NB8 Explanation of Vote before the Vote, Third Committee Resolution: ‘Intensification of efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the digital environment.’ Statement by Sweden on behalf of the NB8 Countries.
Thank you Chair,
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and my own country, Sweden.
Violence against women and girls is a serious violation of human rights and a threat to their lives. Statistics show that at least one in three women worldwide experience some form of sexual and gender-based violence during their life course. This forms a serious threat to their full, equal, effective and meaningful participation in all spheres of society. It disproportionately affects those already in vulnerable situations.
There can be no room for such violence in our societies. We must do our utmost, and use all available means, to safeguard the human right for all women and girls to live a life free from all forms of violence.
This year, having just adopted the Pact for the Future, including the Global Digital Compact, the resolution focuses on violence against women and girls in the digital environment. Addressing gender stereotypes and negative social norms online as well as offline is essential when it comes to preventing and eliminating all sexual and gender-based violence. There is no shortcut. We need to do our part to address the root causes of violence against women and girls.
Chair, colleagues, what we have in front of us is a carefully drafted, well-balanced text, which reflects approximately 17 hours of consultations we had here in the UN Building. As always, finalizing the text required compromises – from all of us. Constructive dialogue and sharing of different perspectives is essential for the process and bringing us closer to our goal; a world where gender equality is reality and where no one is left behind.
Therefore, we deeply regret that a handful of delegations have presented multiple amendments on paragraphs that were discussed at length during negotiations. We urge all delegations to support women and girls full enjoyment of human rights, and join us in voting against all the amendments that seek to limit these rights.
Finally, we thank the Netherlands and France for presenting an important and contemporary text that hopefully can have a real impact on the lives of women and girls across the globe. We urge all delegations to support this resolution.
Thank you.