UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous opened with a call to unite around a common purpose: “Together, we choose action over apathy. Together, we choose hope over despair. Together, we choose to ignite the spirit of the Beijing Declaration once again.”
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed reminded us that gender equality “holds the key to unlocking progress on the SDGs and lasting peace.” She highlighted the Gender Equality Acceleration Plan, launched the previous week by the Secretary-General, which would “transform the way we work, putting gender equality at the center of all our efforts.”
Thilmeeza Hussain, Director of the Regional Commissions New York Office reflected on growing up in the Maldives, where there were few leadership opportunities for women at the time, but inspired by strong women role models , she was able to step into the role of the first female Permanent Representative of her country to the United Nations, more than 50 years after the Maldives joined the United Nations. “It shouldn’t have been that long,” she said.