Statement of LIECHTENSTEIN at UNGA73

“It is a great joy and personal satisfaction to me to see a woman preside over this Assembly. It is the tenth time that I have the honor to speak in this historic hall. And it is the first time in all those years that a woman holds the highest office here at the United Nations. I salute your leadership - and we will support you. But it is also disappointing to see that the UN - which should be a trailblazer on the empowerment of women - so frequently misses opportunities to make appointments that resonate outside this building. All the more, I thank Secretary-General Guterres for his commitment to gender parity. His resolve has illustrated that this goal is achievable - and relatively quickly. We have yet to realize full gender equality in practice back home, in Liechtenstein. And we will continue looking at the UN for setting examples that guide us on our own path.”

“Seventy years ago, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we agreed that ‘No one shall be held in slavery or servitude’. Today, over 40 million people, predominantly women and girls, live in these conditions. This is unacceptable.”

“One such institution is the accountability mechanism for Syria. We were proud to lead the way to the creation of the IIIM two years ago. Born out of the frustration over the deadlock in the Security Council, it has quickly become a symbol of what this Assembly can achieve - and a beacon of hope for Syria. At this critical moment in the Syrian conflict, our resolve to ensure accountability for the crimes committed will shape the future of the country.”