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He Described the climate and environmental crisesThis is in addition to the ongoing economic and social decline of the COVID-19 pandemic, as “the defining issues of our time,” reminding that “our collective response will chart our course for decades to come”.
Noting that the “unprecedented emergencies of the climate crisis, pollution, desertification and biodiversity loss, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of new and ongoing conflicts, have accelerated and intensified into widespread and interlinked crises that affect us all,” he told the CommissionAt the hybrid opening day event, the damage would not all be equally.
“Women and girls everywhere face the greatest dangers and the most severe harm.”.
While they are taking action against climate and environmental crises they are still largely excluded of the rooms where decisions will be made.
“Interlocking crises’
The UN chief stated that women and girls who live in small islands nations, least developed countries, or are affected most by conflict-related violence are the most affected.
Extreme weather is a significant threat to their nutrition and livelihoods.
With climate shocks increasing, evidence points towards a linkage between child marriages and exploitation.
“Research shows that children and women are more likely to die from climate-related disasters than men, with the frequency of which increases every year.,” he continued.
‘Millennium of patriarchy’
Mr. Guterres expressed concern over the violence and threats to women environmental activists and human rights defenders.
“Gender discrimination means just a tiny proportion of landowners and leaders are women,” he explained, saying that their needs and interests are “often ignored and pushed aside” in policies and decisions on land use, pollution, conservation and climate action.
He informed participants that only one-third of the decision-making roles under Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) were held by women.UNFCCC), Kyoto Protocol Paris Agreementare occupied primarily by women, but only 15% of ministers of the environment are women.
In addition, only one-third (192) of the national energy frameworks address gender issues, and they are not considered in climate financing.
“This demonstrates once more that we live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture,” the UN chief spelled out highlighting “A millennium in patriarchy that excludes and silences women.”
“We cannot realize any of our goals without the contributions of all…including men and boys…working for women’s rights and gender equality”.
Future societies
The Paris Agreement addresses biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution –vital to creating lives of dignity for all on a healthy planet.
To build sustainable economies, resilient societies and a strong society of tomorrow, women and girls leaders, farmers and policymakers, economists and lawyers, as well as climate activists, are essential.
©UN Women/Mohammad Rakibul Hasa
A woman works at a plastic recycling facility in Bangladesh.
“But we will not get there without women’s full and equal participation and leadership,” he stressed.
Facing an ‘impossible choice’
He said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated gender inequalities and injustices over the past two-years.
Millions of women have been thrown out of work and confronted with “an impossible choice” between earning an income or doing unpaid but essential care work as millions of out-of-school girls “may never return.”
“Tackling these issues requires a united front, protecting hard-won gains on women’s rights while investing in lifelong learning, healthcare, decent jobs and social protection for women and girls,” the UN chief upheld.
“Gender equality and women’s rights must be at the heart of a renewed social contract that is fit for today’s societies and economies.”
Power rebalancing
At the global level, Secretary-General cited his Our Common AgendaReport that proposes a power rebalancing through a New Global Deal and a peace agenda to reduce all violence – including gender-based violence – and put women and girls at the heart of security policy.
He also reminded the UN of its efforts to support women’s participation and leadership at every stage of building or maintaining peace, including through his special representatives and envoys who are creating and supporting strategies to promote inclusive peace processes.
Mr. Guterres added that gender advisers in UN Special Political Missions promote women’s participation and ensure that their priorities are “integral” to all political efforts, describing women’s equal leadership as “not only a matter of justice…[but] vital to create peaceful, resilient communities and societies”.
“The perilous state in which peace exists in the world cannot be separated from the long-standing structures patriarchy, exclusion.,” he said, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “another clear demonstration of this everywhere”.
CSW ‘essential’
UN Economic and Social CouncilECOSOCCollen Vixen Kalapile, President, reminded that CSW, as a subsidiary body continues to provide oversight and monitor the implementation of the legislation 2030 AgendaFor Sustainable Development and the Development Goals, especially SDG 5Gender Equality.
“In this connection, the Commission’s work will remain central to the ECOSOC system for guiding a people-centred and gender-sensitive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said, reminding that the Forum of High-Level Political LeadersIn July, we will be examining progress made in implementing SDG 5 and other global goals.
CSW’s work remains “essential” in strengthening the global framework for gender equality, empowerment of women, and advising policy-makers on “how to advance these important goals in an integrated and cross-cutting manner.”
Implementing ‘gold standards’
General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid It should be noted that in the UN’s 76 years, just four women have been elected Assembly President and no woman has ever been chosen as Secretary-General.
“This needs to be corrected,” he asserted. “The UN cannot call for implementation of gold standards throughout the world as far as gender equality and women’s empowerment is concerned but not implement this standard at home”.
Mr. Shahid said that he would “personally” lead in calling for the next Secretary General to be a woman
“Join me in this clarion call,” he invited the participants.
Prayer for peace
The Executive Director UN WomenSima Bahous, opened Her address by drawing attention to “all crises and conflicts,” reminding that they “exact their highest price from women and girls” – from Myanmar to Afghanistan, the Sahel to Haiti, and Syria to Somalia to Yemen and Ethiopia, with “the horrifying war in Ukraine,” the newest addition.
Echoing the Secretary-General, she said, “the invasion of Ukraine must end, war must end, peace must prevail.”
“We see with every passing day the damage done to the lives, hopes and futures of Ukrainian women and girls,” Ms. Bahous continued, reiterating solidarity with the women of Ukraine while paying tribute to “their courage and resilience”.
“And I pray that they – and all those who are experiencing conflict – will soon know peace”.
Enough ‘male-dominated solutions’
Executive Director of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen said the world had had “enough of male-dominated solutions”.
She stated that the goal of reviving environmental multilateralism was to: it is “critical” that women be put “at the heart of decision-making.”
Action
Commission chair, Mathu Joyini, called young women “the drivers of change for climate action and awareness.”
“We need to ensure that their leadership and meaningful contributions in these areas are included in decision making processes.”
“The Commission is the foremost body for gender equality and empowerment women worldwide. This is why girls and women all over the globe look up to it for guidance..”
Click HereTo view the entire opening session, click here
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