Eritrea’s General Statement During the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women delivered by Ms. Takea Tesfamichael, President of the National Union of Eritrean Women
New York, Thursday 13th March 2025
Madam Chair,
Beijing Declaration remains one of the most pivotal global commitments not only in advancing the rights of women and girls but also in fostering advanced and inclusive societies.
While undeniable progress has been made since Beijing, we are far from fulfilling its bold aspirations and data indicating we are over a hundred years away from achieving gender equality is a sobering reality that demands urgent action.
Madam Chair, allow me to offer a few reflections.
First, Reminiscent of the colonial era, global economic structures remain unjust, exploitative, and extractive, enriching a select few in the Global North while impoverishing the poorest nations. Nowhere is this more evident than in the ongoing debt crisis, where African countries pay borrowing costs of up to eight times higher than wealthy economies. The diversion of vital resources away from funding education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for women and girls, is no doubt impacting effort to promote gender equality.
Second, conflicts are reversing gender equality gains. Across Africa, conflicts, often driven by external interference, have devastated economies, fractured communities, and left women and children bearing the heaviest burdens. Without genuine global cooperation to prevent and end conflicts, the achievement of gender equality will be a distant dream.
Third, we are witnessing women’s rights selectively weaponized to justify punitive measures against certain governments, while the situation of other women, including those suffering from conflicts, have often escaped the level of outrage needed to drive political solutions.
This double standard exposes a deep hypocrisy in the global system, where the suffering of women is only acknowledged when it aligns with the geopolitical interests of powerful actors. No matter the identity of the perpetrators, the race, creed, or location of the victims, or the political considerations at play, women’s rights must garner equal global consideration.
Madam Chair,
In Eritrea, the struggle for gender equality was born within the national liberation struggle for independence. It was not granted or negotiated; it was achieved through sacrifice and determination. Eritrean women stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, not only as supporters but as fighters and leaders. Their participation was not symbolic, it was fundamental to the success of the liberation movement. In doing so, they shattered deeply entrenched patriarchal norms. Their rights are embedded in the very fabric of the nation’s society.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was one of Eritrea’s first major international commitments after gaining independence in 1993. Despite limited resources and persistent hostilities, Eritrea has steadily advanced toward fulfilling these commitments.
Since the Beijing Declaration, Eritrea has made significant strides in advancing women’s rights and participation across all sectors. Legal reforms have ensured equal rights in marriage, employment, and property ownership, allowing women to inherit, own land, and make independent economic decisions.
Education initiatives have resulted in parity with particular focus in rural areas, while investments in health have led to over 70% reduction in maternal mortality. Women play a vital role in the economy, actively engaging in small businesses, agriculture, and trade, supported by microfinance and skills training programs. Politically, Eritrean women hold key leadership positions at national and local levels, ensuring their voices shape policies and national development.
Despite these achievements, we are not complacent. We remain vigilant and committed to continuous improvement, determined to achieve the progress we aspire to and that Eritrean women rightfully deserve.
I thank you.