Participation

“Costa Rica is proud to have included, in the resolution that was approved just a few weeks ago, an invitation to member States to present women candidates for the position of Secretary General. The time has come for the General Secretariat to be occupied by a woman.

“Yesterday , we said, at the meeting of Gender Equality, promoted by President Xi Jinping , what gender equality we can talk in a world where the distribution of resources is so unfair ; what gender equality we can talk in a world where people are expelled to their country because they can not live and neither the receive where they want to be .

“The creativity and dynamism of billions of people, is already transforming our world for the better. This is thanks to improved health and education, access to new technologies, and empowering women to take their rightful place.”

“In particular, our own experience of conflict in Ireland has taught us that full and equal participation by women in decisions around peace and security are vital to building a sustainable peace.”

“As a woman and an elected Member of Parliament, it has been my firm conviction that there is a shortcut to real social change - empowering the girl child. Our Government's policy of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Educate the Girl Child to empower her) was conceived with this vision.”

“Unlike the men and women who may have planted its seed, the banyan is still a young tree at 70.”

“ As a leader of my country, I want to see more tangible progress in women and girls' advancement and their active participation in national leadership. This progress can be expedited if more financial resources are channelled to assist my Government to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.”

“There is an inescapable truth - we cannot transform our world unless the place of women within it is transformed.”