Esteemed Senior Superintendent of Police Ms. Bereta Naisua

Honorable Senator Dr. Sappa Konman, allow me to extend my congratulations one more time for being the first woman in the history to win a seat in the recent election in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Congress 

Esteemed panelists 

Colleagues 

Distinguished guests

We have heard powerful experiences from today’s discussion in support of the need to undertake explicit measures so that no one is left behind in our actions to stop the cycle of violence against women and girls. 

In committing to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, member states recognized that the dignity of the individual is fundamental and that the Agenda’s Goals and targets should be met for all nations and people and for all segments of society. Ensuring that these commitments are translated into effective action requires a precise understanding of target populations. 

However, the disaggregated data needed to address all vulnerable groups – including children, youth, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV, older persons, indigenous peoples, refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants – are sparse. Few of the current available data can shed light on the intersectionality of vulnerabilities. Not only women and vulnerable groups are left behind, but they risk being pushed further behind by a variety of forces, including the COVID-19 Pandemic and the negative impacts of climate change and other forms of environmental degradation.

Even from the limited data currently available, it is clear that the benefits of development are not equally shared. Data confirm that 1 in 3 women around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner, indicating that levels of violence against women and girls remain disturbingly high. In the case of women and girls with disabilities, studies indicate they are at least three times more likely to experience physical violence, sexual violence, and emotional violence than women and girls without disabilities.

As gains in women’s rights remain fragile, it is essential to collect gender data for improvement of GBV services and programs with a survivor-centered approach. Timely and reliable estimates on violence against women contribute to
improve our understanding of the prevalence and extent of the problem and help track progress. Data can drive political and public awareness, inform a more comprehensive and sustained response to ending violence against women and girls globally, and monitor progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

As we come to the end of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, we thank all our partners who participated in the discussion during our three livestreamed events from 25th November to 8th December and shared important challenges and lessons learned as first-line responders to GBV. UNDP Pacific is committed to support their work to address gender inequalities and strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. 

In particular, UNDP supports efforts to ensure justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in crises and non-crises contexts by improving the skills and knowledge of police officers, judges, prosecutors, by strengthening the capacity of our national partners and by promoting women’s participation and leadership in all forms of decision-making. While it is always necessary to support survivors, just as important is the primary prevention work that addresses root causes. Reflecting on and sharing these lessons learned can help us improve our programming so that every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality.

We all need to join hands during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence with the aim of creating awareness and act to end violence against women and girls in partnership with governments and civil society. We need to work together to protect women and girls against violence as a key principle in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We need to make every woman count. Thank you very much for being with us in this journey.