Ensuring equality and creating the conditions so that women can develop their full potential are essential foundations for building a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world, and are indispensable to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, in the past few months, we have borne witness to the disproportionate impact that the pandemic has had on women and girls the world over. We must ensure that this crisis does not lead to a reversal of our rights, and guarantee that women participate under equal conditions in the responses to Covid‐19 and in the decisions made to bring about recovery. Only by mobilizing efforts and through constant and decisive action will we be able to break down gender barriers and achieve full equality. I am proud to be joining this struggle to tear down gender barriers and to make certain that no woman or girl is left behind.