Mr. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic states, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and my own country Norway.
Today we mark the 25th anniversary of November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The anniversary takes place at a time marked by conflict, immense human suffering, and by growing inequalities.
The statistics on sexual and gender-based violence are alarming. 1 in every 8 women and girls aged 15-49 was subjected to sexual and/or physical violence by an intimate partner in the previous year. However, countries with domestic violence legislation have lower rates of intimate partner violence than those without such legislation. And more and more countries have such legislation. Let us work together and strive for a continuation of this positive development.
Women and girls – in all their diversity – are particularly vulnerable in crisis and conflict, where there often is a breakdown of existing protection mechanisms, and women and girls are more at risks of sexual and gender-based violence due to displacement, resource scarcity and food insecurity and disruption to service provision to survivors, including provision of sexual and reproductive health services.
Sexual, physical and psychological violence, including domestic abuse and sexual harassment, often intensifies in such circumstances. Harmful practices, like child and forced marriage and female genital mutilation, can also be exacerbated in conflicts and humanitarian crises.
Sexual and Gender-based violence, including hate speech and online harassment, limit women’s participation, leadership and agency. We must make the digital environment safer for all by combatting and preventing technology facilitated gender-based violence.
Women and girls must not be seen only as victims of sexual and gender-based violence. They are crucial actors of change. Their full, equal and meaningful participation in society is central for economic and social development, including resilience to climate change through mitigation and adaptation.
We stand firmly behind the commitments in the Pact for the future to “Redouble our efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls”
Together, we can make an important contribution to the SDG in the UN 2030-agenda for Sustainable Development through coordinated policies to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. ‘Leave no one behind’ is a commitment made by all of us to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and end discrimination.
- We need to make prevention of sexual and gender-based and domestic violence a priority
- We need to ensure that all victims and survivors have equal access to protection and support measures.
- We need to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable for their criminal actions.
Let me reiterate our commitment to combatting sexual and gender-based violence, enabling women and girls in all their diversity to take their rightful role in society.
Thank you.