11 March 2025, New York, USA — In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and in alignment with the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)  office in New York, together with the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco, co-hosted a side event titled “Empowering Girls & Women: 30 Years Promoting Equality.”

H.E. Ms. Daphné Le Son, Deputy Permanent Representative of Monaco to the UN
UNITAR

Held at the Permanent Mission of Monaco, the event convened diplomats, UN officials, and civil society leaders to reflect on three decades of progress in promoting the rights of women and girls and identify strategies for accelerating future action.

Opening the event, H.E. Ms. Daphné Le Son, Deputy Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations, underscored the principality’s long-standing commitment to gender equality and acknowledged the vital role of UNITAR in building capacities that empower women worldwide.

Jayathma Wickramanayake, Senior Policy Advisor at UN Women
UNITAR

Key insights were delivered by Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, Senior Policy Advisor at UN Women, who highlighted the importance of closing the digital divide, addressing poverty, and transforming social and economic systems to create inclusive opportunities for women and girls. Her remarks paid tribute to the legacy of the Beijing Platform for Action while calling attention to the urgent need for multilateral cooperation to meet its full promise.

Mrs. Macarena Cotelo, Director of Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Programmes, FPS
UNITAR

Mrs. Macarena Cotelo, Director of Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Programmes at the Foundation for Social Promotion (FPS), shared compelling case studies from Guatemala, Ethiopia, India, and Jordan. Her presentation demonstrated how the FPS’s locally rooted, partnership-based approach has led to meaningful changes in the lives of countless women over the past three decades.

“Empowering Girls & Women: 30 Years Promoting Equality” reaffirmed the shared commitment of Monaco, UNITAR, and global partners to advancing gender equality and called for renewed momentum as the world continues to strive toward the goals of inclusive leadership, equal opportunity, and sustainable development for all.

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