Speaking during the session, H.E. Maurizio Massari, President of the assembly and permanent secretary from Italy to the United Nations, said, “Women and girls cannot wait 68 years for child marriage to become history.”

His words painstakingly underscored the slow progress since the Beijing Declaration, which set ambitious goals for empowering women and dismantling systemic barriers. Despite decades of advocacy, challenges like poverty and discrimination continue to undermine these rights.

Accordingly, Sima Bahous, the Executive Director for UN Women, said, “We want to place young people, feminists, girls, and young women at the centre of development. Let history judge us not by our promises but  by the rights fulfilled for women and girls .” She advocated for progress towards gender equality.

Maka Chikowero, founder and president of MTC Educate A Girl, decried, “Systemic poverty among  women contributes to  school dropouts.” Chikowero underscored that “Child marriage remains a challenge.” She decried that “Lack of access and the digital divide make it a challenge for women, especially those in the rural areas.”

Accordingly, Imali Ngusale, the Lead Strategist at the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) said that there needs to be intentional funding for the Global South. Ngusale emphasized that the intentionality of gender equality must put in place mechanisms that attempt to help women in the global south.

“We must move beyond rhetoric and embrace change that will help us achieve what we have been documenting for the last 30 years,” added Ngusale while submitting the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) position on gender justice.’

Women, particularly those in arid and semi-arid areas, bear the greatest burden. With fewer resources and less access to decision-making spaces, they are more vulnerable to climate shocks. Meanwhile, those with power and wealth are often the first to benefit from emerging opportunities in a low-carbon economy.

Despite these challenges, the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) has launched a bold initiative called Resisting Exploitation, Claiming Liberation and Justice for Women (RECLAIM). The initiative is focused on empowering women to lead the charge for change and shape a more secure, just, and sustainable future.

Notably, climate change has increased gender-based violence in Kenya including Tharaka Nthi County, which, faces a significant challenge with high rates of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), particularly violence against women and girls.The county has been identified as a hotspot for GBV, with studies revealing high incidences of hitting, beating, and even killings.

It is against this backdrop that the the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) puts Tharka Nithi women first so that they can be empowered to make a difference while also safeguarding their future and well- being.

It is clear that climate change is felt globally, however, the burden is not shared equally. Women, often with the fewest resources, continue to be disproportionately affected. Yet, when given the opportunity to contribute to climate mitigation, they leave nothing to chance and are better equipped to address sexual and gender-based violence, which is often amplified by climate change. Whether the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) will achieve lasting transformation remains to be seen but what is certain is that with women at the forefront, meaningful change is not only possible, it is inevitable.