As delivered

 Statement by H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand,
at the High-level meeting on the 25th Anniversary
of the 4th World Conference on Women,
1 October 2020, New York, the United States of America
*****

Mr. President,

Mr. Secretary-General,

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

This is a significant year for women, and Thailand joins the international community in celebrating not one, but three milestones: the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action; the 20th Anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security; and the 10th Anniversary of the Bangkok Rules.

Thailand has always viewed gender equality and women’s empowerment through the lens of “promoting possibilities” and “unlocking potentials”.

This has meant ensuring equal access to opportunities, a key milestone being the establishment of the Women’s Development Fund to help increase women entrepreneurs’ access to finance.  As a result, Thailand’s development and growth are underpinned by a vibrant private sector, where currently 44 percent of all CEOs and managing directors are women.

We have also enacted the Gender Equality Act as well as a number of protective laws and measures to promote women’s rights -- including the rights of women behind bars -- and ensure comprehensive safeguards against all forms of gender-based discrimination.

We have increased the participation of women in peace and security. Thai women personnel continue to contribute to peacekeeping missions, and their ability to access communities and build trust reflect a unique skillset.  Thailand is pleased to have met the high ratio of women peacekeepers to male peacekeepers, and will continue our work to promote their participation at higher levels.

And we have renewed our commitments to enhancing and rehabilitating the lives of female inmates and thereby truly leaving no one behind.

Mr. President,

There is never be enough in harboring good thoughts and doing good deeds. Therefore, despite our collective efforts and the progress made, we can do more still. In addition to an unprecedented pandemic, challenges beset the multilateral system as a whole. We cannot allow these challenges to roll back our successes.  For Thailand, multilateralism remains the most effective tool in crafting the global solutions we need.

Therefore, we need to remain united, not divided, in our common quest to enable women to realise their true power. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for our societies is within reach once we unlock the potential of the whole of society to contribute. And only then can we rejoice and truly celebrate hard work well done.

Thank you.

***********