Check against reality

Thank you for giving me the opportunity for some short opening remarks.

30 years after to adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and on the eve of the 25th anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325, much has changed for the better for women and girls all over the world. However, progress in implementing the Beijing Platform and the WPS Agenda has been too slow and uneven, as we all agree. We are confronted with massive geopolitical challenges, record levels of armed conflict and violence, and a global backlash against women’s and minorities’ rights. Progress won over decades is vanishing before our eyes.

30 years after Beijing and only five years before the 2030 Agenda expires, we can and we must do better!

We all know: sustainable development, prosperous societies, conflict prevention, and upholding and making peace are not possible without the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women. But this fundamental female participation requires that we once and for all tackle the scourge of gender-based violence as one of the greatest impediments to gender equality. I want to congratulate the African Union on just having made an important step in this direction: By adopting the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls at the AU Summit last month, the African States have reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding human dignity and promoting gender justice. I now hope for the swift ratification and implementation of the convention to translate commitments into meaningful protections for women and girls.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

After long weeks of negotiations and in the spirit of multilateralism, we managed to adopt an ambitious CSW Political Declaration by consensus which commits to further progress in the achievement of global gender equality.

It will be on all of us to follow up on our agreed commitments and translate them into local, national and regional action and stronger multilateral cooperation.

Among the signs of hope and examples of good practice that show us pathways for change are initiatives like the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) which serve as inspiration and are examples of female self-organization, agency and leadership in multilateralism, of working together to prevent conflict and promote inclusive peace and sustainable development.

As Co-Chair of the Group of Friends of the AWLN, Germany has been supporting the AWLN for the past 7 years since its inception. We are excited to see how this network has grown and is thriving with now 36 chapters across the African Continent empowering women in many different ways.

AWLN shows what women can achieve if structural hurdles are addressed and removed, in order to enable the full, equal and meaningful participation and empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity.

That is why Germany is committed to continuing our partnership and collaboration with the AWLN as a unique platform for African women leaders to connect, share experiences, and mobilize action towards gender equality.

Let us use discussions like at today’s event to create an impetus to continue fighting for gender equality and women's participation in all spheres of society. It is up to us to accelerate progress and ensure that the voices of women in Africa and beyond are heard and valued.

I would like to close with the hope, that - in order to make the AWLN even more sustainable and future-proof, other donors will be brought on board so that the dynamic development of the AWLN can continue.

I thank you.