Trip to New York and Washington

Minister for Justice points out good health of judicial cooperation between Spain and US at meeting with US Attorney General

2019.7.10

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After the meeting, Dolores Delgado highlighted the "good health" of judicial cooperation between Spain and the United States within the framework of the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, the persecution of organised crime and asset laundering.

While in Washington, Dolores Delgado also took part in a round table discussion on female leadership alongside the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women of the Organisation of American States, Carmen Moreno, with whom she attended a Q&A session moderated by the 'La Vanguardia' correspondent in the US capital, Beatriz Navarro.

Dolores Delgado referred to Spain as a leading country in terms of gender and political rights, where female leadership is assuming increasing weight. The majority presence of women in the Council of Ministers and the steady increase in the number of female Members of the Lower House of Parliament (up to 47.4% in this legislature, the highest percentage in the history of this institution) are figures that show women are becoming a strong force in Spain's political life. Nonetheless, the Spanish minister said that all areas of decision-making need to be affected in order "to change policy, the economy and society".

Dolores Delgado regretted that only 23.7% of the boards of directors of Ibex 35 companies are women, compared to the 76.3% of such positions held by men, saying that this detracts from the positive impact claimed by data from the International Labour Organisation that women in positions of responsibility have on increased profits and greater creativity, innovation and corporate reputation.

The Spanish minister defended the female leadership model because "the mere presence of women transforms the institutions they form part of", ensuring a gender perspective in processes, practices and the distribution of power throughout society.

Dolores Delgado called for the barriers that still exist preventing the professional development of many women to be broken down and for efforts to continue on promoting laws and public policies capable of providing "the necessary momentum" for moving towards real and effective equality between men and women. In this regard, she highlighted the commitment maintained by the government led by Pedro Sánchez to gender equality by making it a priority objective in the consolidation of full democracy.

The Spanish minister, who has described herself as a "human rights and equality activist", said that working to make this a reality is something that "concerns society as a whole" and called for the other 50% of the population to accompany women in the pursuit of their rights.

Her participation in this debate on women and leadership concludes the Minister for Justice's visit to Washington and her trip to the United States, which began on Monday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York with her speech at a seminar on justice and security under the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

Non official translation