The UN Commission on the Status of Women is the world’s largest and most important conference on women’s rights. It was the initiator of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) – one of the most ratified international conventions in history. This is proof of the enormous importance and significance of this commission’s activities.

Unfortunately, today its role is even more crucial. Why? Because all over the world we are seeing growing support for right-wing forces that seek to limit and even take away the rights that we, women, have been fighting for for decades. Rights that seemed inalienable.

That is why I am glad that the European Union will be strongly represented in this global arena. I am particularly pleased that it is the Polish presidency that will lead the European Union delegation. Poland can become a symbol of the fact that populism and the far right can not only be fought, but also effectively won.

From here I would like to address my colleagues from the Polish government: take seriously the recommendations of the European Parliament regarding the Union’s priorities for this Commission. So far, no presidency has recognized the Parliament as a partner in negotiations in this arena. What’s more, the Parliament has never even had access to a document defining the Union’s priorities. I have great and sincere hope that this time it will be different. I am counting on you!