DENMARK CO-HOSTS SIDE-EVENT AT THE 55TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN NEW YORK ON “REBUILDING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND GENDER EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT”.

The purpose of the event was to discuss concrete policy responses and actions needed to move forward the gender equality, women’s empowerment and green business agendas.

The current food, financial and economic crises has had detrimental effects on the lives of women and men, girls and boys. At the same time, preexisting gender inequalities means that women and girls are more affected by the crisis as well as by climate change. Women, however, should not only be considered as victims but as agents for change, whose knowledge and talent to adapt to and mitigate climate change impacts must be recognized.

A panel of international experts on the topic expressed their full support to the inclusion of gender equality in the agenda for sustainable development. In this context, the Danish Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carsten Staur stressed that women are key drivers of change, that they have a multiplier effect on both economic growth and development outcomes and that investments in women pay off:

“It is clear that responding effectively to environmental threats cannot be accomplished without greater social equality and engagement of women. Unleashing women’s potential and providing them with the space to share and utilize their creative solutions, is the single most important contribution we can make to foster – and accelerate – green and sustainable growth; nationally and worldwide”.

Read the whole statement under downloads to the right.