HRC58 - Joint statement - The commemoration of International Women’s Day
Human Rights Council – 58th Session
Join statement on the commemoration of International Women’s Day
Delivered by Mexico
7 March 2025
Mr. President,
Mexico and Finland present this statement on behalf of a group of 52 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, 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.
