Statement of Costa Rica at the UNGA72

SDG 5: “Only a multidimensional vision of development, especially a multidimensional vision of poverty, will allow us to understand the needs of populations, families and their members in terms of access to healthcare, social equality, gender equality, and address social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities, among other challenges of developing countries.”

Gender Equality: “Gender equality, Mr. President, remains an objective of the greatest importance for all countries. [...] Literature is extensive and political declarations are decisive by stressing the sensible democratic deficit and prejudices in terms of development derived from persistent patriarchal structures forged in former times, but remained perpetuated today because of the lack of education on rights and respect for democratic coexistence. [...] It is imperative to take concrete actions and make more women our peers fully at these important premises.

Participation: “My country has understood this commitment and embraces the proposals of the International Gender Champions which aim to reverse gender inequality within the United Nations and take specific actions in this 72nd Session to call upon these gender champions in order to promote gender balance within the delegations attending the General Debate during the high-level week of the General Assembly.”

Gender discrimination: “If I were to choose a single insulting and absurd example of this discrimination, the one that causes me the most indignation is that the average woman's salary is 25% lower the average man's for the same job.”

Care work: “Care is also an economic activity which contribution should be reflected in the country's productivity. Men should have a shared responsibility of fulfilling this labour and private companies as well as public institutions must facilitate it.”

Justice: “Laws causing and perpetuating discrimination must be amended and those encouraging equality must be enacted.”

Human Rights: “Our determination is to achieve women's incorporation in paid work, with measures that eradicate division based on sex in the workplace and facilitate economic autonomy and high quality of life as necessary conditions for the full enjoyment of human rights.”

Women’s power: “[The women of the world] are powerful enough to move ahead despite the rigid and rude patriarchal heritage that tends to not acknowledge your abilities and accomplishments and that fills with doubts and dangers your road towards your full autonomy. You are an example for others: your internal strength leads you to break the chains of oppression, rise above tearing migrations and forced displacement, free entire communities for unexpected forms of slavery. [...] You are masters of resilience, since you have learned how to deal with the wrong people and painful moments. [...] Today is a good day to look ourselves in the mirror, start to create truly equal relations, and take this long night to its end.”

Disarmament: “Sixty nine years ago Costa Rica decided to change weapons and soldiers for notebooks and teachers. 69 years ago Costa Rica decided to believe, strengthen, and promote International Law as the civilized way to resolve their differences with others and today, 69 years later, Costa Rica continues believing in this way.”