I am pleased to convene this High-level meeting commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.Let us remember the tragedy that inspired the proclamation of this day.In 1960, the Mirabal sisters were brutally assassinated for their courageous activism and resistance to oppression.They became symbols of the pervasive scourge of violence against women worldwide. This scourge continues to upend the lives of millions of women and girls today.Too often, this violence is rooted in and exacerbated by a deep-seated gender inequality and regressive social attitudes toward women and girls. We must be far more resolute in combating this violence, and act with greater urgency than in the past. Let us use this International Day as an opportunity to exchange best practices, identify critical gaps, and strengthen our commitment to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.The international community has made historic strides in the right direction. In 1979, we adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. 

This was an affirmation that women’s rights are human rights. 

The Convention commits signatories to eliminate discrimination, promote gender equality, and empower women worldwide.The 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action further prioritized ending violence as essential to achieving gender equality.These are milestones that have led to the adoption in several countries of national legislation aimed at empowering women, ending gendered violence, and providing vital support to survivors.Yet today, a lack of adequate enforcement or political will limits the impact of these measures.Women and girls are still being killed and battered because of their gender.Women who play a role in the public sphere, including in politics, still face violence both online and offline, with some attacks proving fatal.Globally, an estimated 736 million women—nearly one in three—have experienced physical or sexual violence, or both, at least once in their lives.This is unacceptable!We must actively promote policies and programmes that address the root causes of violence against women and girls, striving toward true gender equality.We must end discriminatory laws and social norms. We must also implement robust legal frameworks and policies to fully uphold gender equality and women’s rights.Men and boys have an important role in this fight. They are allies who must introspect on what they can do better.  Moreover, they must take proactive steps to change discriminatory attitudes toward women and prevent violence against them.It is our collective responsibility to do so too.In the Pact for the Future, Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, reinforcing their efforts to achieve gender equality,To advance women’s participation in all spheres of life,To fully empower women and girls, And to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence targeting them.I wholeheartedly support the urgent implementation of these commitments. Broadly, I will continue to champion gender equality in the work of the General Assembly, especially as we prepare to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration next year.I will participate in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, beginning today and concluding on Human Rights Day, on 10 December.And I will also reestablish the Advisory Board on Gender Equality to guide our efforts within the work of the General Assembly, and beyond.The thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action will be a crucial opportunity to further integrate these efforts into our pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.Let us use this moment to strengthen our resolve and work together to secure a world free from violence for all women and girls.Thank you.[END]

This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities reminds us that we need the leadership of persons with disabilities more than ever.Persons with disabilities already disproportionately bear the brunt of the crises scarring our world -- from conflicts and climate disasters, to poverty and inequalities -- because of persistent discrimination, stigma and barriers to basic rights and services.But, they are also often denied their right to contribute to solutions to these crises.  Through the recently adopted Pact for the Future, the countries of the world committed to correcting this injustice for persons with disabilities of all ages, for present and future generations.This includes recognizing the essential role of persons with disabilities in shaping the future of digital and assistive technologies -- such as those powered by artificial intelligence -- driving change across communities and advocating for their rightful place in decision-making processes that affect their lives.Next year’s World Summit for Social Development will be a key moment to carry these and other commitments forward.  In every community, persons with disabilities are changemakers and peacemakers.They are also leaders.  On this important day, and every day, let’s work with persons with disabilities to achieve an inclusive and sustainable future for all people.[END]For more information and resources at the following link: https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-persons-with-disabilities 

The Secretary-General welcomes the successful conclusion of the fifth session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, which took place from 18 – 22 November 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.The work of this Conference is critical to building a more peaceful future for all people -- in the Middle East and around the world. The Secretary-General commends the participating States of the Conference, under the Presidency of Mauritania, on their constructive engagement towards the elaboration of a future treaty and their commitment to diplomacy and multilateral solutions at a time of ongoing heightened tensions and the acute humanitarian crisis in the Middle East region.He encourages the participating States to continue working constructively during the intersessional period, and supports their continuing efforts to pursue, in an open and inclusive manner, the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear-Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction. He congratulates Morocco, with best wishes for success, on its endorsement as the President of the sixth session.[END]

Today, young people face critical challenges—mental health, cyber risks, drug use, violence, among others. Responding to this right from the classrooms is “a need of the hour,” educators say. India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 both recognize the need to nurture responsible citizens who can contribute to peace and harmony in an increasingly complex world. But this ambition goes beyond the traditional scope of education—it requires reimagining educational interventions in classrooms, schools, and communities.In the bustling classrooms and vibrant schoolyards across India, there is a powerful movement quietly taking shape—one that champions peace, lawfulness and inclusion through education. At the heart of this movement are not just the policymakers, educators, or institutions, but young people who stand as the most crucial catalysts of change. Bridging theory with practice, UNODC’s RiseUp4Peace educational initiative is focused on engaging and empowering young people to resist negative influences, emerging vulnerabilities and risky behaviors. Emphasising the initiative’s relevance and impact, over 70 policymakers, educators and young champions ideated and charted a roadmap for fostering peace, inclusion, and lawfulness in education--as envisioned in NEP 2020 and NCF 2023—at a RiseUp4Peace policy consultation convened by India’s apex curriculum body, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and UNODC South Asia in New Delhi. Working in mixed groups, policymakers, educators and students exchanged practical insights on curriculum integration, good practices and new ideas, as well as the way forward. Key insights shared by educators emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to education.United Nations India Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp highlighted the immense potential of India’s 265.2 million students as catalysts for change, emphasizing the importance of quality, values-driven education in shaping inclusive and peaceful societies. “Education is the cornerstone for peace, inclusion, and resilience. Together, we must ensure every child thrives in a safe, empowering environment.”Launched this year, the cross-cutting collaborative initiative has engaged over 30,000+ stakeholders across 14 states and UTs through participatory capacity building of educators, co-creation of school-led initiatives, and activity-based learning of students. RiseUp4Peace has spurred innovative interventions blending arts, tech, and sports to empower students, with support of a diverse set of partners: public, private and rural schools, NCERT, DERT Meghalaya, Raipur Police and educator and youth groups. Dr. Amarendra Prasad Behera, Joint Director, NCERT urged educators to actively build capacities and develop values-driven modules to transform education. “NEP 2020 and NCF 2023 envision education as a bridge to a more just and peaceful society. Such collaborations transform vision into action.” UNODC Regional Representative Marco Teixeira underscored the vulnerabilities of youth to drugs, mental health challenges, and risky behaviors, advocating for educational interventions that prioritize integrity, resilience, and lawfulness. UNODC Deputy Representative for South Asia, Dr. Suruchi Pant highlighted that “a whole-of-society approach is essential to empower students and ensure they have the support needed to thrive.”Young people also shared their lived experiences, bringing attention to the importance of providing platforms for mental health awareness, gender equality, inclusion, lawfulness, and cyber safety. Ms. Aarushi Gambhir, a passionate advocate for disability inclusion and RiseUp4Peace champion, emphasized that "classrooms are where disability inclusion must truly begin," further stressing the need for inclusive education from the ground up. Equipped with trainings, tools, monthly activity plans and continuous cross-learning, a growing number of educators are integrating important themes pertaining to SDG16 in classroom programs with RiseUp4Peace. Schools are leading change with creative outputs with street plays, music, art, AI-tools and school-wide projects on anti-bullying, cyber safety, drug use prevention and gender equality. Student-led conversations and advocacy efforts through vlogs, posters, social work and peer-centered activities are responding to emerging realities from classrooms. The result? “Young learners resonating with a critical challenge, identifying solutions and responses, sharpening their own unique skills and developing a sense of empathy, leadership and social responsibility,” said Ms. PK Dhillon, Principal, KNPS Phagwara (Punjab). The consultation reinforced the call for a whole-of-society approach to education, with policymakers, educators and students as equal partners in creating a roadmap to promote transformative education for SDG16. UNODC’s Communications Officer for South Asia, Mr. Samarth Pathak, summarized the impact of the initiative which has spanned across India’s diverse regions. "With RiseUp4Peace, educators and students are not just learning about peace, lawfulness, and inclusion—they are actively working toward it.”For more details, please contact: Mr. Samarth PathakCellphone: +91-9811347927Communications Officer (South Asia)Email: samarth.pathak@un.orgUNODCWebsite: www.unodc.org/southasiaNew Delhi, IndiaX: @UNODC_ROSA/@PathakSamarth