69e session de la Commission de la condition de la femme

Intervention de Madame Yuriko Backes
Ministre de l’Egalité des genres et de la Diversité

New York, 11 mars 2025

Luxembourg

Dear Chair,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Luxembourg fully endorses the declaration made by the Polish Presidency on behalf of the European Union.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Normally, we should be gathered here to celebrate this milestone for women’s rights and gender equality.

But I must admit my mood is rather tainted as we are currently witnessing pushbacks against women’s and minority rights across the globe. I am extremely worried about the fact that the common goals we all agreed on in 1995 are no longer shared by all Member States. Instead, they are being actively questioned.

During CSW, Member States used to agree on further action to accelerate progress and promote women’s and girls’ political, economic, and social rights.

This year, we must use all of our energy to defend women and girls as well as LGBTIQ+ communities and other minorities against the attacks on their inherent rights. In this context, I want to also emphasize the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Rights that were indeed fixed in the last millennium!

I believe that it is our collective duty to say “no” to pushbacks. An assault on women’s rights is ultimately an assault on all human rights. Women’s rights are human rights, independent from gender, independent from gender identity, independent from their sexual orientation. That famous affirmation bears urgent repetition, 30 years later.

Now more than ever, Luxembourg remains committed to human rights and to fundamental values of democracy, respect and tolerance.    

Diversity, Equality, Inclusion – these are not dirty words. They are markers of progress. They reflect values that we fully support and share with many other States.

We know that institutions that value gender diversity don’t only perform better economically, they also have a lower carbon footprint. We know that everything is linked. Pushing for more equality on all levels of society isn’t only the right ethical choice, it’s also the smart choice.  

The achievements of the past 30 years should make us proud and motivate us to be even more ambitious in facing remaining challenges, such as countering gender stereotypes and all forms of violence against women and girls, including in the ever-expanding digital sphere.

Luxembourg is committed to helping reach SDG number 5, achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, through our development cooperation partnerships and also support for UN Women. We are redoubling efforts to close the gender finance gap by mobilizing both the public and private sectors.

This year also marks the 25^th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution 1325. A few days ago, we have launched our second national action plan for the Women and Peace and Security agenda in Luxembourg.

Finally, looking ahead, we will have the selection and appointment of the next UN Secretary-General in 2026. Women should not only have a seat at the table, but also be in a position to lead, and that from the head of the table. The Political Declaration adopted yesterday by all of us encourages Member States to nominate women candidates. I would say that after 80 years of male leadership, it is high time for the first woman Secretary-General of our Organization.

I thank you.