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4 July 2022, 50th session of the Human Rights Council  Annual Panel discussion on Technical Cooperation Theme: Technical cooperation on the full and effective participation of women in decision-making and in public life and on the elimination of violence, with a view to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls Statement on behalf of Nordic-Baltic countries delivered by the Permanent Representative Ambassador Darius Staniulis

Thank you, Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, and my own country Lithuania.

Today’s discussion once again allows us to underline the importance of women and girls’ full, equal, and meaningful participation in public life, in decision-making process and in achieving the 2030 Agenda. Only when every person of the society is equally included, we will be able to achieve gender equality, social progress and genuine democracy.

The international community and especially national governments play vital roles in addressing gender inequalities, fighting sexual and gender-based violence, and empowering women and girls. A policy that ensures empowerment of women through capacity building, contributes to the promotion of global peace, democracy, and security. It ensures women and girls’ full and equal enjoyment of all human rights with a particular emphasis on eliminating sexual and gender-based violence.

Furthermore, technical cooperation and especially implementation of recommendations of human rights mechanism should be at the core of building and strengthening national frameworks and institutions. These recommendations are given to create enabling legal and policy environment for the full, equal and meaningful participation of all women and girls.

Distinguished panellists,

How would you suggest that women and girls are better informed about their opportunities to participate in public life and decision-making at local level?

I thank you.