Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment – Member State Commitments

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MEMBER STATE COMMITMENTS
AT GLOBAL LEADERS MEETING

 

 

In his opening remarks, UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon directly addressed the assembled world leaders,
saying: “As Heads of State and Government you have the power and the
responsibility to ensure that gender equality is—and remains—a national
priority.”

 

 

https://beijing20.unwomen.org/en/step-it-up/commitments – Important to Save for Referral in Advocacy

 

Afghanistan: Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah

 

“Protecting the constitutional rights of all our
citizens is a high priority for the Afghan Unity Government. As a result, we
are conducting comprehensive reforms in our security, legal and judicial
institutions. We are sparing no effort to implement Elimination of All forms of
Violence against Women law, and our National Action Plan for the Women of
Afghanistan (NAPWA). The same is true for our commitments under CEDAW. A lot
has been achieved, thanks to the support of the international community. We continue
to rely on support from partners. Thanks to the participation of women,
Afghanistan has a vibrant civil society. … Afghanistan will do its part to
reach the goal for 2030.” [Speech]

 

Albania: Prime Minister Edi Rama

 

“The Government that I lead has placed gender equality at
the centre of its agenda … I’ll outline very briefly three aspects of this
challenge facing Albanian society by promising at the same time an effective
engagement of all institutions responsible for the implementation. First:
economic empowerment of women through increasing and improving access to credits,
as well as promotion and expansion of employment programmes for women and
girls, narrowing the gap in employment and increasing the participation of
women in labour markets. Second: prevention and reduction of violence against
women and domestic violence, elimination of gender discrimination in education,
health, media, strengthening the legal and institutional mechanisms, as well as
improvement of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. And third: increased …
decision-making, as well as central and local representation of women in
managerial and professional positions in all public administration … including
representation of women in police and armed forces.”

 

Algeria commits to ongoing efforts to promote peace and
tolerance and implement strategies to improve women’s status

 

Outlining progress made over the past 20 years, in
social, economic and political spheres, Algeria highlights recent gains such as
the adoption of a Working Woman’s Charter which aims to reconcile family and
professional obligations and the participation of women in company management
bodies as well as their representation in trade unions. … The National Peace
and Reconciliation Charter was adopted on 29 September 2005, as a result of a
referendum. In this area, the efforts of the Government and the people are both
ongoing and resolute. They are based on the policy of de-radicalization which
consists essentially of promoting the civilizing values of peace, concord and
tolerance. … Just like in Beijing 20 years ago, my country joins in the
commitment of the international community to continue to work for the promotion
of women’s rights and to implement strategies which aim to improve their
status. [Commitment statement: en |
ar | fr]

 

Angola commits to the empowerment of women and gender
equality, the dignity of families and the advancement of women

 

The policy measures under the National Development Plan
aim to promote the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms
for men and women, promote all equal-opportunity aspects in employment
policies, including reducing occupational segregation and helping reconcile
work and family life, as well as counter the persistent under-representation of
women in all decision-making spheres, promote equal access and full enjoyment
of social rights for men and women, eliminate gender disparities in primary and
secondary education by 2017 and at other educational levels by 2025, promote
equality in civic life and contribute to change gender roles and stereotypes.
In compliance with its international commitments, namely CEDAW, the Protocol to
the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights regarding the Rights of Women
in Africa, the SADC Gender and Development Protocol, the Solemn Declaration on
Gender Equality in Africa, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child, and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, to which Angola is
a party, the Angolan Executive Branch has adopted policies to support gender
issues and the advancement of women, as well as to support victims of violence,
to give due recognition to families, to develop communities and promote rural
women. The country’s Head of State also mandated a review of plans and policies
related to the percentage of representation of women at all levels to increase
it to at least 40 per cent, and has launched national campaigns to prevent
violence and traditional practices that violate the rights of women and
girls.  [Commitment
statement]

 

Argentina: President Cristina Fernandez

 

“In Argentina we have developed a strong process of
social inclusion which has brought about more equal opportunities for women. We
have active programmes and policies such as universal benefits for pregnancies,
for children and education all the way up to university. This has made it
possible together with gender equality laws to protect women. … Even in more
developed societies, there continues to be gender inequality with respect to
access to political decision-making. … We need to break cultural barriers which
have considered women for centuries to be an inferior or less intelligent
being. And that is why I think that policies must also be aimed at
[transforming] culture, at empowering women not only as as a matter of
obligation under conventions or international treaties, but that there be a
deep conviction in the hearts of men and of women… to bring down taboos and
prejudices against us. … In Argentina we have achieved a high degree of
equality that should also be extended to youth and other sectors of society.”

 

Australia makes new commitments internationally and at
home to empower women and girls

 

In this anniversary year [of the Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action] and to progress the 2030 Agenda, Australia is making new
commitments both internationally and at home to empower women and girls.
Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs has launched a new Gender Equality
Fund. This Fund will accelerate support for gender equality in our overseas
development program with a focus on women’s economic and leadership
participation and addressing violence against women. Australia will confront
record levels of homicide of women, and domestic and family violence,
committing new funds for frontline services, support for women from culturally
and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are experiencing violence, and
primary prevention initiatives to change the attitudes of young people towards
violence against women and their children. To increase women’s workforce
participation, responding to G20 commitments of 2014, Australia is providing
new financial literacy projects for women, improved assistance for child care
and small business reforms that will deliver new opportunities for women in the
workforce. [Commitment
statement]

 

Austria: President Heinz Fischer

 

“Austria commits to further tackling gender
stereotypes…Gender-sensitive vocational orientation and educational guidance
will be expanded, and gender-theory-based competence of teachers and educators
will be strengthened. Austria also commits to the continuation of its National
Action Plan on Gender Equality in the Labour Market and will also continue to
tackle the high gender-pay-gap and to strengthen income transparency. We will
continue comprehensive action to reconcile family work, both for women and men.
Extending the provision of childcare facilities and including men in childcare
and care responsibilities remains a focus of our efforts. We shall continue to
intensify mentoring and training programmes to encourage women to stand for
elections on all political levels…as well as awareness-raising and trainings in
gender competence for university bodies and decision-makers. Promoting women’s
share in management and board positions in our companies remains a priority.
Creating efficient measures to prevent and to protect women and girls from all
forms of violence in domestic and social contexts will remain a central
concern. Austria is committed to the work of UN Women and will continue on a
voluntary basis to support activities in the fields of women, peace and
security, violence against women and access to justice. Our development
cooperation will continue its efforts to promote gender equality by supporting
our partners to ensure equal access to economic opportunities, social and
financial services, and to overcome gender-related barriers in society and
legal systems.” [Speech]

 

Azerbaijan steps it up: Gender mainstreaming in all State
programmes and legislation to help working women

 

The Government of Azerbaijan actively undertakes measures
to distribute opportunities equitably and to support the equal and balanced
participation of women and men in public and social life. Specific budgetary
allocations have been made to ensure a steady increase in the gender
mainstreaming process and all State programmes and services committed to ensure
gender equality at all levels and all spheres. The country is working to ensure
more girls pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
It pledges to introduce new legislation to help working women – including
flexible working and accessible childcare. The country will actively support
the development and implementation of specific programmes, projects and
activities aimed at improving the enjoyment by women and girls of their
fundamental human rights. Azerbaijan is prioritizing re-integration of refugee
women into society, promoting their participation in political, economic and
public life and addressing the causes of, and impunity for, sexual violence in
conflict as a central element of all discussions on the peace and security
agenda. Calling for the implementation and reinforcement of international
initiatives and conventions on women rights, Azerbaijan also commits to do
everything it can to ensure a safe future for women. [Commitment
statement]

 

Bangladesh: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

 

“The sustainable development [agenda can bring]
positive change in the lives of our women and girls. We should seize this
opportunity. In this context, it is our commitment to continue to work towards
the social, economic, and political empowerment of our women, and give our
girls higher education. We shall create more opportunities and access for our
women to participate in politics, business and government. We shall continue to
work for ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women. We
shall create a safer environment for our women and girls to thrive as agents of
change. My government has plans to eliminate child marriage by 2041. We shall
continue to give attention to maternal health and nutrition.” [Speech]

 

Belgium: Prime Minister Charles Michel

 

“We commit to take into account the multiple forms
of discrimination against women, notably by developing action plans and
campaigns.” Belgium steps it up for gender equality and women’s
empowerment with 25 commitments to act, covering both its external and internal
policies. While continuing its strategic partnership with UN Women, Belgium
will adopt a new gender strategy for its development cooperation. Domestically,
all government levels will adopt, implement and evaluate gender mainstreaming
legislation or methods. Furthermore, a sixth national action plan on the fight
against gender-based violence is being developed in line with the Council of
Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and
domestic violence. This Convention will be ratified by Belgium as soon as
possible and without formulating any reservations. Finally, the legislation on
gender discrimination will be evaluated and adapted and awareness-raising
campaigns on gender discrimination and stereotypes and their consequences will
be launched.” [ Speech (in
French) | commitment
]

 

Benin: President Thomas Boni Yayi

 

“I have come to express our commitment again, not only to
the women of my country, but of Africa and the entire world. … We must
absolutely base our action on women… This is necessary at the highest level of
the State. And second, we need transformative leadership, which needs to be
accompanied by very effective policies and legislative measures for gender
equality and the empowerment of women. … We hope that we will make more
progress in these areas. Also, women must be involved in productive work and
decision-making in order to be effective. And therefore programmes have been
put into place so women can play an influential leadership role in political
parties and the private sector, among others.”

 

Bhutan: Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay

 

“I pledge my Government’s full commitment to the
accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
and to the realization of the gender equality goals of empowerment in the 2030
Agenda. More specifically, I recommit to support ongoing initiatives to
increase representation of women in governance and decision-making at all
levels. For this, we have commenced extensive nation-wide consultations to
explore measures to encourage women’s participation in politics. We commit to
strengthen targeted programmes for economic empowerment of women. This is
critical to address the persistent burden of poverty on women and effectively
remove inequality in economic structures and policies. We commit to enhance
investment in programmes that ensure equal access to the critical areas of
education and training and healthcare for women. We commit to render full
support to agencies and civil society organizations that combat violence
against women and girls and we commit to promote programmes and policies that
strengthen the role of women in the management of natural resources and in the
safeguarding of our environment.”

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Chairman of the Presidency Dragan
Čović

 

“For Bosnia and Herzegovina, gender equality and
empowerment of women remain priorities, on both [the] national and
international level. We are making efforts to reconcile our unfortunate past
with the demands of the future…Focus on women is a way of healing. [This is]
our obligation… We have created a solid legal and institutional framework for
the advancement of gender equality, requiring affirmative measures aimed at
achieving gender equality from the State. Furthermore, both [the] Gender Action
Plan 2013-2017 and 1325 Action Plan 2014-2017 define priority measures for
improvements and advancement in line with the Beijing Action Plan. In line with
that, today I pledge to…[implement] the Istanbul Convention and address three
areas of concern: greater inclusion of women and reduction of labour market
segregation; prevention of …domestic violence; and finally, support for the
women victims of sexual violence in conflict. ” [Speech]

 

Botswana: Vice President Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi

 

“Botswana…remains committed to the
principle of elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. To this
end, Botswana adopted, recently, the National Policy on Gender and Development
on 7 August 2015. The policy serves as a springboard for implementation of Goal
5 of the [Sustainable Development Goals] of achieving gender equality and
empowering women and girls, and all other goals that intend to improve the
dignity and the status of women…Botswana embraces the Secretary General’s UNiTE
campaign to end violence against women and has developed the National
Gender-Based Violence Strategy 2015-2020. The strategy provides a multi-pronged
and multisectoral approach for the prevention and elimination of gender-based
violence. We recognize men as critical partners in the promotion of gender
equality and, as such, have established a men’s sector under the Ministry
responsible for gender…In conclusion, I wish to reaffirm Botswana’s unwavering
commitment to the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.”

 

Brazil: President Dilma Rousseff

 

“On behalf of the Brazilian Government I bring you a
message of unwavering and firm commitment to implementing the Beijing Platform
for Action. A commitment to gender equality, to empowerment of women and to
implementation and materialization of women’s rights on all fronts – that is
our commitment. … [We commit] to ensuring coverage of all women in situations
of violence, …further [engaging] in actions [for] women in policies, further
[ensuring] women’s development at all educational levels…, strengthening
maternal health care…and assistance to girls.” [Previous
commitment]

 

Brunei Darussalam: Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Haji
Hassandal Bolklah

 

“In Brunei, our experience on this issue is based
upon our long-standing policy to provide universal access to education. In the
1950s … education was made free to all children irrespective of gender. … Our
girls and women have equal opportunities to upgrade their knowledge and skills
particularly in evolving areas like ICT. … Our women have attained employment
in various professional fields like medicine, law, business and engineering.
…They have equal access to healthcare facilities, free for all citizens. Over
the past two decades, our women’s life expectancy has improved to about 80
years. They’re increasingly active in business ventures through various credit
financing schemes. …We are also making efforts to protect women’s rights
through legislation and plans of action, which we will continue to review when
necessary. Regionally, we’re part of the commission on promoting and protecting
the rights of women and children. … Our continued effort to fulfill our
international responsibilities are shown by our commitment to the [Millennium
Development Goals] and [Sustainable Development Goals] as well as Convention on
Eliminating all Forms of Discrimination against Women. … I’m pleased to
reaffirm our commitment towards implementing the objectives of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action.”

 

Bulgaria: President Rossen Plevneliev

 

“We will make every effort to achieve
full gender equality in the next 15 years. [We] will adopt a new specialized
law on gender equality [and] will ensure that [a] gender perspective is
mainstreamed into all policies. The Government has committed to further develop
and update the national strategy on gender equality. [We are] determined to
abolish the gender wage gap, [and are] committed to combatting all forms of
violence against women.” [Speech]

 

Burundi: Vice President Joseph Butore

 

“Burundi has assured free schooling for basic education
which has helped lead to equality between boys and girls in education. …The
extension of the health network and its infrastructure…has…substantially
reduced infant [and] maternal mortality. The Government has set up a national
centre to help with victims of gender-based violence…three further centres will
be opened. A… gender-based violence [law]…has been adopted…. The participation
of women in national and local decision-making bodies has seen remarkable
progress. Despite these efforts, socio-economic problems persist and the lack
of funding means that promotion of women and girls is still an issue…. We
commit to the Beijing Platform for Action. Reinforcing gains [made] to promote
women and girls, [we] support the reinforcement of equality and women’s
empowerment [in] development programmes in the post-2015 agenda, and [efforts]
to help women and young girls to make sure they are empowered and not
discriminated against.”

 

Cabo Verde steps it up: Boosts efforts to implement
national plan, gender-based violence law and public funding for gender equality

 

The Government of Cabo Verde joins Step It Up for Gender
Equality with a pledge to implement the National Plan for Gender Equality as
the main national instrument for mainstreaming gender in order to promote equal
rights and empowerment of women. Furthermore, Cabo Verde will implement the
National Plan to combat gender-based violence and boost efforts to fully
implement the Gender-Based Violence Law. Cabo Verde commits to have in place
effective gender-responsive budgeting and allocate public funding for the
promotion of gender equality in the country. [Commitment]

 

Cambodia: Prime Minister Sen Hun

 

“Cambodia has achieved remarkable progress in major
areas, [such as]: Adopting laws and regulatory frameworks to protect, eliminate
discrimination, and reduce violence against women and girls; promoting gender
equality in education through increasing [the] enrolment rate of girls in both
primary and secondary levels; promoting women’s involvement in [the] economy
and enhancing their access to financial services, so as to strengthen their
financial autonomy; improving the health status of women and children,
particularly through achieving the MDG target on maternal mortality; and
promoting the engagement of women in political affairs and decision-making at
all national institutions and levels, including legislative and executive
branches, and all the institutions in both national and sub-national
levels.” “We should give priority to the following works: Increasing
investment in gender equality, especially by reviewing fiscal policies to
generate and increase public spending on gender equality, including monitoring
and analyzing the impacts of such public spending on gender inequality through
gender-responsive budgeting. Two: Ensuring the protection of women’s rights, as
well as full and equal participation of women in decision-making at all levels.
Three: Strengthening accountability mechanisms for gender equality by strengthening
government institutions with effective means of monitoring progress and
ensuring sufficient provision of resources for gender works. And continuing to
promote women’s involvement in the economy and their financial inclusion.” [Speech]

 

Central African Republic: President Catherine Samba-
Panza

 

“I continue to promote and encourage the nomination
and candidature of women for the next presidential and legislative elections
that I am responsible for organizing by the end of 2015. The CAR woman is an
integral part of the community of women of the world. While reaffirming the
commitment of my country [to] gender equality and women’s empowerment, I would
like to use this opportunity … to reiterate my appeal to the international
community to mobilize their forces for the peace and security of the people of
the CAR … to make sure that we have lasting efforts towards transition [and]
women’s empowerment. And now, in the name of all the sisters of all those
living the Central African Republic, I would like to express the wish that
today’s meeting should be a launching pad of new policy which will be bolder in
order to improve the living conditions of women everywhere in the world.”
[Speech]

 

Chile: President Michelle Bachelet

 

“The Chilean Government … is implementing a Labour
Training Programme. We hope to train 300,000 women for highly skilled jobs,
together with our programmes to empower women entrepreneurs. When it comes to
collective negotiation, we want to improve the ability of women to negotiate as
workers, including organizations representing the labour force in such a way
that the gender focus can reduce the wage gap between men and women. … We
implemented a national action plan against violence against women and we have
more centres to welcome women who are the victims of abuse. We’ve also started
programmes to train community leaders and government officials to prevent and
halt violence against women. We also have a bill [to decriminalize] abortion
when the mother’s life is in danger, or the fetus might be seriously
compromised after birth, [or for] pregnancy as a result of rape. … But for
gender equality to be effective, we also have to look at the decision-making
area, in social and political spheres. The new Chilean electoral system, which
we approved in January this year, for the first time has a quota system whereby
at least 40 per cent of the candidates standing for Parliament must be women.
We have problems with people complying, so we have put forward two incentives:
firstly any party which does not have 40 per cent of women standing cannot
register any candidate; secondly, parties [presenting] women [candidates] will
receive economic incentives … to comply with the law. … My Government has
also taken steps so that by 2018 we will have 40 per cent of women directing
public enterprises. We’re also looking [to ensure there] is equality,
empowerment and solidarity between spouses.”

 

China: President Xi Jinping

 

“China will do more to enhance gender equality as its
basic State policy, give play to women’s important role as ‘half of the sky’
and support them in realizing their own dreams and aspirations in both career
and life. … Let us reaffirm the support of the Beijing Conference with renewed
commitment and pledge greater efforts to promote gender equality and women’s
all-around development. … To support women’s development worldwide and the work
of the UN Women, China will donate USD 10 million to UN Women for the
implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the
realization of the related goals in the post-2015 development agenda. In the
coming five years, China will help other developing countries build 100 ‘health
projects for women and children,’ send teams of medical experts to provide
services and implement 100 ‘happy campus projects’ to finance the schooling of
poor girls and raise girls’ school enrolment rate. We will also host 30,000
women from developing countries for training programmes in China and provide
100,000 skills training opportunities in local communities of other developing
countries. Under the related fund co-sponsored by China and the UN, there will
be special capacity-building programmes for women from developing countries.” [Speech]

 

Colombia commits to strengthen gender equality policies,
eliminate gender disparities in education, reduce female unemployment,
implement a plan on ending gender-based violence

 

Colombia commits to: strengthen the institutions and
gender equality policies for the promotion, respect, protection and guarantee
of the rights of all women with special attention to the most vulnerable,
including the victims of conflict and women living in rural areas; to continue
working to eliminate gender disparities in education and to guarantee equal
access for women to all levels of schooling and training; to undertake all
necessary efforts so that all boys and girls have access to quality early childhood
care and development services and pre-school education; to continue to
strengthen and promote the economic empowerment and autonomy of women and
increase efforts to reduce the female unemployment rate from 11.9 per cent to
10.5 per cent; to continue working to transform work structures in companies,
seeking to ensure that they not only generate employment and wealth for society
at large but also serve as an equal work environment and contribute to creating
a fairer society; to strengthen democratic representation and electoral
participation and increase the full and effective participation of women and
equal leadership opportunities at all levels of decision-making; to adopt
additional measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against
women and girls in private and public spheres… In 2015, the country approved a
law against femicide. … Colombia pledges to create a national mechanism of
coordination across sectors and institutions to create a global approach to
gender violence, including prevention, care, protection, sanction and
eradication; to establish and strengthen the necessary mechanisms and measures
for the promotion, protection, full exercise and guarantee of sexual and
reproductive rights; to strengthen women’s capacity to make decisions as to
their bodies, sexuality and reproduction; to work towards the construction of
new masculinities; and to strengthen the processes of planning, monitoring,
assessing and creating proposals which are gender-sensitive. [Commitment
statement]

 

Comoros: President Ikililou Dhoinine

 

“The Union of the Comoros has always displayed an
undeniable drive towards creating a social fabric where women can take their
rightful place. The Constitution of the Union of the Comoros enshrines…
equality for all in rights and in duties without any distinction on the grounds
of sex or gender… Women are [full-fledged actors] leveraging their capabilities
to deliver development. Therefore, their empowerment needs to be strongly
promoted. The Government of the Comoros would like to reiterate here before you
all through my good offices its commitment to the swift implementation of the
Beijing [Platform for] Action. The Government of the Comoros is committed to
building on its 2011 policy on preschool attendance in public schools. Since
introducing the programme in 2011, in just two years we have seen the enrolment
of some 6,000 children in preschool, so we hope to continue building on these
numbers. We’ve also pledged to step up measures taken to ensure that
appropriate services are made available to women during their pregnancy, delivery
and on a post-natal basis. We have also given priority to reproductive health
in our new health strategy, which has enabled us to step up the reduction of
maternal mortality rates from 381 to 170 deaths per 100,000 live births between
2007 and 2012. The Union of the Comoros is also committed to [beefing] up its
multisectoral strategy on HIV… [and] to continuing efforts to ensure that more
women will be in key decision-making posts in our national institutions. [We
are] working to enhance access by women to microcredit which will allow them to
continue to play a key role in our national economy.” [Speech]

 

Costa Rica: President Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera

 

“[We commit ourselves] to place at the centre of
public policy the shared responsibility for caregiving as an engine for
cultural change, expanding and diversifying its alternatives; to promote
instruments that generate scientific evidence on gaps in gender data that
result in barriers to [using] women’s talent; [to] create jobs through
affirmative action for women through public/private partnerships; [to]
establish job creation programmes with affirmative action…to benefit youth,
women and persons with disabilities; [to] create and implement a seal of
quality to check and certify gender equality in businesses and institutions;
[to] guarantee the effective implementation of inspections in places of work;
[to] work within the framework of the UN tirelessly together with our partners
and elders and other groups that will facilitate this process; and [to] achieve
the objective [that] would give content to the promises and commitments made
here, which would be the election of a women as the next Secretary-General of
the UN.” [Speech]

 

Côte d’Ivoire steps it up: The country launches the
National Council for Women to guide efforts on women’s rights

 

Côte d’Ivoire is stepping it up with the launch of its
National Council for Women on 2 March in line with the country’s commitment to
international norms, such as the Beijing Platform for Action, and its
Constitution’s tenet to promote gender equality. Côte d’Ivoire’s President,
Alassane Ouattara, will chair the National Council. In conjunction with the
Observatory for Equity and Gender established in 2014, the National Council
will guide and advise the government in decisions related to women’s rights.
President Ouattara is also urging Ivorians to double efforts to change
attitudes and to promote equitable roles in decision-making for women and men.

 

Croatia: President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic

 

“The Beijing Platform for Action remains as relevant
today as it was on the historic day of its adoption. We still have a long way
to go to full implementation as no country has achieved full gender equality
yet… The overarching theme of the Beijing conference – [that] women’s rights
are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights – should be a driving
force and inexhaustible inspiration in implementing our national policies for
gender equality and equal opportunities… The notion that women’s progress
represents human progress lies at the core of our national policy for gender
equality. … We will continue to further support women’s empowerment both
domestically and internationally. This is and will remain one of our major
foreign policy priorities, with a focus on conflict and post-conflict
societies. Activities to eliminate all forms of violence against women will
remain a priority… Further work is needed in Croatia and globally to combat
gender stereotypes more vigorously and to raise the level of public knowledge
and awareness on gender equality. It is essential to enable women to balance
private and professional obligations, including [through] increasing the
provision of child care services. Croatia will…continue to work closely with
other members of the Equal Futures Partnership and take an active role as a
member of UN Women’s Executive Board.”

 

Cuba: President Raúl Castro

 

“Today Cuban women’s life expectancy at birth is 80.45
years of age. The direct maternal mortality rate is…one of the lowest in the
world. … They make up 66.8 per cent of the labour force…. Nevertheless, we
still have much to do. We need to continue to work to change cultural patterns
as to have men and women share the care of their family. We must continue
increasing the number of women in decision-making positions in the government.”
[Speech]

 

Cyprus: President Nicos Anastasiades

 

“Cyprus … has come a long way in the promotion of gender
equality, the empowerment and the realization of the human rights for women and
child[ren] and girls through a number of concrete measures and policies.
However, a lot remains to be done and we reaffirm our commitment to this end.
My Government adopted the new national action plan on equality between women
and men for 2014-2017 which is the [flagship] of our national policies for
gender equality. We also reaffirm our commitment to the relevant legal action
plans and directives, and all relevant international instruments combatting all
forms of violence against women. Promoting economic empowerment and eliminating
deeply rooted stereotypes among gender roles are among our priorities. Another
area of concern in my Government is combatting trafficking in human beings,
with the core of our policies being the protection of victims, mostly women and
children. I would like also to announce that we are ready to ratify the Council
of Europe Convention on Preventing and combatting violence against women and
domestic violence. The role of women in the promotion of reconciliation and
peace is invaluable. …A technical committee on gender equality has [already
been established]. Concluding, I wish to express the strong willingness of my
country to contribute to the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for
Action in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.”
[Commitment: en | es | fr]

 

See previous
commitment

 

Denmark: Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen

 

“The 2030 agenda for sustainable development sets
out new goals for our continued struggle, and I warmly welcome these new and
ambitious goals. Denmark will continue its longstanding acts of support for
gender equality. We remain committed to intensifying our efforts to ensure that
all women and girls have equal opportunities to pursue the education and career
they want and have free and equal access to the labour market. The Danish Government
is further determined to combat domestic violence. We are proud to organize the
next Women Deliver conference in May 2016 in Copenhagen.”

 

Dominican Republic: President Danilo Medina Sanchez

 

“We have achieved some important targets, for example…in
education. We are also developing a plan for early childhood. This is helping
hundreds of free community centres and other centres [that are] helping women
every day. We are also promoting funding [for]…women. Seventy per cent of loans
granted by the solidarity bank go to women…to set up microenterprises [and]
women’s cooperatives [to] increase their income by working together. …We want
to work to prevent women from…not achieving empowerment because of economic
factors…[and] we want to eradicate violence against women. We have a political
resolve to continue [to achieve] the well-being of our people…and a more just
society.”

 

Estonia: PresidentToomas Hendrik Ilves

 

“Estonia is committed to promoting women’s rights and
gender equality on a national as well as on a global level. As one of the
founders, Estonia has supported UN Women financially since its creation and we
are committed to continue to do so. In order to contribute to the full
implementation of the Beijing Declaration, Estonia commits to work actively towards
reducing the gender pay gap in Estonia, preventing and reducing violence
against women in the world, and continuing to promote women’s rights and gender
equality at the global level…More specifically, Estonia is preparing its first
action plan for gender equality policies with the aim to promote equal economic
independence, balanced participation at all levels of decision-making and
management, and to tackle the negative impact of gender stereotypes. The action
plan will continue to reduce the gender pay gap, to make necessary resources
available for gender mainstreaming, to guarantee efficient legal protection
against gender-based discrimination, and to support institutional capacity to
reduce gender inequality. Estonia [will improve] services for victims of
violence, including gender-based violence… Estonia has taken upon itself to
concentrate on women’s human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of
women also in development cooperation.” [Speech]

 

Fiji: Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama

 

“In the Pacific region, Fiji boasts a
gender-responsive and socially inclusive Constitution. For the first time, Fiji
has a female speaker of Parliament and…four women possess significant
ministerial portfolios. Over the last seven years, the Government has increased
funding to the national women’s machinery by some 320 per cent. [We] will
continue… with adequate funding and human resources, to
strengthen…[gender-disaggregated data] to better influence policies…. We have
amended our criminal laws to make [them] modern and gender inclusive. Our
family laws have also been amended [to] recognize the rights of women in de
facto relationships, and to provi