Lesotho
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE KINGDOM
OF LESOTHO TO THE UNITED NATIONS
815 SecondAvenue
8th Floor
New York, NY 10017
INTERVENTION
BY
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DR. PAKALITHA B.MOSISILI
PRIME MINISTER AND HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
DURING THE
POST·2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA SUMMIT
Interactive Dialogue: "Tackling inequalities, empowering women and girls and leaving no one behind"
25 SEPTEMBER 2015
NEW YORK
Please check against delivery
Co-chairs,
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice on the topic under discussion; namely "Tackling inequalities, empowering women and girls and leaving no one behind". I wish to thank the panellists for their inspiring presentations.
Co-chairs,
We have long come to terms with the fact that full equality between sexes and increased investments in gender equality are imperative if we were to achieve sustained economic growth and development. It was in this context that the World Summit Outcome Document, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 2005, reaffirmed that gender equality, the promotion and participation, as well as the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for the entire human kind are essential. Indeed, gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but also a foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
It is common course that no country has to date achieved full gender parity.
While the world has made some progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls however, continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. Women and girls face more severe constraints than men in accessing decent jobs, productive resources, financial services, investment opportunities and credit. We need to do more to reverse this state of affairs.
1
Co-chairs,
lesotho is fully committed to promote gender equality and eliminate pervasive gender discrimination in all its forms and manifestations. The Government of lesotho has ratified a plethora of international instruments that seek to address gender inequality and enjoyment of Human Rights by all. We have also ensured that gender equality remains at the centre of lesothds development interventions at all material times. legislative and policy reforms were undertaken since 2003 with a view to protecting women against all offences of a sexual naturel ensuring protection of women1s property rightsl promoting increased representation of women in government decision making bodiesl including their full participation in all the political processes. The positive impact that these reforms have had on the ground are remarkable. Moreoverl partnerships between the Government and Civil Society organizations working on gender issues have been strengthened and continue to grow.
Co-chairs,
The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offers hope that a real difference in achieving gender parity will be a reality in the near future. The importance of Sustainable Goal 4 (SDG4}1 which is a commitment to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for allll cannot be overemphasised. Investing in women and girls
i
in education has a multiplier effect on productivity and sustained economic growth. Of significant importance also is SDG 5 which is on achieving gender equality and empower all women and girls.
The new development agenda may look good on paperl but will not bring any positive change to women and girls if it is not domesticated and implemented
2
>
. .
by individual countries. We thus need to translate the SDGs into our national strategic plans. The implementation of the SDGs, their targets and indicators will require changes in each country's fiscal policy. In order to make real strides in achieving gender equality and empowerment, we need to allocate enough national resources for training of women and girls entrepreneurs, equip them with information and communications technology skills and ensure that they have access to markets.
It cannot be overemphasised that this lofty idea of the achievement of the equality and empowerment for our women folks and girls will only translate into reality, if the international community can ensure adequate financing of this new Development Agenda. Availability of resources is sine qua non for development. Furthermore, strong partnerships and collaboration between all the stakeholders namely; governments, development partners, private sector, civil society and the UN system, is also crucial for achievement of Agenda 2030.
Co-chairs, empowering women and girls is empowering humanity. As the saying goes, "EMPOWERING WOMEN IS EMPOWERING A NATION". It behoves us therefore, as leaders, to work together in unity of purpose as we pave the way for women and girls to play their rightful role in building a sustainable global economy for the benefit of humanity at large.
I thank you.
3
OF LESOTHO TO THE UNITED NATIONS
815 SecondAvenue
8th Floor
New York, NY 10017
INTERVENTION
BY
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DR. PAKALITHA B.MOSISILI
PRIME MINISTER AND HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
DURING THE
POST·2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA SUMMIT
Interactive Dialogue: "Tackling inequalities, empowering women and girls and leaving no one behind"
25 SEPTEMBER 2015
NEW YORK
Please check against delivery
Co-chairs,
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice on the topic under discussion; namely "Tackling inequalities, empowering women and girls and leaving no one behind". I wish to thank the panellists for their inspiring presentations.
Co-chairs,
We have long come to terms with the fact that full equality between sexes and increased investments in gender equality are imperative if we were to achieve sustained economic growth and development. It was in this context that the World Summit Outcome Document, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 2005, reaffirmed that gender equality, the promotion and participation, as well as the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for the entire human kind are essential. Indeed, gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but also a foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
It is common course that no country has to date achieved full gender parity.
While the world has made some progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls however, continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. Women and girls face more severe constraints than men in accessing decent jobs, productive resources, financial services, investment opportunities and credit. We need to do more to reverse this state of affairs.
1
Co-chairs,
lesotho is fully committed to promote gender equality and eliminate pervasive gender discrimination in all its forms and manifestations. The Government of lesotho has ratified a plethora of international instruments that seek to address gender inequality and enjoyment of Human Rights by all. We have also ensured that gender equality remains at the centre of lesothds development interventions at all material times. legislative and policy reforms were undertaken since 2003 with a view to protecting women against all offences of a sexual naturel ensuring protection of women1s property rightsl promoting increased representation of women in government decision making bodiesl including their full participation in all the political processes. The positive impact that these reforms have had on the ground are remarkable. Moreoverl partnerships between the Government and Civil Society organizations working on gender issues have been strengthened and continue to grow.
Co-chairs,
The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offers hope that a real difference in achieving gender parity will be a reality in the near future. The importance of Sustainable Goal 4 (SDG4}1 which is a commitment to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for allll cannot be overemphasised. Investing in women and girls
i
in education has a multiplier effect on productivity and sustained economic growth. Of significant importance also is SDG 5 which is on achieving gender equality and empower all women and girls.
The new development agenda may look good on paperl but will not bring any positive change to women and girls if it is not domesticated and implemented
2
>
. .
by individual countries. We thus need to translate the SDGs into our national strategic plans. The implementation of the SDGs, their targets and indicators will require changes in each country's fiscal policy. In order to make real strides in achieving gender equality and empowerment, we need to allocate enough national resources for training of women and girls entrepreneurs, equip them with information and communications technology skills and ensure that they have access to markets.
It cannot be overemphasised that this lofty idea of the achievement of the equality and empowerment for our women folks and girls will only translate into reality, if the international community can ensure adequate financing of this new Development Agenda. Availability of resources is sine qua non for development. Furthermore, strong partnerships and collaboration between all the stakeholders namely; governments, development partners, private sector, civil society and the UN system, is also crucial for achievement of Agenda 2030.
Co-chairs, empowering women and girls is empowering humanity. As the saying goes, "EMPOWERING WOMEN IS EMPOWERING A NATION". It behoves us therefore, as leaders, to work together in unity of purpose as we pave the way for women and girls to play their rightful role in building a sustainable global economy for the benefit of humanity at large.
I thank you.
3
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