Danish Crown Princess, PM open ‘Women Deliver’ conference, call boys to fight for gender equality

The largest gathering on girls’ and women’s health and rights has been opened at Copenhagen with both the Danish Crown Princess and the Prime Minister’s call to all to fight for gender equality for a “better and more prosperous world”.

Denmark is known to be the best place in the world to be a woman, and gender equality is the “centrepiece” of its development aid.

“This (gender equality) is not women’s agenda. This is an agenda for humanity that involves all girls, women and boys,” Crown Princess Mary said, as she opened the fourth ‘Women Deliver’ conference on Monday afternoon at the Bella Centre.

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen echoed the Princess and said to ensure the world delivers for women and girls was “a joint responsibility”.

“The fight for equal gender opportunities is not just a woman’s fight. It’s a fight for all of us...women and men. It’s a fight for a better and more prosperous world”.

At least 5,500 people including world leaders, advocates, policymakers, journalists, youths, and civil society of over 160 countries have convened at the three-day meet focusing on health, rights, and the well-being of girls and women.

This is one of the first major global conferences following the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Jan.

Women Deliver says the discussions will focus on how to implement the SDGs so they matter most for girls and women, with a specific focus on health, gender equality, education, environment, and economic empowerment.

The Crown Princess, who is also the patron of the conference, said she felt “saddened” when she learnt that one woman in every minute dies in the world due to childbirth related complications.

She said it “angers” her when she hears that 90 percent maternal and newborn deaths could be prevented with the involvement of skilled birth attendants.

She believed that this conference would serve as a “game-changer”.

The prime minister told women that Denmark was by “your side”. “I am also by your side as a father, husband, human being and the Prime Minister of Denmark”.

He said gender quality was “increasingly” being seen as “a main driver” for sustainable development, rejecting a perception that only growth and prosperity can ensure gender equality.

“I actually think it’s the other way around. I believe equal gender opportunity creates the path towards more growth and prosperity,” he said, “Denmark has proved that.”

He said the present day Denmark, which is one of the most educated, wealthiest, and just societies in the world, was a “direct result” of women getting equal rights.

Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen, replying to a question at the press briefing before the opening of the conference, said Denmark would continue focusing its official development assistance for gender equality.