Thank you, Mme Vice-President.
Let me start by thanking the Working Group's steadfast efforts in continuing to shine a spotlight on discrimination faced by women and girls around the world. The UK looks forward to the publication of the joint report on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan with Special Rapporteur Bennett.
2023 marks the half-way point in realising the Sustainable Development Goals. With seven years to go, UN Women estimates that it could take nearly 300 years to achieve full gender equality. 300 years. Despite this alarming fact, attempts to reverse hard-won gains on gender equality continue and at pace.
The UK remains committed, with our partners, to ensure SDG5 is achieved and to defending the rights of women and girls around the world.
But urgent action is needed to tackle the harmful social norms that perpetuate women's and girls' realities of poverty and inequality. Care work - paid and unpaid - plays an essential role in our societies but women and girls continue to carry a disproportionate burden.
Through cutting-edge research and technical assistance, our Gender-Responsive Social Protection programme is working with partners to strengthen social protection policies and programmes.
Chair of the Working Group,
We would welcome more information on whether your report will shape the upcoming SDG Summit.
Thank you.
