The Paris Peace Forum: The Sustainable Development Goals will not be achieved without women’s social and economic empowerment

The forum participants focused on finding models of cooperation and solutions for a fairer world order that respect international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter while responding effectively to current international challenges. 

The forum takes place less than a week after the US presidential elections, just before the G20 Summit in Rio and the COP conference in Baku, providing additional impetus for addressing the future of multilateralism and key economic and development issues. 

The President participated in discussions on key global challenges such as equitable financial support for the climate transition, reducing inequalities and reforming international organisations, i.e. the UN and the UN system. She stressed the importance of reforming global governance and the need to increase public funding to fight poverty and protect the planet. She also stressed the importance of initiatives such as the Paris Pact for People and the Planet (4P), which seeks to tackle poverty and protect the environment at the same time. "I always say that the world will only be a truly prosperous place once everyone on the planet can live a decent life," she said, which is why she believes we need initiatives that will direct funding to where it is most needed – not as a form of one-off aid, but as an investment.

The President placed particular emphasis on the role of women's economic empowerment in tackling global inequalities and promoting sustainable development. She highlighted the huge economic potential of closing the gender gap, which according to some estimates could contribute USD 7 billion to the global economy. She stressed that, without women's empowerment, we will not be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, she also stressed the importance of increasing women’s representation in leadership positions, which Slovenia actively supported with a declaration at the UN General Assembly, which has already been signed by 81 Member States. The President stated that it was high time for concrete steps and the real empowerment of women at the global level. 

She also took part in a round table on the reform of the UN and exchanged views with other leaders and experts on the future of multilateralism. Again, she stressed the need to reform the Security Council as soon as possible. She believes that a thorough debate should be held on the use of the veto and that the number of Security Council members should be increased to better reflect all continents, which would strengthen the legitimacy and functioning of the organisation. In particular, she stressed that the time had finally come for the first woman to become the UN Secretary-General. The President believes this is urgent, as women make up half of the world's population and still face inequality, exclusion and violence. During the discussion on the significance of the successfully concluded Summit for the Future, the President stressed that Slovenia is, has been and will remain committed to international solidarity, women's empowerment and the need for reforms in global governance. The UN has a future, because it is only in this context that countries, in cooperation with governmental and non-governmental partners, can work towards a more just, sustainable and peaceful world.

On the margins of the forum, the President also met with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and the President of the Paris Peace Forum, José Ángel Gurría, former Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).