Pedro Sánchez: "Spain is the third world economy closest to closing the gender gap. For the Government, it is an imperative"

Casa de Amércia, Madrid

There were around one hundred participants, including the President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, former President Michele Bachelet, and former ministers such as González Laya, among others.

The President of the Government reiterated the need to count on women's voices to face global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation and the full deployment of Artificial Intelligence, as well as current crises such as the war in Ukraine, caused by the Russian invasion, and the dramatic situation that is currently being experienced in Gaza and the Middle East.

In this context, Pedro Sánchez defended the fact that in terms of gender equality, Spain has been leading by example for years and is currently the third largest economy in the world that is closest to closing the gender gap.

He also stressed that Spain has a feminist government, because Spaniards decided on that, emphasising that it is a government with three female vice-presidents and more women than men. Pedro Sánchez also highlighted the fact that after sixty years the European Investment Bank has a woman at its head: Nadia Calviño.

"At a time when women's rights are regressing in many countries, my government is committed to feminism as the backbone of its political action, and is carrying out intense legislative and executive activity," he stressed.

Spain will contribute €100 million over the next three years to support organisations working for gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights, including UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund.

President Sánchez conveyed the Government of Spain's support for the campaign for gender alternation in the presidency of the UN General Assembly, and the proposal to appoint a female UN Secretary-General for the first time. "Almost 80 years after its creation, there can be no more excuses. The time is now," he stressed.

GWL Voices is an organisation of around seventy women leaders that have held senior positions in national governments or at the UN, who have come together to advocate for a more feminist UN and for a greater presence of women in positions of power.

Non official translation