The Swedish presidency statement delivered by Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, at the first regular session of the UN Women Executive Board 2024, 10 February 2025
Thank you, Madam President,
Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to the Executive Director and her dedicated staff for their hard and visionary work in often very complex situations.
Women and girls are among the most exposed in world conflicts. Our thoughts today also go out to all women and girls living in conflict situations, under repression, or other emergencies.
Human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing.
I am proud to be part of a government that has committed to integrating a gender equality perspective to all areas of policy-making.
Gender equality is not only a goal in itself but also - as you know – a smart policy, paving the way for more prosperous and resilient societies.
To reach further we must work better together—as international actors, the private sector, individuals, and societies—to build a more just, inclusive and equal world.
UN Women has a unique mandate and a central role in advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls worldwide.
UN Women’s new strategic plan for 2026-2029 provides an important opportunity to further strengthen the organization.
Achieving greater results at the country level should always be the main goal.
Sweden supports UN Women’s efforts to enhance its normative work and coordinating role. Promoting greater accountability and resource allocation for gender equality within the entire UN system is crucial, especially on issues such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and the situation of women during migration. In this context, Sweden would encourage an increased focus on highlighting concrete results in reporting and communication.
Sweden particularly emphasizes the importance of women’s economic empowerment.
This work needs to start in early life. Economic empowerment involves providing women and girls with equal access to quality education, employment, resources, and decision-making opportunities, enabling them to achieve financial independence and contribute to economic growth.
Let us also reconfirm our commitment to eliminating men’s violence against women and girls - once and for all.
What we must aspire to is a future in which all individuals in all their diversity are free to shape their own lives and able to contribute fully to shaping prosperous societies.
Thank you.