New York, 6 October 2026

Mr. Chair,

In his recent Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV noted that we cannot “simply state that men and women have equal dignity and rights; it is necessary that this be reflected in concrete decisions, such as laws, access to employment, education, social and political responsibilities, and the way society listens to and values women’s contributions. As long as this gap persists, we cannot say that society truly and fully recognizes that women have the same dignity as men”.[1]

While women and men have equal dignity, equality does not mean sameness. In fact, equity cannot be achieved without recognizing the unique characteristics of each sex. True equality requires creative and mutually enriching collaboration between men and women at all levels.

In this perspective, women should have equal opportunities in all spheres of life without being compelled to renounce either their family life or professional aspirations. Capacities should always be valued and never be a reason for discrimination. This is particularly true for women, who continue to face daily obstacles in fully pursuing motherhood and their professional lives. Ironically “we are not infrequently faced with the contradictory claims of purportedly family-friendly policies, which simultaneously promote discrimination against motherhood, exalt abortion as a right, and undermine the very foundation of the desire to start a family.”[2]

Mr. Chair,

Equality for women cannot be achieved as long as violence against women remains widespread. The majority of trafficking victims are women and girls who experience violence, exploitation, and objectification, which violates their God-given human dignity. Furthermore, medical and technological advances have enabled new forms of exploitation and abuse, such as surrogacy. The Holy See reiterates its condemnation of “transforming gestation into a negotiable service, this violates the dignity both of the child, who is reduced to a ‘product,’ and of the mother, exploiting her body and the generative process, and distorting the original relational calling of the family.”[3]

Mr. Chair,

In the face of these challenges, the Holy See hopes that the recognition of equal dignity and rights for men and women will serve as a guiding principle for all multilateral commitments and form the foundation of a just and human-centered society.

Thank you.

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[1] Pope Leo XIV, Encyclical Letter, Magnifica Humanitas, 57.

[2] Pope Leo XIV, Address to members of the Demography Intergroup of the European Parliament, 25 May 2026.

[3] Pope Leo XIV, Address to the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See, 9 January 2026.