EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogue on Elimination of Discrmination and Violence against Women

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EU Statement - UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogue on Elimination of Discrmination and Violence against Women

08.10.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in New York

8 October 2024, New York - European Union Statement at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee: Interactive dialogue with the Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Working Group on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Special Rapporteur for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls

Thank you, Chair.

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

We thank you for the important work carried out by the Committee and the Working group.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is a pivotal human rights instrument and a promoter and protector of gender equality globally. The EU fully supports the Committee, in its work to promote the Convention, to oppose the effects of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, to combat sexual and gender-based violence, poverty, and to address the lack of legal protections, as well as the denial of inheritance and property rights. The contributions of civil society and human rights defenders, especially women human rights defenders, are indispensable to this end, as well as the role of men and boys as actors of change for a gender-equal society.

The EU reiterates its call on all States who have not yet done so to accede to the CEDAW Convention and to consider acceding to Optional Protocol. It recalls the obligation of States Parties to implement all provisions laid down therein. States Parties should review any reservations and withdraw those that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention. The EU calls on all States, to ensure all women and girls' full and equal enjoyment of all human rights, in all respects and domains of society, and to combat and eliminate all forms of discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic violence, intimate partner violence and technology-facilitated gender based violence. The EU supports the drafting of the General Recommendation n°40 of the CEDAW Committee on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems that is to be adopted this month.

In this context we would like to draw your attention particularly to the situation in Afghanistan, where women and girls are systematically being deprived their fundamental rights and protests are being violently repressed. We condemn this blatant discrimination which could amount to the crime of gender persecution. We urge the Taliban to immediately remove all discriminatory policies and legislation, directed against women and girls, including the denial to participate in public life, access education, and freedom of expression.

Madame Chair,

Global economic developments and increased conflict have exacerbated the challenges and barriers that women and girls face globally, including access to sexual and reproductive health-care services. Furthermore, gender-based disinformation is a growing threat that disproportionately targets women. It is essential that we take urgent, coordinated action to combat this harmful trend.

The EU remains committed to the promotion, protection, and fulfilment of all human rights and to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the outcomes of their review conferences and remains committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in this context.Having that in mind, the EU reaffirms its commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every individual to have full control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, free from discrimination, coercion and violence. The EU further stresses the need for universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education, including comprehensive sexuality education and health-care services.

We note the contributions of Generation Equalityin advancing the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and commend UN Women for their unwavering commitment to and leadership in achieving gender equality.

Madame Chair, For the committee the EU has the following questions,

What conclusions have you drawn from the reports by States under review during the past year in terms of priority actions that should be implemented to achieve gender equality?

Furthermore, could you give us an update regarding the ongoing work on concluding the general recommendation on gender stereotyping?

Madame Chair, We now turn our attention to the Working Group.

The EU fully supports the mandate of the Working Group, and its work to promote gender equality, document the main challenges to eliminating discrimination against women and girls in diverse situations and conditions, and oppose the effects of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, of sexual and gender-based violence, poverty, and lack of legal protections. The EU urges all States to fully cooperate with and support the efforts of the Working Group.

Madame Chair,

The EU is a strong supporter of families, acknowledging that, in different cultural, political and social systems, various forms of the family exist. Families in diverse situations and conditions can nurture and support children and adolescents. Everyone deserves a safe, happy, healthy, and supportive family, where all are free from discrimination and violence. A prerequisite to this is the full enjoyment of human rights, for all individual members of the family. Sexual and reproductive health is crucial for establishing supportive family structures.

It is therefore very concerning to the EU that the working group has found that gender stereotypes and patriarchal social norms within families limit girls' and young women's opportunities to pursue education and self-determined life paths, thus undermining their full enjoyment of human rights.

Madame Chair,

In its report on the "Escalating Backlash against gender equality and urgency of reaffirming substantive equality and the human rights of women and girls", the Working Group has stated that the pushback against gender equality often takes the form of promoting progress in one area but involves a hidden cost or disproportionate burden on women and girls in another. The family narrative appears to be one such area. Could you elaborate on how inclusivity, sexual and reproductive health and education can benefit families as well as bring gender equality closer?

Additionally, what are other areas where the Working Group has seen the promotion of progress in one area result in a regression in gender equality?

We now turn to the Special Rapporteur.

The European Union strongly supports your mandate.

Despite significant progress in women and girls' participation in sports, the sector remains one of the most gender-unequal social institutions in modern society. The EU is committed to changing these conditions and promoting gender equality across the board.

Women in sport are often paid significantly less than men; in 2023, not a single woman ranked among the top 100 highest-paid athletes globally. The gender gap in sports leadership remains pronounced, both in Europe and worldwide.

Sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual harassment and abuse, in particular in coach-athlete relationships, remains rampant. The UNESCO estimate, mentioned in the report, that 21% of girls, which is almost double the number of boys, globally have experienced some form of sexual abuse as a child in sport, which is deeply shocking. This violence against women and girls contributes to their exclusion from key roles in sport. Improved prevention and accountability measures are necessary to effectively address violence against women and girls in sport.

For the first time in the history of the Games, the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games presented an equal number of women and men athletes. In the same spirit, the EU, through various initiatives, has been actively working with Member States and national sports organizations to raise awareness and combat gender inequality, for example through the Erasmus+ programme's sports project funding. Furthermore, the European Commission's Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 acknowledges disparities in pay and prize money and aims to address unfavourable working conditions for women in sports.

Madam Special Rapporteur,

What specific measures can international sports organizations take to increase women's representation in leadership roles?

[What strategies can sports governing bodies implement to address the root causes of gender-based violence in regions with limited resources?]

The EU remains steadfast in promoting gender equality and the full enjoyment of human rights for all women and girls. Thank you.