Human rights
Women and girls at UNGA 81
Raised by 77 of 223 speakers. Read verbatim UN transcript quotes and select a time to hear the speech.
Speeches that raised women and girls
Secretary-General of the United Nations · Day 1António GuterresNo discussion of inequality can ignore its most universal form, the inequality between women and men.
Everywhere, Women and girls continue to face discrimination, violence, exclusion, and abuse.
Around the world, their rights are being rolled back, their voices silenced, their bodies turned into battlegrounds, and their freedoms treated as bargaining chips.
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Mongolia · Day 1Khurelsukh UkhnaaSince 2006, when Mongolia deployed its first female peacekeeper to the UN mission in Western Sahara, Mongolian women have made valuable contributions to global peace over the past two decades through their courage, resilience, and ingenuity.
In this connection, Mongolia plans to host the second International Conference on Women's Participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations in Ulaanbaatar in 2027.
I am pleased to highlight Mongolia's active leadership within the United Nations in advancing the interests of landlocked developing countries, drawing greater international attention to their special needs and unique circumstances, and cooperating with these countries to ensure that their voices are heard on the global stage.
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Türkiye · Day 1Recep Tayyip ErdoğanIn particular, Muslim women and girls have been subjected to greater discrimination in recent years.
We regard the headscarf bans introduced in schools by certain countries as an attack on women's most fundamental rights.
Rising xenophobia, cultural racism, and anti-Semitism are also toxic trends that must be combated with determination.
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Sierra Leone · Day 1Julius Maada BioThrough free quality education, we are widening the path for the circumstances of a child's birth, from a child's birth to the future that awaits that child.
In 2024, we enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and subsequently championed the proclamation of 27 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage.
A girl in Sierra Leone is no more or less precious than a girl anywhere else in our beautiful world.
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Belgium · Day 1Maxime PrévotIt concerns the ability of every woman to decide the course of her own life and take an equal place in society.
This ability to love the person we love without fear of prison, of violence, of persecution.
These freedoms belong to no single continent.
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President of the General Assembly (opening) · Day 1Dr. Khalilur RahmanWe should strengthen the United Nations work in these areas and draw increasingly on local capacity, including qualified national institutions and individuals.
including women and young people.
We should ensure that all activities at the country level from development, support to peacekeeping and are properly integrated and produce the highest synergy.
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Brazil · Day 1Luiz Inácio Lula Da SilvaThis change is crucial to alleviate the domestic burden that still falls on women.
We are building a Brazil where women don't need permission to occupy positions of power or enter the job market, a country free from femicide, where no woman, inside or outside their home, lives under the threat of violence, where Once again, no woman inside or outside their home lives under the threat of violence.
This is a cause that the whole world needs to embrace.
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Suriname · Day 1Jennifer Geerlings-SimonsMr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Finally, as the UN, the United Nations, approaches change in its highest leadership, current realities and approved mandates require the next Secretary-General to portray strong commitment to multilateralism, dialogue, and the rule of law.
Many capable candidates, including women leaders, who have taken up the challenge have been put forth.
And for the first time in history, we have a female candidate from the Caribbean.
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Dominica · Day 1Sylvanie BurtonWe need multilateralism that is not selective, in its concern or even in its response, but fair, effective and responsive to the needs of all people.
Our development must include young people, women and girls, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, the elderly and communities that have too often been left behind.
If the United Nations is to deliver for all, it must first see, hear, and include all.
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United Republic of Tanzania · Day 1Deogratius NdejembiTanzania remains committed and has made strides in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
Tanzania's Development Vision 2050 aims to build an inclusive and competitive economy that ensures quality of life for all.
We are investing in our people, productive infrastructure, technology and innovation, while creating greater opportunity for women and young people.
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Trinidad and Tobago · Day 1Kamla Persad-BissessarWe intend to place particular emphasis on the curbing of the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons.
Another pillar on which we had campaigned and we intend to commit to is women and children, as well as peace and security.
And then we had talked about artificial intelligence and global security.
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