New york: Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah drew urgent attention to the devastating impact of war and conflict on women and girls, stressing that those enduring the most suffering too often receive the least global attention.
According to Jordan News Agency, speaking at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday, Queen Rania called on the UN to "act decisively" against those who violate international humanitarian law. "Women's rights cannot be filtered through the lens of political expediency," Her Majesty said. She emphasized that every silence sends a message that some women are considered worth defending, while others are not, highlighting the situation in Gaza as particularly concerning.
Her Majesty delivered her remarks at the High-Level Meeting for the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, convened as part of UN General Assembly Week to commemorate the 1995 adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global blueprint to advance women's rights. Acknowledging some progress toward the Beijing Declaration's goals, the Queen expressed pride in seeing many women in Jordan leading meaningful lives. However, she noted a rise in global violence over the past two years, describing it as the "most destructive" challenge to women today.
The Queen highlighted the unique and severe hardships faced by women in warzones, where gendered violence, health risks, exploitation, and assaults on dignity are pervasive. She decried the unequal progress of women worldwide and the gaps in global support, drawing attention to the plight of women in regions like Sudan and among the Rohingya, whose stories often remain untold.
Queen Rania also described the devastating toll of Israel's ongoing assault and siege of the Gaza Strip, sharing harrowing instances of pregnant women undergoing cesarean sections by flashlight without anesthesia and new mothers too malnourished to nurse. She pointed out that the conflict in Gaza has significantly reduced women's life expectancy.
Her Majesty stressed the undeniable "power" of women in conflict zones, noting that their empowerment comes despite global inaction. She concluded by stating that the world is failing generations of women by not addressing those who commit violence with impunity, urging that no one can claim to support women while remaining inactive.
Convened by President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, the high-level meeting focused on "Recommitting to, resourcing, and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action," adopted 30 years ago by 189 governments. The meeting featured statements from UN member states and various UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations.