EU Statement – UN 66th Commission on the Status of Women: Opening Statement
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Honourable Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States as we gather here in these dire times, marked by conflict and pushback on the rights of women and girls.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Georgia, align themselves with this statement.
At the outset, let me emphasize the EU’s and its Member States’ full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, notably Ukrainian women and girls. They are showing resilience and courage in the face of an unprovoked and unjustified military attack by Russia. Ukrainian women are bravely defending their country and they are at the very forefront of the humanitarian response, at great risk to themselves. We strictly condemn and denounce all acts of sexual and gender-based violence against them.
The EU and its Member States condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military invasion of Ukraine, which grossly violates international law and the UN Charter and undermines international security and global stability, as well as efforts and progress for gender equality. We are deeply concerned about numerous reports of Russian attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, especially hospitals, kindergartens and schools, depriving women and girls of access to essential health and educational services. In just 19 days, more than two million people, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine.
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The EU and its Member States welcome the focus of the 66th Session of the UN Commission of the Status of Women, on gender equality in the context of climate change, environment and disaster risk reduction. The pursuit of gender equality and environmental goals are mutually reinforcing; slow progress on actions for climate change, energy transition and environment as well as disaster risk reduction affect the achievement of gender equality, and vice versa.
We stress the importance of an integrated policy framework, and a human rights-based and gender-responsive approach to policy and programming. In view of the European Green Deal and the EU’s commitment to a just transition to a climate-neutral energy economy coupled with a strong policy framework on gender equality, the EU approaches this Session with a high level of ambition.
We are committed to the international conventions and frameworks that govern sustainable development, climate change, environment and disaster risk reduction. These include the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the UNFCCC Enhanced Lima work programme on gender and its gender action plan. The EU calls for close alignment with all relevant multilateral initiatives.
In view of these commitments, the EU recognises the need for decisive and ambitious action to address the serious impact of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation on women and girls. Situations of crisis and disaster, exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities and increase multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence against all women and girls in diverse situations and conditions, namely those living in poverty, indigenous women, rural women, women belonging to ethnic, racial and religious minorities, women with disabilities, women refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced, stateless and migrant women, young and older women and LGBTI women who are often affected disproportionately.
Gender-transformative climate action is key to address the underlying causes of vulnerability to climate change, including through gender-responsive climate finance and investments in health systems and strengthening the access to safe, available, affordable, accessible, quality, inclusive and gender-responsive care and social and health services, including those related to mental health, maternal health and sexual and reproductive health. The EU remains committed to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the outcomes of their review conferences and remains committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights, in this context. Having that in mind, the EU reaffirms its commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every individual to have full control over, and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, free from discrimination, coercion and violence. The EU further stresses the need for universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education, including comprehensive sexuality education, and health-care services.
Chair,
We must take action to remove all barriers and strengthening the enabling factors for the full, equal, effective and meaningful leadership, participation, agency and voice of women and girls in all levels of environmental decision-making.
This year, the European Year of Youth, the EU particularly recognizes and supports the critical role that young women and adolescent girls have played in climate action and climate justice. The leadership and participation of all women and girls is central in all environmental and climate change action and in early warning and anticipation mechanisms in relation to disaster risk reduction. The EU highlights the Generation Equality Forum and supports the efforts by UN Women to foster momentum on meaningful youth engagement and participation. It is critical also in conflict prevention, conflict management resolution and peace building on matters relevant from an environmental perspective, for sustainable peace, in close alignment with the women, peace and security as well as the youth, peace and security agendas.
Tackling negative social norms, gender stereotypes and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination remains key. We can and must do more to boost participation and the number of women graduates in STEM studies to increase women with relevant qualifications in scientific and technological fields and occupations. The EU also calls for support to women’s access to decent work and entrepreneurship, in particular in the green, blue and circular economy. There is significant potential for women’s economic empowerment in the climate transition and in low-emission technologies.
The EU and its Member States also stress the indispensable role of civil society, in both the context of gender equality and that of the environment, climate change and disaster risk reduction. The EU recognizes the importance of moral, political and financial support to environmental civil society organisations, feminist groups and women-led organisations and movements, women human rights defenders and women environmental human rights defenders. They are often at particular risk of threats and attacks based on their activities for women’s and girl’s full enjoyment of human rights, including their fight for the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment or for environmental and climate action and justice. The EU firmly denounces the attacks, torture, intimidation and murders of environmental human rights defenders. The role and responsibility of the private sector to act in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is paramount in this regard.
Finally, we must integrate gender equality as a priority across all our climate and environmental actions. It is only by doing so that we will be able to fulfil our responsibilities towards present and future generations. We pledge to take bold action and engage in strategic collaboration to tackle these challenges. The EU and its Member States call on the rest of the international community and our partners to join us in this quest.
Honourable Chair,
I wish to thank you, and finish by quoting French existentialist philosopher, writer, social theorist and feminist activist Simone de Beauvoir who once reminded us that the rights of women and girls need to be defended – every day, everywhere. Also in the climate and environmental context. Every girl and woman has the right not only to survive but to thrive and reach their fullest potential. With this quote we pay tribute to all who boldly continue to defend the rights of women despite opposition, hardship and conflict:
« N’oubliez jamais qu’il suffira d’une crise politique, économique ou religieuse pour que des droits de femmes sont remis en question. Ces droits ne sont jamais acquis. Vous devez rester vigilantes votre vie durant. »
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.