Remarks by the President of the General Assembly
Mr. Philemon Yang
Opening of the Multi-stakeholder hearing in preparation for the High-level meeting on the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women
Thursday, 24 July 2025
(As Delivered by VP)
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Excellencies,
Esteemed Stakeholders,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I deliver this statement on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, I quote:
“I am delighted to welcome you to today’s multistakeholder hearing.
This hearing is a vital part of our work to prepare for the high-level meeting on the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, on 22 September.
And it is a powerful reflection of what is possible when diverse voices unite around a common purpose:
The full achievement of gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
I thank the Permanent Representatives of Jordan and Monaco, as co-facilitators, for ably leading the discussions on the modalities resolution of the High-level meeting on the commemoration of the Fourth World Conference on Women.
At a time when consensus is fragile, the commitment of all stakeholders sends a clear and urgent message: that gender equality is not a distant ideal.
It is an urgent moral imperative.
And it is at the heart of our success in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thirty years ago, the world united to adopt the Beijing Delcaration and Platform for Action – an ambitious and visionary agenda for realising the rights of women and girls.
Its 12 priority areas remain as relevant today as they were in 1995.
World leaders echoed this point in the Pact for the Future.
They recognised that sustainable development cannot – and will not – be achieved if women and girls continue to be denied their full rights and opportunities.
Over three decades, we can point to significant gains.
Today, more countries have legal frameworks to protect women and girls from violence and discrimination.
More women are taking seats in Parliaments – 27 percent today, compared to just 11 percent in 1995.
More girls are in classrooms, unlocking dreams their mothers never had the chance to pursue.
And yet.
Despite decades of evidence on the benefits of closing the gender gap, the rights of women and girls are under increasing threat.
By inaction, and by deliberate choices, in the form of:
- Policy reversals
- Funding cuts
- Shrinking civic space
- Armed conflict
- And a rising backlash against women’s rights and gender equality.
How can we not be alarmed?
None of our commitments in the Pact for the Future or the 2030 Agenda will be realised unless we prioritise action.
Action to transform the norms, structures and institutions ?– social, economic and political – that hold back progress on gender equality.
Let us be clear: women and girls cannot wait 137 more years to escape extreme poverty.
They cannot wait 68 years for child marriage to become history.
Nor should they wait one more moment for us to act.
Your work on the frontlines.
Your stories of change.
Your leadership prove that gender equality is achievable in our lifetime.
We are here to listen. To learn.
And to work with you so that women and girls across the globe can thrive in societies that embrace their talents, value their dignity, and support their ascent, equally and unconditionally.
Let us move forward, together.
Boldly.
Bravely.
And without delay.
I thank you.