Celebration of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, 24 June

Thank you Mr. President,

I deliver this statement on behalf of Maldives, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain and a cross-regional group of 80 countries.

On this International Day of Women in Diplomacy, we reaffirm that the equal and inclusive representation of women in multilateralism is vital for achieving peace and security, sustainable development and human rights for all. It is also an international obligation enshrined by articles 7 and 8 of the CEDAW convention. We recognize the work of the CEDAW Committee to anchor gender equality across public, political and economic life, including through the preparation of General Recommendation 40.

Women’s representation in multilateral organizations in Geneva has shown significant progress. Last year, the ITU, the IOM, and the WMO elected women for the top position. Women’s participation has also increased in treaty bodies and Special Procedures, even though progress is still uneven. Challenges remain to institutionalize gender parity across the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms and we still have to break the glass ceiling in order to achieve gender parity and environments of zero tolerance to violence and harassment in management positions across the UN System.

In order to improve the conditions for gender equality in the workplace, we recommend the promotion of women candidates through the establishment of transparent and objective selection and nomination processes, the adoption of codes of conduct and zero-tolerance protocols against sexual harassment and gender discrimination, as well as monitoring and reporting progress on gender equality.

Ahead of the Summit of the Future, we commit to continue working together among States, the UN and women’s organizations to include gender equality as a cross-cutting priority in the Pact of the Future.

We also encourage States to consider supporting initiatives such as ensuring equal gender rotation at the UN for the Presidency of the General Assembly, and to appoint for the first time in its history a woman as a Secretary General of the United Nations.

These are concrete steps to close the gender gaps within the UN system and achieve an inclusive global governance that delivers for all.

80 countries supporting this Joint Statement:

1. Albania
2. Andorra
3. Armenia
4. Australia
5. Austria
6. Bahamas
7. Belgium
8. Bolivia
9. Bosnia and Herzegovina
10. Botswana
11. Brazil
12. Brunei
13. Bulgaria
14. Cabo Verde
15. Cambodia
16. Canada
17. Chile
18. Colombia
19. Costa Rica
20. Croatia
21. Cyprus
22. Czech Republic
23. Denmark
24. Domincan Republic
25. Ecuador
26. Eritrea
27. Estonia
28. Eswatini
29. Finland
30. Georgia
31. Germany
32. Ghana
33. Greece
34. Guatemala
35. Honduras
36. Hungary
37. India
38. Ireland
39. Italy
40. Japan
41. Kazakhstan
42. Latvia
43. Lesotho
44. Liechtenstein
45. Lithuania
46. Luxembourg
47. Malawi
48. Malaysia
49. Maldives
50. Malta
51. Mauritius
52. Mexico
53. Monaco
54. Mongolia
55. Montenegro
56. Morocco
57. Namibia
58. Netherlands
59. North Macedonia
60. Norway
61. Panama
62. Peru
63. Philippines
64. Poland
65. Portugal
66. Republic of Korea
67. Romania
68. Saudi Arabia
69. Slovakia
70. Slovenia
71. Somalia
72. South Africa
73. Sovereign Order of Malta
74. Spain
75. State of Palestine
76. Sweden
77. Switzerland
78. Thailand
79. Ukraine
80. Zambia