Discrimination & Gender-Based Violence

Thank you, Mr. President,

Next week, Jews all around the world will celebrate the start of the new year, Rosh Hashanah. This holiday celebrates the beginning of the universe, when also God created man and woman, both in His image. And this notion of gender equality is a principle that guides Judaism and Jewish communities for centuries.

Judaism guarantees the rights of women in marriage and considers them as the head of the family. In the United States, Jewish women are the most educated of any ethnic or religious group. In Israel, women comprise a full half of the officers in the military.

Unfortunately, millions of women around the world still lack basic human rights and face discrimination and gender-based violence. Their voices are underrepresented in politics, business or academia. Even more so, in cases of wars and armed conflicts, women are often subjected to rape, slavery and other forms of abuse. We are inspired by the example of Nadia Murad, the Yazidi human rights activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. She was captured by ISIS, had to suffer untold pain and is now one of the principle voices against sexual violence, mass atrocities and human trafficking.

We would like to ask the members of the panel, how can we turn the spotlight on all the women who suffered in armed conflicts and deserve all of our attention and support?

The World Jewish Congress, the organization representing over 100 Jewish communities across the globe, believes it is high-time for the international community and all governments to prioritize gender parity in all ways of life in their countries. Women can be the drivers of real change in our societies and also work hard to make the world more peaceful and compassionate. We deserve no less.

Thank you, Mr. President.