Statement of ICELAND at UNGA73

“Iceland is a small country with high ambitions. A gender equal world is one of those. We have a solid record as one of the most gender equal countries in the world. This only happened through the hard work of women pioneers who changed our politics and our law to empower all women in Iceland. In good cooperation with a few good men, of course.”

“More needs to be done at home, but we stand ready to share our experience with other states. Gender equality is a master-key to unlocking sustainable development in all countries in line with the goals of Agenda 2030.” “Our priorities also revolve around promoting women’s human rights and safeguarding our children’s rights and freedom from violence. We will work to advance the human rights of LGBTI individuals and, lastly, focus on the connection between climate change and human rights.”

“The issue of Western Sahara remains unresolved and the same applies to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. The disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and Georgia remain a wound in the European security architecture. […] We must act and make full use of the tools available to hold those responsible to account, including before the International Criminal Court.”

“The Syrian war has left the country in ruins, over 400.000 people dead and almost half the population displaced. A political solution continues to be the only viable path towards winning the peace. In Yemen we are witnessing a conflict that is fast becoming the worst humanitarian crisis in the world a d there seems to be no end in sight as regional powerhouses continue to fuel the fires of war.”