list of issues andquestions reised by the Committee based on the
six periodic report on the implementation ofthe Convention submitted by Malaysia last year by

(01:02:46):
the Dayline Authentic pot of October twentytwenty three. Mister Chair, increasing women's
participation in leadership positions remains one ofthe biggest hurdles to overcome. However,
I'm please to share that in Malaysia, the statistic of women as corporate decision
makers board of Directors for the topone hundred public listed companies PLC and across

(01:03:09):
all PLC as of one June twentytwenty three stands at thirty point six percent
and twenty four point six percent.Malaysia stands ready to learn from others and
share our best practices on initiative toenhance the participation of women. Our question
to mister Vez is as follows.In your opinion, how can the Member

(01:03:31):
States increase women meaningful participation in economy? Could you provide insights on effective practices
from any country that perhaps you canshare. Thank you. I think the
Distinguished Representative of Malaysia before giving thefloor to the Russian Federation. The next
speakers are Columbia and the Sovereign Orderof Malta. I gave the floor to

(01:03:52):
the Russian Federation. Thank you,Chair. We wish to thank the Chair
of the Committee for presenting her reporton the activities of the Committee. We
have several comments as well. Wewould call upon the Committee to stringently adhere

(01:04:17):
to the provisions of the Convention,also to stay within the frame work of
sixty eight Slash two sixty eight,the Resolution on the Strengthening of the Effectiveness
of the Functioning of Treaty Bodies HumanRights Treaty Bodies that is pursuant to Paragraph

(01:04:42):
nineteen of that resolution. The activitiesof the treaty bodies should be consonant with
the provisions of those relevant conventions,and no new obligations should be created for
the state's parties. In this regard, we believe that the comments the general

(01:05:03):
comments voiced by the Committee are theprivate opinion of its experts. They don't
impose on states any additional obligations inaddition to those obligations that were already undertaken
when acceding to the International treaties.This directly bears on the comments of the

(01:05:28):
Committee as regards Recommendation thirty nine onthe rights of women and girls who are
from indigenous peoples. We've heard aboutplans to produce other general recommendations, and
we have a hope here. Wehope that these projects will be grounded in

(01:05:49):
international law. We hope that theywill not create any non consensus based recommendations,
no non consensuscy wording and those recommendations. Once more, we call upon
the Committee to take into account theburden encountered and efficiently and effectively use the

(01:06:12):
resources allocated to it. We'd askthem to refrain from not using non constituency
based language and its terminology too.Thank you, I think the distinguished representative
of the Russian Federation give the floridto Columbia guys. Thank you very much,
Chairman, and thank you very muchfor the briefing by the chair of

(01:06:33):
ZIDA for Columbia. The work ofthe Committee is essential in our commitment to
achieve gender equality and the empowerment ofall women and girls. In particular,
the adoption of Recommendation thirty nine isa goal which should be welcomed. It
will address the specific issues related tocultural diversity and the rights of Indigenous women

(01:06:57):
and girls. The work of women'sorganizations which promoted its adoption should be recognized,
as will. Indigenous women and girlsstill face territorial, political, and
social inequality. They also bear theburden of unpaid work and domestic work.

(01:07:18):
We must normalize existing strategies and frameworksto acknowledge their rights. There must be
plans of action based on human rightsand a cross cutting approach to eliminate all
forms of discrimination and violence. Whilein Colombia we already have begun to address

(01:07:40):
these issues quite often are if itsfall short, and in the coming years,
the work on comprehensive data informed policieswill be particularly important for those most
in need. Columbia continues to workhard to ensure that the Recommendation thirty nine
will be fully implement These strategies shouldbe further encouraged and worked on in the

(01:08:08):
committee overcoming two years. Thank you, I think the distinguished Representative of Columbia
give the floor to the Sovereign Orderof Malta Madame Chair, Excellencies, distinguished
colleagues. All over the Ward peopleare exposed to violence every day. The
quantitative figure of these cruel acts,as we all can imagine, is much
higher than all official statistics. Amongthe many victims, the vulnerable, including

(01:08:31):
women and children, are the mostaffected by these violations of basic human rights.
Violence against women and children is ofpervasion and global problems that transcends borders
and cultures. It is a greatviolation of women rights and astained to our
collective consents. To effectively address thisissue, we must first understand its root
causes and the problem and the profoundconsequences it inflicts upon individuals and society as

(01:08:53):
a whole. According to you andwomen as staggering, one in three women
worldwhilee has experienced physical or sexual violence, often had the end of an intimate
partner. This horrifying statistics is astark reminder of the prevalence and ehergency of
this issue we face. Furthermore,it is estimated that seventeen percent of girls
in the developing world are merried beforethe age of fifteen, often against their
will, in practices that perpetuate cyclesof violence and discrimination. In addition to

(01:09:16):
these sobering statistics, the consequences ofviolence against women and children are devastating.
It not only inflicts physical arm,but also leads lasting emotional and physical scars.
It hinders women's participation in the workforceand hampers economic development. It perpetuates
cycles of poverty, as children whowitness violence are most likely to become perpetrators
of victims themselves in the future.Psychological support on women's shelters are just some

(01:09:40):
of the mechanisms used to respond toviolence against women and children to preserve the
integrity of those suspected. Prevention isthe most vital subject in this matter.
However, the question of how weas an international community can prevent a processes
in the private sphere remains a verydifficult one. The Sovereign Order of Malti
is a strong supporter of yurman Adeand is proud to champions specifically because of
combating trafficking in person and protecting humanrights of victims. The Order of Malta

(01:10:05):
echoes your calls for states and internationalentities, organizations and individuals to take on
their positive obligations to prevent human traffickingand other forms of violence, to enforce
accountabilities for the perpetrators, and toprovide aid to victims. In conclusion,
violence against women and children is ascourge that we must confront with unwavering resolve.

(01:10:26):
Let us commit ourselves to building aworld where women and children can leave
free from the thread of violence,where equality and justice prevailed. I thank
you, I think the distinguished Representativeof the Sovereign Order of Malta. I
was the last speaker. I nowgive the floor to the chair of c
Dr missus Anna palais nervous to respondand for any reaction mutina, thank you

(01:10:56):
very much. Chairman. Thank youas well to all of the states parties
for comments and questions that you've putto me. I'll attempt to respond to
the vast majority of these questions.I've taken note of all of them.
Thank you as well for the commentsand for the information that you've shared with
us, particularly your efforts to moveforward with effective gender equality between men and

(01:11:25):
women according to the SEEDAR Convention inyour respective countries. I'm particularly grateful to
Mexico for the very good practice ofsetting up a specific commission to follow through
on the final observations of the SEEDARCommittee. So we thank the Mexican State

(01:11:47):
Party for those efforts. You askedme, for example, Japan said,
what obligation do we have with otherhuman rights treaties. I did refer to
the pilot experience with the Committee onthe Rights of the Child and the se
DOC Committee to review back to backthe work of a state party in Geneva,

(01:12:15):
and it coincided with the period ofsessions of a number of human rights
treaty bodies. It was a greatopportunity, as I said in my statement,
to bolster the work between both thesetreaty bodies so that we could offer

(01:12:35):
much more consistent recommendations to the statewith regard to its obligations in this particular
case, its obligations to girls andto the work that we're doing in the
SEDA Committee. That work is noteasy because the calendars and the planning for
the sessions that the human rights treatybodies do not always overlap, and so

(01:12:58):
we don't always get this opportunity.One good practice that the seed DO Committee
is set up is to have focalpoints within the seed DOC Committee to follow
through on the work that is beingdone by other human rights treaty bodies.
For example, we have a focalpoint with the ICRC and that's given us

(01:13:26):
an opportunity to work on joint statementson a number of subjects. Turning to
the gender perspective issue raised by Greecethroughout the UN system, I think everything
has been a challenge. A greatdeal has been said about intercessionality of gender

(01:13:53):
equality, but we really need tolook at what is being implemented. I
think we all have face an enormouschallenge on the one hand in the committee
to provide guidance to states as tohow to apply this recommendation, but also
within the UN system as a whole. The EU spoke about the issue of

(01:14:20):
health, sexual and reproductive health.It also spoke about gender based stereotypes in
the Beijing plus thirty review. Thereare states who are attempting to mitigate these

(01:14:47):
gender based stereotypes. The next Generalrecommendation of the PETO Committee is going to
be Recommendation forty one on gender basedStereotypes. And we know that this s
is a difficult issue in particularly intoday, in today's environment where we're dealing

(01:15:15):
with UH different interpretations. But theSEDO Committee is committed to addressing this new
general recommendation and it will become areal UH part of the work of the
committee as of next year. Oncethe general Recommendation of forty has been adopted.

(01:15:38):
The Committee is also set up andimplemented a working group on gender Identity
and sexual Orientation with regard to therights of women, and will be following
that issue as well. M.Switzerland mentioned UH women's access to technology UH,

(01:16:05):
taking into account UH the issue ofcybersecurity, et cetera. This is
a key issue and we are takingthis into account when the Committee analyzes the
implementation of the Recommendation Article five ofthat Convention, in particular UH with regard

(01:16:25):
to violence. In point of fact, the Committee has appointed a focal point
for the issue of cyber violence becausethis is a particularly important issue. Just
a moment, I'm sorry, I'dlike to refer to Russia's comments M,

(01:16:55):
namely that the c DOT Committee shouldnot exceed its own mandate and that our
recommendations should not be personal opinions ofour experts. The truth is, and
I really regret that the Russian StateParty has that opinion about the seed Dock

(01:17:16):
Committee. The seed Dock Committee knowsfull well what its mandate is, and
we work by consensus on all ourdecisions. And not only do we do
that, but in addition to that, when we publish or adopt general recommendations.
We do that after a lengthy consultativeprocess, not just with the state's

(01:17:42):
parties, but also with other interestedparties, and obviously they have a clear
role to play. And here Iwelcome the work of Civil Society and the
women Associations from Columbia. I wouldjust conclude with the comments made by Malta

(01:18:04):
on the importance of addressing gender basedviolence against women. We see that clearly
every day in the work of theCommittee. In particular, as I said,
not only when we've updated General Recommendationnineteen and adopted General Recommendation thirty five,

(01:18:30):
we provided guidance to states on specificissues and I refer to that earlier
sexual based violence in armed conflict orfor example, other harmful practices, and
all of this guidance is offered directlyto states on the Seed Door Committee's website
as well. Let me conclude justby underscoring two points. Currently, the

(01:18:55):
seed Dog Committee is also analyzing internallyvarious possibilities where we can provide assistance to
bolster the Conventions mandate on the issueof gender based violence against women. This
is really a key issue in theagenda of the se Doc Committee, and

(01:19:23):
we trust sincerely with the support ofmember states that we'll be able to make
progress in this area. And finally, I just wanted to refer to the
fact that the eleventh of October isthe International Day of the Child, and
we will be publishing a declaration onsafeguarding life, health and the future of

(01:19:47):
girls by reducing to a minimum undesiredunwanted pregnancies and ensuring access to safe abortion,
which we trust will be used forstates. That's all from me for
the time being. Thank you Chairmanfor this opportunity. I thank the Chair
of SIDON. I would now liketo welcome the Chair of the Working Group

(01:20:11):
on Discrimination against Women and Girls,Miss Dorothy Estrata Tank. Colleagues again,
if you wish to make comments andpose questions with the speakers, please press
the microphone button within the next threeminutes. After that the list will be
closed. Time limit for each speakerwill again be announced before the floor is
given to the first speaker. Inow invite the Chair of the Working Group

(01:20:35):
on Discrimination Against Women and Girls tomake an introductory statements. Estrata Tank,
you have before. Thank you verymuch. Chisimas Gracia Senor Presidente, Mister
Chair, Excellencies, distinguished participants.It is an honor for me to address
the General Assembly as Chairperson of theWorking Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls

(01:20:58):
in this fourth oral reporting. Ourexpert Group sincerely appreciates this opportunity to formally
connect with the GA through its ThirdCommittee, alongside the Chairperson of the THEDO
Committee and the Special Opporteur on Violenceagainst Women and Girls. Mister Chair,
I would like to share some highlightsfrom our latest report on Gendered Inequalities of
Poverty, feminist and human rights basedapproaches presented to the Human Rights Council last

(01:21:23):
June, as well as our jointreport on the Situation of Women and Girls
in Afghanistan submitted to the Council togetherwith the Special Apporteur on Human Rights in
Afghanistan. Turning to the first reporton Gender Inequalities of Poverty, globally,
women and girls are disproportionately represented amongthose living in poverty. Our thematic report
demonstrates that poverty and socioeconomic inequality arethe result of blatant systemic failures leading to

(01:21:49):
a vicious cycle of exclusion and discrimination. The COVID nineteen pandemic and other crisis
have resulted in the first rise inincome inequality between countries in a generation,
with women and girls being particularly affected. In many countries and regions, Women's
and girls inequality and poverty are theresult of historical and continuing economic policy choices

(01:22:13):
at the global, regional, andnational levels. These policy priorities are not
gender neutral, as they have beendeveloped within patriarchal systems that ignore the specific
experiences and rights of girls and womenwhile privileging the dominant forms of male and
corporate power that perpetuate existing hierarchies.Poverty is a gendered phenomenon that is deeply

(01:22:36):
imbricated with other forms of inequality.Women's and girls experiences of poverty intersect with
other factors and conditions to produce distinctforms of discrimination and inequality. The recent
backlash against gender equality underlines the urgentneed to reassert the centrality of the human

(01:22:56):
rights framework and intersectional feminist approaches totackling poverty and the inequalities that it perpetuates
and entrenches, alongside its role inexacerbating existing inequalities. At the same time,
COVID nineteen crisis has also prompted areevaluation of mainstream economic ideologies, including
the recognition of the central role ofcare in our societies, as well as

(01:23:19):
revaluing the state's position as an actorin defining and resource in public policies.
The current moment therefore presents an opportunityto revisit concept of unlimited economic growth,
often based on deeply embedded forms ofdiscrimination, transnational economic inequality, failure to
fulfill international solidarity obligations of assistance andcooperation, and non existent or insufficient networks

(01:23:45):
of social protection and public services toguarantee universally recognized rights such as health,
water, housing, food and nutrition, education, a clean and healthy environment,
and access to justice. Crucially,poverty and inequality are not inevitable.
As one woman put it, weare not poor, we are being impoverished.

(01:24:10):
Most mainstream approaches to gender and povertyfocus on a small number of economic
rights associated with work, financial inclusion, and women's entrepreneurship, rather than analyzing
the systems of power that generate andreproduce unequal gender relations within families, communities,
institutions, and markets. These dominantmodels fail to recognize the value of

(01:24:31):
women's unpaid care and the domestic andagricultural work of women, which secure the
economy. Social movements advocating for transformativechange from the perspective of feminist political economy
and human rights have drawn attention tothe existence of alternatives to unjust economic and
social policies and institutions. Thus,the report calls for a feminist human rights

(01:24:54):
based economy that enables and constructs substantiveequality, solidarity, and na socio economic
and environmental justice. To do this, we ask to implement our recommendations made
to you states individually and also actingwithin international economic institutions, to those institutions
themselves and to corporations among them.One to take measures for the just redistribution

(01:25:19):
of wealth and resources and a shiftaway from excessive consumption, production, and
extraction towards an equitable global trade order, tax and debt justice, corporate accountability,
and the realization of the right todevelopment with the gender equality at the
core. Two to ensure the inclusiveand minimal participation of diverse groups of women

(01:25:40):
and girls in implementing socio economic strategiesto realize the right to be free from
poverty and to substantive equality. Three, Given the rapidly approaching deadline for the
achievement of the twenty thirty Agenda forSustainable development and noting the slow progress on
SDG's one, five and ten,to reiterate the centrality of women's and girls
human rights and gender equality to processesof poverty eradication and to reducing inequalities both

(01:26:06):
within and between nations. We havethe opportunity to reconsider the economic model and
to prioritize social justice, human rights, and women and girls the haalf of
humanity at the center. Your Excellencyis moving now to the joint Report on
the Situation of Women and Girls inAfghanistan prepared by the Special Operteur on Human

(01:26:28):
Rights in that country and our WorkingGroup. While the gender backlash is global,
the extreme situation of institutionalized inequality andgender based discrimination in Afghanistan is unparalleled
anywhere in the world. Our reportdetailed how women's and girls are systematically discriminated
against in every aspect of their lives. Since taking power in August twenty twenty

(01:26:49):
one, the de facto authorities haverelentlessly issued edict after edict of which the
vast majority restrict the rights of womenand girls, including their rights to education,
work, health, access to justice, and freedom of movement, attire
and behavior. A former university studenttold us. All girls and women in
this country live under house arrest.We feel depressed and hopeless. We have

(01:27:13):
no future. This oppressive context andthe uncertainty in the future, together with
extreme poverty, are placing extreme pressureson women and their families. Despite these
challenges, women persist and resist.They continue to work in any way that
they can, to care for andseek education for their children, and they
continue to find spaces to demand respect. This severe deprivation of fundamental rights of

(01:27:36):
women and girls give rise to acritical concern that women and girls are being
targeted for gender persecution, a graveinternational human rights violation and a crime against
humanity. The systemic institutionalized discrimination andoppression they are subjected to also reveals a
pattern of gender apartheid, which weare asking to be further developed normatively and

(01:27:58):
through practical tools for its erratication andprevention Elsewhere. Respect for women's and girls
human rights and the restoration of therule of law in Afghanistan are critical.
Without them, women are sentenced tolives ruled by tyranny and to existence where
they are, as one woman putit, alive but not living. Finally,
Afghan women and girls urgently need theunwavering commitment and concrete actions from the

(01:28:20):
international community, including the support ofAfghan women led organizations. We cannot turn
a blind eye and the atrocity committedthere, and we have a collective responsibility
to act now before it is toolate. I thank you, I thank
the Chair of the Working Group ofDiscrimination Against Women and Girls. I will

(01:28:44):
now open the floor for questions orcomments to Miss Estrata Tank. I would
ask delegations to limit their comments tothree minutes. I give I want to
read out the list of the firstfive speakers Spain, United States, Brazil,
Dominican Republic and Slovenia. I givethe floor to Spain. Senor Madam.

(01:29:16):
We welcome the work of the WorkingGroup on Discrimination against Women and Girls,
and we thank Miss Dorothy Astray totalk for her brief and we've taken
a note with appreciation of your reporton gender disquality and inequality and poverty.
In point of fact, poverty ismore than the result of the lack of

(01:29:38):
income. It is a flagrant systemicfailure as a result of discrimination and exclusion.
It has an environmental and political contextand impacts present and future generations.

(01:30:00):
We see it in the policies ofinternational economic institutions and in national governments,
which have further led to greater UHpoverty and inequality. This is due to
a patriotic system, the slavery,colonialism, discrimination, militarism, destruction of

(01:30:20):
the environment. These have all beenexacerbated by orthodox macroeconomist approaches such as UH
UH certain structural adjustment programs. WeUH acknowledge your mention of UH menstrual poverty
in your report, UH Madame Chair, Spain has a feminist to foreign policy.

(01:30:44):
We have as a priority guaranteeing economicjustice for all women and that is
why Spain with Mexico, has headedthe coalition on the er a j Judicial
Justice and Rights for Women, andwe have set a road map for achieving
these goals. We'd like to knowhow a feminist economy based on human rights

(01:31:09):
can help put an end to inequalityand poverty for women and girls. Thank
you, I think the distinguished representativeof Spain and give the floor to the
US. Thank you. We thankthe Working Group for its continued efforts to
report widespread discrimination against women and girlsin all their diversity. The Biden Harris

(01:31:31):
Administration believes that advancing gender equity andequality is fundamental to every individual's safety,
health, financial security, and abilityto fully exercise their human rights. Collectively,
we are facing growing, sustained andcoordinated attacks on the rights and freedoms
of women and girls, members ofthe LGBTQI plus community, racial ethnic and

(01:31:58):
religious minorities, migrants, and ultimatelyall of us who believe in an open,
pluristic, and inclusive society. Evidencegathering is critical to combating anti rights
and anti gender movements around the world. We hope in your next report on
taking stock of the of the lastsix years, will address the negative effects

(01:32:19):
of anti rights and anti gender movementson the advancement of gender equity and equality.
We encourage you to further explore thenegative effects of these movements on the
empowerment of women and girls as outlinedin Sustainable Development Goal five. We encourage
the Working Group to continue its effortscreating opportunity for all individuals foster's peace,

(01:32:43):
security and prosperity. Our question ishow will the Working Group address anti rights
movements and global backsliding on gender equality? Thank you, Think, the distinguished
Representative of the United States, andgive the floor to Brazil. Thank you,
mister cher Madame Chair. I thinkcan commend you for your oral report

(01:33:06):
as well as report a slash HRCslash fifty three slash thirty nine, net
two submit it to the Human RightsCouncil as June reziurcias your view that reduction
of socio economic inequalities is a requirementfor effective action against poverty, we also
agree on the importance of adopting comprehensiveand structural measures based on a feminist approach

(01:33:29):
and on the human rights principles ofequality, non discrimination, socio economic and
environmental justice and solidarity in order toensure that women engross live free from poverty.
We are also of the view thatin order to be truly transformative,
search multidimensional actions must guarantee meaningful participationof women. Several of the measures recommended

(01:33:50):
in your report are a priority inBrazilt, such as gender responsive social protection
mechanisms. Some are even shrine inour constitutions, such as universal and free
of charge access to health. Amongthe positive measures to eliminate poverty and achieve
substantive equality highlighted in your report isthat of the realization of the right to

(01:34:13):
care. Since REZILS now design anational policy of care based on a whole
of government and whole of society approach. We would be grateful if you could
share good practices let regard thank you. The show has been produced by Depictions

(01:35:08):
Media. Please contact us at depictionsdot media for more information

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

Crime Junkie

Stuff You Should Know

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}UNited Nations on the Advancement of Women

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

Crime Junkie

Stuff You Should Know

All Episodes

UNited Nations on the Advancement of Women

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist