United Nations General Assembly: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Statement delivered by Helen Leslie, Unit Manager - United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division

Mr. President,

I am honoured to be addressing this important meeting to mark 25 years since the declaration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Although 25 years have passed since the Declaration, we live in a world where violence against women and girls remains pervasive, taking various forms, both online and offline.

The statistics are horrifying. In 2023, 51, 100 women were killed by someone known to them meaning a woman was killed every 10 minutes. These are not random acts of violence. These women knew the person who took their life. It is evidence that our world is a place where women and girls are so often not safe, including from people in their lives.

The women who these statistics represent are more than a number; they are our beloved mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, nieces, and cousins.

Violence against women and girls also remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, and stigma surrounding it. We call on states to implement legislation to hold perpetrators to account and create gender-transformative justice systems where the needs of the victims and survivors are at the centre.

Let us remember while we sit in this meeting, women will be killed and harmed. No part of the world has achieved gender equality, or eliminated violence against women and girls.

New Zealand is no exception. Our data shows that approximately 1 in 4 women in New Zealand have experienced intimate partner violence, and that the overwhelming majority of sexual assault offences go unreported to Police.

We also acknowledge the compounding impacts of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.

In that context, New Zealand is deeply concerned about the ongoing challenges to women and girls' rights worldwide. In particular, increasing legislative and political attempts to restrict women and girls' freedoms and undermine fundamental sexual and reproductive health and rights. This push back puts at risk hard-won gains, threatens internationally agreed standards and principles, and ultimately impacts women and girls the world over.

New Zealand remains unwavering in our support for women and girls' participation and access to essential services such as comprehensive sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health and rights services in all circumstances.

President,

As we mark the 25th anniversary we must all reflect on the part we can play to accelerate action. Quite simply, across all elements of society, we must continue to cooperate to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Violence against women and girls is a crisis of our time and one that we must not allow to continue.

Thank you, President.

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