EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogue with UNICEF

Thank you, Chair!

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The EU and its Member States fully support and commend UNICEF and its partners for their invaluable work to protect children, and to defend and promote their rights, in a time that is particularly marked by human rights violations being committed against children and preventing them from reaching their full potential. Wars and conflicts are wreaking havoc on children's lives, and their physical and mental health, and foster abuse, abduction, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Despite targeted initiatives and efforts, girls across the globe continue to face disproportionate barriers to access inclusive education and social protection. This access is key to protect children affected by multi-dimensional child poverty, to help them fulfil their potential, and to achieve the SDGs and the Pact of the Future for every child.

These challenges underscore the importance of our continued collaboration with UNICEF to remove structural barriers that hinder the full development of every child. The EU encourages UNICEF to continue and expand their gender-responsive education sector plans, and to work with governments on strengthening social protection systems and integrating gender-responsive objectives to improve equity and equality in accessing protection.

Mr. Fontaine,

UNICEF has reached three out of five 2025 targets measuring the long-term impact of strengthening inclusive systems for social policy and social protection, which the EU applauds. How can the EU and its Member States assist UNICEF in reaching the two remaining goals on implementing social protection systems and nationally-owned routine measurement and reporting on multi-dimensional child poverty?

Thank you.