Economic and Social Council
Commission on the Status of Women, 70th Session
Statement by H.E. Jeem S. Lippwe, Permanent Represenative
New York, 17 March 2026
Chair,
Micronesia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Small Island Developing States. I am honored to deliver this statement in my national capacity.
Chair,
Micronesia is pleased to participate in this seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women and to reaffirm our enduring commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Around the world, women continue to face challenges such as poverty, inequality, online abuse, and the growing impacts of climate change. Barriers to justice persist in many contexts. In the digital era, cybersecurity has also emerged as a critical frontier for gender equality, where women and girls must be able to participate safely and meaningfully online, free from cyber-violence, and with strengthened access to digital justice and remedies.
Micronesia therefore welcomes CSW70’s focus on women’s rights, gender equality, and access to justice, which is fully consistent with our national priorities under the Beijing Platform for Action, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and our Strategic Development Plan.
Last October, during the 10th Micronesia Women’s Conference held in the State of Chuuk, we launched our Federated States of Micronesia Gender Policy 2025–2030. This new framework promotes gender mainstreaming across all sectors, strengthens institutions to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, and advances women’s economic empowerment and leadership.
In advancing these goals, Micronesia recognizes that transformative change requires the full engagement of all members of society. The meaningful participation and support of men and boys as partners and allies is indispensable to dismantling harmful stereotypes and power imbalances, just as women and girls must be able to contribute fully to building more just, peaceful, and resilient communities for all.
Our Department of Health and Social Affairs leads the implementation of these commitments, in close collaboration with other national stakeholders and with the support of international partners providing technical and financial cooperation. These national efforts directly contribute to the priorities of CSW70 and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 5 and 16 on gender equality and access to justice.
At the subregional level, Micronesia continues to advance collective gender initiatives through the Micronesia Gender Equality Framework, endorsed by Micronesian Leaders and launched in the Republic of the Marshall Islands in 2025. This regional platform aims to end gender-based violence and to strengthen women’s leadership and economic participation, in line with shared Pacific values and commitments.
Earlier this year, in Geneva, Micronesia presented its fourth-cycle Universal Periodic Review report to the Human Rights Council, highlighting progress in women’s rights, education, and protection from gender-based violence. The Federated States of Micronesia Human Rights Taskforce is now reviewing the recommendations arising from the UPR to guide follow-up action and to further strengthen access to justice for women and girls.
Micronesia remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing the rights and empowerment of all women and girls in all their diversity. We look forward to continued engagement and partnership through this Commission to realize the vision of equality set out in the Beijing Platform for Action, the 2030 Agenda, and our Pacific gender frameworks.
Thank you.
