Thank you, Mr Chair.
Germany aligns itself with the EU statement.
For Germany, the advancement of the rights of women and girls in all their diversity is not a moral imperative. We believe it is also key to achieving global stability, resilience, and sustainable development.
In 2025, we will mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration. A milestone in the promotion of women's rights. In this declaration we said collectively – and I quote - : “The full and equal participation of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life (…) and the eradication of all forms of discrimination on the grounds of sex are priority objectives of the international community”.
29 years later, we are still far from achieving that goal. What is more, worldwide, we see attempts to push women out of politics, out of decision-making and out of public spheres. We see attempts to water down agreed language in resolutions and declarations. We see attempts to question the right to make decisions about one’s own body.
The situation in Afghanistan is one of the most urgent and one of the most glaring examples of this trend. Since the Taliban's return to power, Afghan women and girls have been systematically excluded from education, employment, and public life, all in violation of Afghanistan's obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This systematic gender persecution violates not only the fundamental human rights of Afghan women and girls but also threatens the future development of Afghanistan as a whole.
In response to these alarming developments, Germany, jointly with Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, made clear to the de facto authorities in Kabul that we expect them to comply with Afghanistan's obligations under CEDAW. Supported by numerous countries from various regions, the initiative marks a collective stand against the erosion of women's rights in Afghanistan.
Mr Chair,
Germany is also committed to ensuring that gender equality is a guiding principle in our policymaking. The Federal Government continues to strengthen legislation that promotes equal access to resources and protects women and girls from violence, both in law and in practice. One recent example is the reform of the German Code of Crimes against International Law in which new offenses in the area of sexual violence were now included.
In line with our feminist foreign policy, we support initiatives that empower women in conflict zones and contribute to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. At this year’s Ukraine Recovery Conference, the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine was launched – because reconstruction can only be successful if women and marginalized groups are included and empowered.
Germany’s feminist foreign policy extends beyond gender. It encompasses the protection of marginalized groups—whether based on their gender identity, origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or other factors—ensuring that all people can participate equally in society. In this regard, our leadership as co-chair of the Equal Rights Coalition, together with Mexico, remains a cornerstone of our global efforts to combat discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Mr Chair,
In conclusion, Germany welcomes that member states reaffirmed their commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the Pact for the Future. We should use this momentum to accelerate progress towards achieving gender equality by 2030. Halfway to 2030 and 29 years after the Beijing declaration, we simply cannot accept a backlash on women’s rights and gender equality. The full, the equal and meaningful participation of women and girls all their diversity in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life and the eradication of all forms of gender-based discrimination should simply not remain an objective but finally become a reality, and a reality soon.
Thank you.