Remarks: Launch of GRB GESI Manual

Date: Friday, July 5, 2019

“We will never reach any of our objectives without the equal participation of half the world’s population, and without drawing fully on their expertise, capacities and experience”. Ending gender inequality is therefore both an outcome as well as a necessary condition for securing sustainable development. It is a necessary condition in the sense that women, especially those from the most excluded groups must be empowered to bring their differential experiences and interests to inform the development agenda.

Women in Construction

Date: Monday, March 18, 2019

The achievement of the SDGs, and particularly gender equality and women’s empowerment, requires transformative shifts, integrated approaches, and new solutions. Based on current projections, the existing interventions will not be enough to ensure an end to discrimination and achievement of gender equality by 2030. If we want to achieve sustainable development, fifty percent of the population cannot remain on the margins. We need to level the playing field. Women must be integrated into the formal workforce...

Opening Remarks to Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for CSW63

Date: Thursday, February 14, 2019

On behalf of UN Women, I thank you for being here to prepare for the sixty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which is taking place in New York next month. I want to thank our UN partners, particularly ESCAP, FAO, UNDP, and UNFPA, for their partnership in organizing...

Opening Remarks to Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for CSW63

Date: Thursday, February 14, 2019

Gender-responsive public services and infrastructure investments are key in reducing and redistributing the burden of unpaid work, thereby opening opportunities for women to participate in labour markets, community events, or leisure activities. This would include the provision of affordable child care services, which would free-up time for mothers to engage in activities that are appropriate to their situations. Provision of water, sanitation and clean energy, especially in rural areas...

Speech: #HearMeToo: End Violence against Women and Girls

Date: Friday, November 23, 2018

For far too long, the systematic silencing of victims/survivors and the impunity of perpetrators have allowed the global pandemic of violence against women to continue – unheard and unchallenged. The ubiquity of this violence continues to be revealed with shocking regularity through the stories and reports surfacing through the #MeToo movement and its sister movements...

Inclusive Democracy: Women in Politics

Date: Thursday, September 27, 2018

The full participation of women in political life is not only a guarantee of their human rights, but an essential requirement to reach peaceful and prosperous societies . Gender equality does not merely strengthen democracy. Without gender equality, there is no real democracy. Michelle Bachelet, the former President of Chile and the current UN High Commissioner...

Remarks by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Åsa Regnér at the ODA International Conference in Seoul

Date: Thursday, September 20, 2018

Thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), for hosting the 12th session of the Seoul ODA International Conference. First of all, let me say that gender equality is always a result of political will. Gender equality does not come automatically. It does not arrive with a new generation; we have to actively work towards it. In every country of the world, gender inequality is about an imbalance in power, which normally favours men over women. Achieving gender equality requires negotiations around how society should be and political priorities and positions to change...

Speech: Asia-Pacific High-level Meeting for CSW 62 “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”

Date: Thursday, March 1, 2018

On behalf of UN Women, I want to begin by thanking you all for being here in Bangkok to prepare for the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women taking place in New York next month. I wish also to thank our UN partners, ESCAP and FAO in particular, for the partnership in organizing this meeting. And I recognize the World Food Programme for its...

“Enabling empowered women to work equally in all the productive sectors” —Lakshmi Puri

Date: Friday, September 29, 2017

Keynote speech by United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri at 2017 APEC Public – Private Dialogue on Women and the Economy, Women Entrepreneurs Forum: She Means Business — I thank our host, the Minister Dao Ngoc Dzung and Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) who have convened this APEC Forum dedicated to...

Speech: Launch of “Women’s Entitlement” booklets in Tharu, Maithali, Doteli and Tamang

Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2017

On behalf of UN Women, I am very pleased to be at the second launch of the “Women’s entitlements” booklet on economic initiatives now in Tharu, Maithali, Doteli and Tamang languages. Previously this booklet was made available in Nepali and English with support of the Government Finland and Zonta International. UN Women is privileged to partner with the...