Statement by the Republic of Latvia at at UN-Women Executive Board First Regular Session 2025, 10-11 February 2025
New York, 10 February 2025
Ms. President,
Let me extend my congratulations to You and the new Bureau members. Your leadership comes at a pivotal moment, and Latvia looks forward to supporting work of the Board. I also want to express my deep appreciation for UN-Women and Executive Director Sima Bahous. Your tireless work continues to transform lives.
2025 is a defining year for gender equality—30 years since the Beijing Declaration, 25 years since Security Council Resolution 1325, and 15 years since UN-Women’s creation. These milestones highlight commitments made but also remind us of the unfinished work.
Today, I want to focus on why investing in gender equality is not just the right thing to do, but it is the smartest economic and security strategy available to us.
First of all, we all want our economies to grow and our communities to prosper. Studies show that if women were to participate on equal footing in the global economy, trillions could be added to global GDP.
Education has been a key driver in unlocking women’s economic potential in Latvia. Women make up 65% of our university graduates and over 50% of our scientists, driving innovation and growth.
Globally, gaps in digital access and skills are preventing many women from thriving in fields like artificial intelligence and data science that will define tomorrow’s economy. Latvia has seen firsthand how investing in digital literacy can change this. Initiatives like Riga TechGirls in Latvia, Cameroon, South Africa, Uzbekistan, Fiji and elsewhere are equiping women with tools to shape the future.
Every investment in closing the digital gender gap brings exponential returns—not just in economic growth, but in strengthening democratic participation and resilience.
Secondly, gender equality is also a security imperative. Peace agreements that involve women last longer by 35%. Countries with greater gender equality are less likely to experience conflict. And when women are empowered, radicalization and extremism decline.
As a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2026-2027, we will advocate for a gender-responsive approach to peace and security.
To conclude, I want to highlight that UN-Women is one of the most effective UN agencies, and its ability to deliver tangible results is critical to global progress. In order to maximize impact, we must continue strengthening interagency cooperation to avoid duplication, ensuring that resources go where they are needed most. We must also reinforce financial sustainability so that investments in gender equality are long-term and transformative. And you have Latvia, a consistent partner, and we will also continue our financial contributions.
This session will provide an important opportunity to review UN-Women’s financial accountability, governance structures, and organizational culture, ensuring that our collective efforts strengthen transparency, effectiveness, and inclusivity.
Thank you!