77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
3rd Committee Interactive Dialogue on violence against women
Statement by Estonia on behalf of the NB8 countries
October 4, New York
Mr Chair,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Estonia.
We welcome the Special Rapporteur in the 3rd Committee and thank her for her presentation.
The Nordic and Baltic countries strongly condemn all forms of violence including sexual and gender-based violence and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We are proud to be members of the Group of Friends for the elimination of violence against women in times when sexual and gender-based violence remain drastically underreported and unpunished. We must join our efforts to fight all forms of violence.
We also find it particularly important to draw the attention to the gravity and devastating consequences climate change has worldwide. Women and girls are among those hit the hardest by the climate crisis. Climate change acts as a threat multiplier, which increasingly and negatively affects the ecosystem and lives of individuals around the globe. It makes those in vulnerable situations, including women and girls, more vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence since those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination are most at risk.
This year’s report highlights climate change as the most consequential phenomenon shaping the ways in which violence against women and girls manifests itself across societies. Increasing threats to our livelihood such as resource scarcity, rise in the number of natural disasters, health risks and violence are all rooted in the changing climate. As stated in the report, they will wield a cumulative effect on women and girls, unless met with appropriate, inclusive, gender-transformative and location-specific responses.
We fully welcome addressing all forms of violence against women and girls in all their diversity as part of our solutions to solve the climate emergency. The full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership of women and girls at all levels in and support of intensifying engagement with stakeholders across all levels is crucial to protect their lives and rights, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to ensure sustainable development.
- How comprehensively do states acknowledge the role of gender when tackling climate change?
- How to ensure, that multidimensional impacts of climate change are more effectively covered? What are the main obstacles?