Speeches, 26.10.2021

UN: Letter from the PGA - Board of Advisers on Gender Equality for Member States

Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, Ambassador Jukka Salovaara has been selected to the 76th President of the UN General Assembly’s Advisory Board on Gender Equality. Read more on the UN PGA’s letter.

20 October 2021


Excellency,

At the beginning of my presidency, I conveyed my commitment to re-constitute the Advisory Group on Gender Equality. Work on gender equality has taken on a new urgency as COVID-19 continues to challenge our progress to achieve SDG5 and deliver on the promise of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. As we envision a future after the pandemic, we must seize the opportunity to build back a better and more equal world. Towards this end, I am pleased to share the list of members and observers of the President of the General Assembly's Advisory Board on Gender Equality as outlined below. The composition of the board has been expanded to build synergies and collaboration across the board and chart a transformative path that delivers for equality.

Members

  • H.E. Ms. Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, Co-chair of Group of Friends on Gender Parity
  • H.E. Ms. Valentine Rugwabiza, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations, Co-chair of Group of Friends on Gender Parity
  • H.E. Mr. Jukka Salovaara, Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations, Former member of the 75th PGA's Advisory Group on Gender Equality
  • H.E. Ms. Thilmeeza Hussain, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations, Special Envoy to the President of the General Assembly
  • H.E. Ms. Egriselda Aracely González López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations, Co-coordinator of the Circle of Women Ambassadors
  • Ms. Sima Sami Bahous, Executive-Director of UN-Women
  • Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in New York
     

All Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers to the United Nations New York

  • Ms. Reem Alsalem, United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
  • Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of UN Global Compact
  • Hon. Patricia A. Torsney, Permanent Observer of the Inter-parliamentary Union
  • Dr. Soon-Young Yoon, United Nations representative of the International Alliance of Women and Chair of the Board, Women's Environment and Development Organization

Observers

  • Ms. Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance
  • Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, Secretary General's Envoy on Youth

 

            The Board will serve as an informal mechanism to facilitate critical thought and advice on gender issues and to help mainstream a gender perspective across my priorities, initiatives as well as mandates for the 76th session.

           Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Abdullah SHAHID

 

PDF version.