Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
The United States wishes to extend special thanks to France and The Netherlands for facilitating this critically important text on the elimination of violence against women and girls. This year’s text’s focus on the root causes of violence is particularly critical in an era where we have seen increased rates of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly for women and girls facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. At its core, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) deprives an individual of the enjoyment of their full human rights and fundamental freedoms. It represents a fundamental imbalance in the power structure of our societies and has deleterious effects on international peace, stability, sustainable development, economic growth, health, safety, and security.
We applaud this resolution’s focus on looking at women and girls in their diversity and those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. For example, women and girls with disabilities face disproportionately high levels of sexual and gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, including by caregivers. To this end, we also welcome this resolution’s references to SRHR, an important element and language that has been longstanding in this resolution and particularly important for women and girls who experience SGBV and IPV.
The United States, again, wants to sincerely thank both the delegations of France and The Netherlands for their transparent, inclusive and open process, which spanned over more than 20 hours of negotiations. The cofacilitators not only heard delegations in the room but engaged extensively in bilateral and small group discussions. To this end, the United States is deeply disappointed that the Russian Federation has called this resolution to a vote. Eliminating violence against all women and girls should be an issue that unites, not divides, this committee. We, therefore, call on all delegations to vote “yes” on this resolution.
And finally, on the language as orally revised, the United States strongly supports the right to freedom of expression and thus believes that State measures taken in relation to this resolution should be consistent specifically with respect to their obligations regarding the right to freedom of expression under international human rights law. With regards to education, we refer you to our statement giving in the committee this morning.
Thank you.
Original source can be found here.
