Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Lithuania ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol in 2010 and has since taken measures to ensure its effective implementation and to guarantee quality life for persons with disabilities. Lithuania’s first implementation report was submitted in April 2016.

Women journalists and media workers are an integral part of the media fabric ensuring the constant flow news from around the world. It took persistence and determination for women journalists to break down barriers and stereotypes and be able to report from conflict zones.

To mark the World Press Freedom day, the group of friends on the protection of journalists, co-chaired by the Permanent Missions of France, Greece and Lithuania to the United Nations, is organizing a panel discussion on the safety of women journalists in conflict situations.

Reporting from conflict zones requires extraordinary determination and courage, especially as journalists themselves increasingly become the targets of the attacks. Being a woman journalist adds an extra layer of challenges.

Honourable Chairperson,

Distinguished delegates,

It's my pleasure to address this audience in the sixty first session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and to share Lithuania’s views.

On the outset let me stress Lithuania’s conviction that women’s economic empowerment and economic independence are essential for the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and of the 2030 Agenda, in particular, SDG (Social Development Goal) 5 on achieving gender equality, and SDG 8 on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full employment and decent work for all.

As part of the 61st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, on 15th March the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Women in Parliament (WIP), the International Civil Society Action Network for Women’s Rights, Peace and Security (ICAN) and the Permanent Missions of Canada, Germany and Lithuania hosted the event “The Role of Female Parliamentarians in implementing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda”.

The goal of the event was to highlight the powerful role female parliamentarians can play in effectively promoting the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Parliaments have a unique position to do so given their overarching function as the people’s representatives, and their core functions of law-making, representation and oversight, including budget guardianship to manage (the risk of) social crises, prevent violent conflict and shape conditions for sustaining peace. They have the power to pass inclusive laws that support gender equality and human rights and ensure gender-sensitive reforms are properly financed.

On March 15, the Permanent Missions of Lithuania, Canada and Germany to the United Nations, together with the UNDP, Women in Parliaments Global Forum and International Civil Society Action Network, organize a panel discussion “The role of female Parliamentarians in implementing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda”. The event aims at increasing the active involvement of female Parliamentarians and civil society to institutionalize the inclusion of women in peace and security processes on global and national level.

At the initiative of President of Lithuania and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Dalia Grybauskaitė, a letter calling on the international community to stop violence against women and to reduce its negative economic impact was handed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The call for action is issued jointly with President Michelle Bachelet of Chile.

Madam Chair,

At the outset, allow me to congratulate you on your election as the chairperson of the Third Committee of the 71st Session of the General Assembly. I would like to assure you and the bureau of the Committee of the cooperation and support of the Lithuanian delegation. Lithuania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union.

Madam Chair,

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development created a unique opportunity to address critical issues regarding gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. Moreover, we strongly believe that all of today’s greatest challenges – from climate change to fighting terrorism or ending the world’s deadliest conflicts – can only be resolved with full and equal participation of both genders. Thus, achieving gender equality and empowerment of women is both – a target and a prerequisite for successful implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.

On 22 September in New York, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius participated in an event dedicated to the prevention of crimes against humanity on the margins of the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly, which was organized by Liechtenstein and Mexico.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year’s General Debate aims to give a universal push to the Sustainable Development Agenda.

However all of today’s greatest challenges – from climate change to fighting terrorism or ending the world’s deadliest conflicts – can only be resolved with full participation of both genders and especially women.

Thursday, September 22, New York – President Dalia Grybauskaitė delivered a speech at the 71st United Nations General Assembly, which focuses on boosting sustainable global development. The seventeen Sustainable Development Goals came into effect this year. They are aimed at ending poverty and hunger, ensuring quality education and health care, achieving gender equality, delivering growth and tackling climate change by 2030.

Wednesday, September 21, New York – President of Lithuania and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Dalia Grybauskaitė hosted a high-level discussion aimed at focusing international attention on the economic cost of violence against women at the United Nations General Assembly.

On the margins of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, a debate on preventing conflicts and protecting human rights, which was initiated by the Swiss and German Foreign Ministers, took place on 21 September in New York, the United States of America. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius addressed the participants of the debate, noting that the prevention of conflicts was closely linked to the protection of human rights.

September 21, Wednesday, H.E. Ms. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, together with H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria, President of the Republic of Chile, will be hosting a high level discussion on the economic cost of violence against women.