On Occasion of the Day to Combat Violence Against Women

Tuesday, 25.11.2025, 19:52 / SEISUKOHAD / RSS

(MFA of Estonia 25.11.2025)

Excellencies,

Thank you all for being here today.

When I first decided to run for the CEDAW Committee in 2022, my motivation was simple: legal guarantees alone are not enough. Even when laws exist, too many women still face discrimination in their daily lives. I wanted to help close this gap between rights on paper and rights in practice.

CEDAW offered a platform where I could bring together my national and international experience – from the Estonian Parliament, the European Parliament, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and journalism – to turn commitments into concrete progress.

I believed then, and I believe now, that strong advocacy, clear communication, and practical mechanisms are essential to make women’s rights a reality.

Today, I am running for re-election because this work is not finished. The CEDAW is facing complex financial and political challenges. At such a moment, continuity and experience matters. As Vice-Chairperson, I have been leading the CEDAWs global outreach on women’s economic rights. This is work in progress, and I am committed to continue doing it.

My main focus remains women’s economic independence. Around the world, too many women still earn less, own less, and have lees control over their lives.

Closing the gender pay gap is especially close to my heart. In Estonia, I was the first politician to speak publicly about the structural causes of the gap. Thanks to long-term advocacy, we have managed to reduce the gender pay gap by 10% over the past decade. It is a real step forward, although not enough. But I am eager to share this experience globally.

Beyond economic rights, I have several broader priorities in the Committee. We need stronger outreach and visibility so that the CEDAW’s messages reach policymakers and the general public. We need to expand co-operation with the civil society and young people, whose voices are essential. We need to keep improving how the Committee works, so our recommendations are useful and practical. And we must deepen cooperation across regions, learning from good practices from all countries, including yours, for advancing women’s rights.

Excellencies,

I believe in the CEDAW’s mission. And I bring political and advocacy experience to achieve measurable change.

With your support, I will continue working to strengthen the CEDAW’s role and to ensure that every woman, everywhere, can enjoy her rights fully and equally.

Thank you very much.