NATIONAL STATEMENT – UN WOMEN STRATEGIC PLAN (2026-2029)
Agenda Item 2 | Executive Board of UN Women | Second Regular Session
Statement by H.E. Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
9 September 2025
Thank you, Mr President,
Australia welcomes the UN Women Strategic Plan 2026–2029. It comes at a pivotal moment in our shared journey toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and we look forward to supporting its endorsement together with the members of the Executive Board.
With just four years remaining to deliver Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, the urgency to accelerate progress on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls has never been greater.
We believe in the enduring importance of UN Women’s triple mandate - its normative role, its coordination across the UN system, and its programming work on the ground. This combination is essential to driving systemic change and delivering real, tangible outcomes for women and girls everywhere.
We commend the Strategic Plan for reaffirming the foundational commitments that continue to guide us, including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and Security Council resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security. These commitments remain as relevant today as they were when first adopted.
Australia acknowledges UN Women’s leadership in strengthening global norms and standards, increasing women’s leadership and political participation, enhancing their economic empowerment, and ending violence against women.
Australia strongly supports continued investment in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in the Pacific. UN Women’s work in strengthening resilience to disasters, reducing discrimination, and supporting survivors of violence has made a meaningful difference, and we want to see that continue.
Given the uncertainty facing the multilateral system, we encourage UN Women to remain agile and flexible - ready to respond to structural and financial challenges while delivering on its core mandate.
Continued implementation of agreed reforms will be essential, to deliver on the promise of UN development system reform and the current UN80 process. Member states need transparent information to understand how UN Women is targeting its effort towards efficiencies while maintaining core focus.
Australia is proud to stand alongside UN Women. We reaffirm our support for its vital work and its ambitious vision for the future. Together, we can deliver on the promise of gender equality, empowerment, and rights for all women and girls.
Thank you.