Today, I would like to focus on one key area. It is an area where progress is...

Today, I would like to focus on one key area. It is an area where progress is still very slow. But since it affects ha l f of the world's population and ha l f of the world's human resources, it is of crucial importance. I am referring to maybe the most important human rights failure of all. At least the one that affects the largest number of human beings. I am referring to the unmet human, economic and social rights for 3.5 billion women and girls. They make up half of the world. But they are not allowed to fulfil their potential as powerful drivers of economic development as well as of peace and security. Let me just fill you in on the situation we have today: Women perform 66 percent of the world's work and produce 50 percent of the food. But they earn only 10 per cent of the income and own I percent of the property. 70 per cent of the world's poor population are women or girls. Every day, approximately 1000 women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. That adds up to about 350 000 deaths each year. We were this week witnessing a historic step in the history of the United Nation, as the Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as the first woman ever opened the General Debate. At the same time, standing here, mid-20 I I , there are still countries who do not allow women to vote. And in only 28 countries has women' s parliamentary representation reached a critical mass of 30 percent or more. Only 19 women are leading their countries as elected heads of state or government. And this is not fair. I t is not just. And it makes no sense. Mr. President. To me, gender equality is first and foremost a question of ensuring equal rights for women and men.