gender-and-society

"We need to end the unilateral interference in Libya… Libya is not a piece of cake"

"It’s about time we had either a commission of enquiry or a panel of experts that monitors the situation and ends impunity in all of Libya"

"Gaddafi left behind a heavy burden — a legacy of tyranny and corruption. For four decades, Gaddafi’s tyrannical regime destroyed the infrastructure, as well as the culture and moral fabric, of Libyan society"

"I was keen — along with many other women — to rebuild Libyan civil society, calling for an inclusive and just transition to democracy"

"However, bit by bit, the euphoria of the elections — and of the revolution as a whole — was fading out, for every day we were waking up to the news of violence"

"Our society, shaped by a revolutionary mindset, became more polarized and driven away from the ideas and principles — freedom, dignity, social justice — that we first held. Intolerance, exclusion and revenge became the post-math of the revolution."

"It’s only created a weak centralised government that is not addressing any other issues"

"Nobody attacked the issue in Libya from a holistic approach"

"We had… congressmen who were either affiliated with militias or who were themselves militias… We started seeing that congresswomen were threatened and bullied physically and verbally by other representatives"

"We need to have a fair representation in terms of gender, a fair representation in terms of generation, a fair representation in terms of culture, a fair representation in terms of all Libyans of diaspora and inside of Libya, a fair representation as well of urban and rural areas… of the capital and more disenfranchised regions and cities. I cannot only focus on women’s empowerment; I need to address the other issues as well"

"By that I mean, addressing the humanitarian crisis in Libya, addressing the human rights violations, addressing the lack of justice in Libya, the lack of a rule of law in Libya"

"The root cause… it’s the unchecked militarization, it’s the flow of arms, it’s the arms anarchy"

"The need to demilitarize, demobilize, and to have a rehab programme for those who are traumatized by war has not been addressed by the UN-led peace process"

"focuses on rushing to elections and having a multi-party system when you don’t have real constituencies or comprehension of the idea of political parties and programmes"

"actually caused a further divisiveness and polarization in society"

"We’ve been appeasing warlords"

"Large gender gaps continue to hinder and impede progress in achieving all goals,""

"The need for sustained efforts to fulfill the promise of gender equality, secure women's and girls' human rights, and ensure the realization of their fundamental freedoms."

"I hope that this is the beginning of a permanent truce and lasting relief for the people of Gaza and all the hostages held by Hamas."

"I have been consistent in my briefings to you, in reminding you that women and girls are paying the highest price of conflicts."

"I am alarmed by disturbing reports of gender-based and sexual violence. I reiterate my call from when I last spoke in these Chambers in October, that every act of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, is unequivocally condemned, and must be fully investigated with the utmost priority."

"I am reassured that SRSG [Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict] Patten has activated the UN Action network that she chairs to proactively share UN-sourced and verified information on incidents, patterns, and trends of conflict-related sexual violence to aid all investigations."

"I am confident that there will ultimately be a reckoning for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in this conflict. The work of the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israelis is crucial."

"I commend the many female staff and volunteers of the Egyptian Red Crescent for their exceptional service in these challenging circumstances. And I welcome the establishment of a new Jordanian field hospital in Khan Younis, notably including female medical staff, such as doctors and nurses, for the first time. This is a significant milestone."

"I encourage all donors to increase their allocations, including to UNRWA who remains the only lifeline for thousands of Palestinians."

"During my mission I heard unequivocal calls time and time again that we need an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” I also heard calls from partners across the region that forced displacement or transfer of Palestinians from their land is a red line, that we must ensure the protection of civilians and that we must facilitate unhindered access to aid. I heard calls for an end to occupation, and for concerted progress towards a peaceful, two-state solution."

"I suspect I am not unique in finding this one of the lowest moments for the international community and for peace and security that I can recall. But it is precisely at moments such as this that multilateralism is at its most important. This institution, and others of the United Nations, are where we come together to find peace. Our track record is varied."

"I welcome last week’s resolution in the Security Council and hope that that will only be the start of greater consensus in the Security Council to find a solution. I call on its immediate implementation. But this resolution, like the more-than 100 resolutions on the so-called Palestinian question since 1948, makes no reference to gender issues. I also welcome the General Assembly resolution passed on October 26th, calling for “an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities”."

"I urge you to include the voices of Palestinian and Israeli women working for peace, to recognize their leadership and to call for their meaningful participation in any negotiation efforts."

"I call for this truce to be extended to a ceasefire and for the remaining hostages to be released unconditionally. I call for an immediate end to the current siege, beginning with ensuring access to water."

"For the sake of women and girls, I leave you with a call for a return to a genuine and purposeful commitment toward a just peace."

"Even amid the current crisis, women in Gaza are again showing the power of women’s leadership and their centrality to their communities in the most appalling of circumstances. They are working as first responders and volunteers to try and keep people safe. UN Women pledges our continuing support, including to Palestinian women’s organizations in Gaza, where our long-standing relationships are more important than ever”,"

"Bodily autonomy is non-negotiable. It is about choices, rights and the power of women and girls to decide over their own body. UNFPA is calling for coordinated and collective action to achieve bodily autonomy, reproductive rights and gender equality well in time for 2030,”"

"“Sustained efforts are, therefore, needed to deliver on the promise of gender equality, secure the human rights of women and girls and ensure that their fundamental freedoms are fully realised,”"

"Women and girls have just as much right to access the digital world and prosper in it as men and boys. Their creativity, knowledge and perspectives can shape a future where technology contributes to transforming social norms, amplifying women’s voices, pushing forward against online harassment, preventing the perpetuation of algorithmic biases, and distributing the benefits of digitalization as the great equalizer to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals."

"I just returned last night from Egypt and Jordan. There I met with Government, civil society partners, humanitarian workers, and volunteers, all working tirelessly to respond to the suffering of the Gazan people and end the crisis. I commend their efforts to ensure humanitarian aid gets to those in need. I welcome the news that 50 hostages, all women and children, will be released in return for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children, and a much-needed humanitarian pause. I thank the Governments of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States for facilitating this agreement.I hope that this is the beginning of a permanent truce and lasting relief for the people of Gaza and all the hostages held by Hamas.”"

"That is two mothers killed every hour and seven women every two hours. We mourn them all."

"With the Sustainable Development Goals, the global community has made a strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. However, we can see clearly with these new indices that across countries, women’s full potential remains unrealised, and large gender gaps continue to be commonplace, thereby obstructing and slowing progress in the realisation of all the Goals,”"

"Violence against women and girls has invaded all spaces, including virtual ones, and this must end,"

"For many women and girls, no place is completely safe. Violence invades their homes, schools, and workplaces, and now, it is becoming alarmingly widespread in their digital lives. Online violence can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time. Yet, it disproportionately affects women and girls,”"

"For individuals vulnerable to intersecting forms of discrimination, the levels of digital violence they experience are even more extreme. Research shows LGBTQIA+ people, women and girls with disabilities, and people of African descent all experience online abuse specifically tied to their identities. Black women are an estimated 84 percent more likely than white women to be attacked in abusive tweets,”"

"Fortunately, survivors and allies are taking action. Already, more than 54,000 signatories have joined UNFPA’s #bodyright campaign and committed to championing the right to bodily autonomy and freedom from violence. Survivors and advocates – artists, activists, politicians, and tech experts among them – are sharing stories and demanding change"

"It's very important to understand the humanitarian and internal displacement conflicts is having on women, and that is why we need to create safe spaces"thumb|Dr. Natalia Kanem"

"For UNFPA right now, we are commiting 40 percent of our funding to finance female-led organizations. And this is the leadership we are committed to.""

"“Peace is the most pressing issue of our time and in women’s lives,”"

"Obviously, peace is fragile. It requires our continuous attention, dialogue, compromise and cooperation.”"

"“UNFPA has had a long and productive relationship with Rwanda. We discussed what is happening in the country in terms of the investments in young people and in the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls.”"

"“eased the reach to people in rural areas; a move to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to planning for families.”"

"“I’m delighted that Rwanda is hosting ICASA; which is a bigger opportunity for us to recommit to the prevention of HIV and to the compassionate caring to those who live with the virus,”"

"UNFPA lamented the loss of lives in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory and is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of all civilians caught up in the crisis, especially women and girls."