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EU Statement – United Nations 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogue with UN Women Deputy Executive Director

05.10.2021
New York

5 October 2021, New York – European Union Statement by Julien Bourtembourg, First Secretary, European Union Delegation to the United Nations, at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly Third Committee Interactive Dialogue with UN Women Deputy Executive Director Asa Regner

Madam Chair,

We would like to thank UN Women and the Deputy Executive Director for the reports and today’s presentation.

At a time of increased pressure on women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights, we are particularly grateful for the leadership and the invaluable contribution of UN WOMEN to the realisation of gender equality.

Madame Deputy Executive Director,

We would appreciate to hear more from you on the following two issues:

First, on the Generation Equality Forum which took place in Mexico City in March and in Paris from June/July 2021. The Forum launched, through the Acceleration Plan for gender equality, a 5-year action journey to achieve irreversible progress towards gender equality, including by establishing six multi-stakeholder Action Coalitions and the WPS Compact and by mobilizing $40 Billion in financial commitments. We commend UN Women, as well as France and Mexico, for these important achievements.  What will be the next steps in terms of follow up and accountability for the Generation Equality Forum? What can other interested UN Member States do to join this momentum?

Second, we would appreciate to hear more about your assessment regarding the situation in Afghanistan. Major achievements were reached over the past years thanks to the Afghan women’s rights’ movement, such as the creation of a ministry on women affairs, a landmark law on ending violence against women or the election of 27% of women MPs at the last parliamentary elections. These gains are at risk of being reversed. Women human rights defenders, who led the efforts for change, are submitted to specific threats and forms of violence. The rights of women and girls are already restricted and suppressed. In areas under Taliban control, there are credible reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses and restrictions against women and girls, in particular women politicians, journalists, judges, women rights defenders and police women. What is UN Women doing to address this very concerning situation? What are the urgent actions that the international community should take in this regard?

Thank you.