43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council
Delivered by Sweden on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries
Mr/Madame Chair,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and my own country Sweden.
The Nordic-Baltic countries welcome this opportunity to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and to reaffirm our commitment to its full implementation. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is still the most comprehensive commitment to gender equality, women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of all human rights and their empowerment.
Many important strides have been taken to achieve its envisioned goals. Yet, 25 years after its adoption, the promises of Beijing are far from realized. Some even try to roll back on the declaration and platform for action and other agreements and land-winnings related to gender equality. This concerns in particular sexual and reproductive health and rights. The Nordic–Baltic countries remain fully committed to the promises we have made regarding gender equality and SRHR because it is a matter of human rights and key to the economic empowerment of women and girls, and to their health and bodily autonomy. In order to achieve gender equality, we will also need the full engagement of all men and boys.
Distinguished panelists,
Social and economic inequality is among the many challenges to achieving gender equality. In recent years, we have witnessed demonstrations against this in all parts of the world. What are in your view the necessary steps that States need to take at national level to address the gendered dimensions of inequality?
I thank you.