Joint Statement on International Women's Day 8 March 2024

Joint Statement on International Women's Day on 8 March 2024 delivered by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen on behalf of Finland, Mexico and 64 states at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council (full version).

Mr. President, 

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Mexico, my country Finland and a group of 64 States.

On this International Women’s Day, we look at our world and see conflicts, inequalities, hunger, poverty, a triple planetary crisis. We are far from reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. To overcome these challenges, it is imperative to build safe, stable, inclusive, prosperous and peaceful societies.

In times of conflicts and crisis, we often hear that so-called “hard security”must be prioritized and so-called “softer security” issues can wait. Gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights are often placed in the latter category. However, history has shown that this approach is inadequate. Women must be included in all matters related to peace and security. Women’s, young women’s and girls’ rights cannot and should not wait, even less in times of crisis. This concerns especially women and girls facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.

We need a more comprehensive approach to security.  Evidence from decades of research shows that gender equality strengthens the stability of societies. Inclusive peace agreements that adopt a gender perspective are more likely to last. Ensuring women’s and girls’ rights is a powerful tool for building security and vice versa: eroding these rights can have negative security effects.

We must ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of all women, young women and girls, without discrimination of any kind, in all areas of society, including in the public and private sector, company boardrooms, political decision-making, peace processes, activism and advocacy. We must also recognise the full diversity of all women and girls in their circumstances and experiences and adopt intersectional approaches to responding to the needs of women and girls with different backgrounds.

Let us elevate women and women’s rights organisations and movements that are already making a difference. Let us support women’s and girls’ autonomy, including their right to bodily autonomy and the realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Let us strengthen our efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence in all circumstances, to send a clear and coherent message condemning violent attacks against women and girls  – whether at home or in public spaces, offline or in digital spaces, nationally or internationally, in conflict or at peace. Addressing the root causes of conflict means investing in the human rights of women and girls everywhere.

In times like these, we must not put women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality aside, something to deal with later. On the contrary, now is the time to bring women’s and girls’ rights to the forefront, to the center of solutions towards stability and peace.

Thank you.