International Women’s Day Joint Statement
58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council: International Women’s Day Joint Statement, presented by Mexico and Finland on behalf of 53 countries. 7 March 2025.
Mr. President,
Mexico and Finland present this statement on behalf of a group of 53 countries.[1]
International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to commemorate and recommit to important achievements on women’s rights and gender equality.
Let us highlight the right to bodily autonomy. The recognition that women’s rights include the right to have control and decide freely over their body has been indispensable for women’s empowerment and for dismantling patriarchal structures.
Furthermore, since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, human rights norms and standards have developed to recognize sexual and reproductive health and rights.
SRHR compel us to remove discriminatory laws; ensure access to information, including comprehensive sexuality education; address root causes of
gender-based discrimination; and prevent sexual and gender-based violence.
SRHR are central for the dignity, equality and rights of all women and girls, for eradicating poverty, for achieving the SDGs and leaving no one behind.
Mr. President,
Despite commendable progress, we are witnessing “concerted efforts to chip away at gender equality” in words of the High Commissioner Turk.
This includes attempts to restrict and deny SRHR, violating the principle of
non-regression.
This is alarming.
Today, more than ever, we must join and redouble our efforts for the full realization of human rights of all women and girls.
Thank you
[1]
Albania
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Honduras
Iceland
Ireland
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
The Netherlands
New Zealand
North Macedonia
Norway
Panama
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Romania, Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Ukraine
Uruguay
The United Kingdom.