Statement by H.E. Ms. Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir,
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland
First Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy
during the High-level week of the 80th Session of the General Assembly
24 September, 2025

President, excellencies, 

This first Biennial Summit comes at a crucial moment to sustain the momentum following a successful FfD4 in Sevilla. We must harness this energy to restore a sense of progress and optimism — for the SDGs and beyond. 

Building on the Pact for the Future, we must work together to purposefully shape a more inclusive multilateral system. The UN80 reform process offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do just that. 

Regardless of which country we represent, there is a shared public expectation that the multilateral system should deliver better outcomes, more efficiently. Too often, it is perceived as having fallen short. 

Alongside institutional reform and more inclusive representation, I would like to highlight one key enabler of progress on the SDGs: respect for human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment. These were fundamental to Iceland’s own social and economic development. 

As we strive to reform multilateral institutions, we must ensure they are equipped to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. This includes achieving gender parity within the institutions themselves, especially in leadership roles.  

Ultimately, advancing gender equality requires strong political will and dedicated financing. We must work together to promote both. 

Excellencies, 

The challenges we face are global in nature. When we fail to address them, the consequences - instability, inequality, or disarray - are felt by all. But the impacts are not equally shared. Those most marginalized suffer the most, and their voices must therefore be amplified. 

The many multilateral processes we are connecting here today establish a path forward guided by a clear and urgent call to action: the Compromiso de Sevilla. 

Politics is the art of the possible, and we must all believe that a brighter future within reach. 

Now is the time for all of us heed the call and deliver on our commitments.  

Thank you.