President Petr Pavel delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

Madame President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thirty years ago, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set out a bold vision: that women and men should finally stand equal in rights, opportunities, and dignity. Czechia proudly reaffirms its commitment to this vision.

It is rooted deeply in our history: Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first President of Czechoslovakia, believed democracy could not exist without women’s full participation. Thanks to him and the tireless efforts of pioneering activist Františka Plamínková, in 1920, Czechoslovakia became one of the first countries where women could vote.

Building on this legacy, we have recently taken tangible steps: We redefined the crime of rape to better protect victims – a reform achieved with a broad political support.We adopted a stronger definition of domestic violence in civil code and are expanding childcare to support women’s economic participation. Abroad, we support education for refugee girls in northern Iraq as well as care for Ukrainian women and girls, including survivors of sexual violence.

I would especially like to acknowledge that without the dedication and expertise of non-governmental organisations, those initiatives would not have happened.

Yet, significant challenges persist. Around the world, global crises – from climate change to armed conflicts such as Russia’s war against Ukraine or conflict in the Middle East – disproportionately affect women and girls and increase risk of sexual and gender-based violence.

Our responses must be comprehensive. Equality cannot be achieved by women alone. The active engagement of men and boys – as family members, partners, leaders, and allies – is indispensable.

Only then can we create the conditions for women everywhere to fulfil their potential and have the power to make our world a better place.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Gender equality is not a women’s issue. It is a matter of democracy, justice, and prosperity. On this thirtieth anniversary of Beijing, let us renew our commitments and act with courage. Czechia stands ready to continue working on a safer, fairer, and truly equal world for generations to come.

Thank you.

President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, New York, 22 September 2025