Mr. Chair, Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China under item 26 of our agenda, entitled “Advancement of women”.

2. At the outset, the Group would like to thank the Secretary-General for his efforts in submitting the reports under this agenda item, which will surely enrich our deliberations and discussions.

Mr. Chair,

3. The Group reaffirms its support to the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the outcome of the twenty-third Special Session of the General Assembly. In this regard, we welcome the measures taken by Member States to promote the empowerment of women and girls and remain fully committed to mainstreaming the gender perspective into policies and programs related to their advancement and well-being.

4. We believe that the mainstreaming of a gender perspective into all development efforts and that the realization of the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life as equal partners is critical for achieving the goals and targets contained in Agenda 2030. This principle has also been emphasized in the Group’s Ministerial Declaration adopted on 23 September, 2022. It emphasized that “Gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, and women’s full and equal participation and leadership in the economy and as partners for development, are vital for achieving sustainable development, promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies, enhancing sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and productivity, ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions everywhere and ensuring the well-being of all throughout their life course.”

Mr. Chair,

5. The Group recognizes that there has been progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda. However, at the same time, serious and persistent challenges and gaps remain at all levels, and in every country, that hinder the full and effective implementation of the objectives of these important documents. Many promises and commitments continue to be unfulfilled.

6. Furthermore, the Group stresses that violence against women and girls continues to be a major obstacle to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. We emphasize the need for measures to prevent and eliminate all forms of gender-based violence, in particular femicide, and to ensure that women, including women with disabilities, indigenous, afro-descendant and older women and girls, and youth, are not subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination. There is need to improve and intensify the collection and analysis of data on the economy, disaggregated by sex, income, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, and other relevant factors.

7. In addition, discrimination, violence, lack of access to basic health care, education and social protection linger in the world’s current affairs, particularly affecting women and girls, living in countries affected by armed conflict, living under colonial administration and foreign occupation or subject to unilateral coercive measures or unilateral economic, financial or trade measures, contrary to international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

8. Furthermore, the Group reaffirms that an environment that maintains world peace and promotes and protects human rights, the democracy and the peaceful settlement of disputes, in accordance with and principles of non-threat or use of force against territorial integrity or political independence and of respect for sovereignty, as set forth in of the Charter of the United Nations, is an important factor for the advancement of women.

9. Accordingly, the Group reiterates that all States have the obligation to use all appropriate means of a legislative, political and economic means in order to respect, promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, all the while staying true to our pledge to leave no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first.

10. Moreover, we stress the importance of improving the access of women to all resources needed for the full exercise of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms by removing persistent barriers, including ensuring equal access to full and productive employment and decent work for all, as well as strengthening their economic independence.

11. We stress the need to allocate adequate resources for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women in the workplace, including unequal access to labor market participation and wage inequalities, as well as reconciliation of work and private life for both women and men.

12. In order to achieve that, we need to strengthen international cooperation and to intensify global dialogue to include the gender perspective into all policies and measures related to women advancement and empowerment.

13. Accordingly, the Group underlines the paramount importance of enhancing the role of North-South, and South-South to address challenges faced by women and girls and enhance their role as full and equal partners in the development of their societies.

14. In this regard, the Group wishes to recall one of the Secretary-General’s recommendations contained in his report A/76/185, in particular requesting the General Assembly: “To urge all Governments and all other stakeholders to address gaps and challenges and take specific, measurable, time-bound and fully funded new actions for the accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, in line with the commitments made in the political declaration on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.”

Mr. Chair,

15. Lastly, the Group reaffirms that the Commission on the Status of Women continues to serve as the one of the main forums for addressing, promoting and reviewing issues related to the advancement and empowerment of women and to follow up the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, within its existing mandate.

I thank you.