Remarks by Matilda Dimovska, Resident Representative, UNDP Mongolia

Sain bainu | Hello 

Mr. Zayabal, Commissioner of Mongolian Tax Administration, ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for joining us for the launch of Gender Equality Seal in Mongolia. 

This week in within the UN GA in NY a High-Level Forum on Sustainable Development took place and resulted with Political Declaration. I will read the article 14 of it: 

We reaffirm that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls will make a crucial contribution to progress across all the Goals and targets. The achievement of full human potential and sustainable development is not possible if one half of humanity continues to be denied full human rights and opportunities. We will ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all women and girls, without discrimination. We also resolve to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. 

This event we take today is about the implementation of this strong commitment and call of leaders. It also takes leadership to do that, and I we are much pleased to have such leadership in Mongolia and its Tax Administration. It is a great example of leadership and collective action, needed to accelerate the SDGs progress in Mongolia. 

Undoubtedly Mongolia is making a steady progress on improving gender equality, but the way for making it reality is still ahead. 

This initiative is not only very timely, but it is more than just a project. 

It is a voluntary commitment to enhance gender equality and empower women within the Tax Authority. 

This is the so-called Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions - UNDP’s flagship programme. It was launched in 2021 and rolled out in 19 countries, with more than 83 public institutions. 

The Seal is a journey to enhance institutional capacity to make measurable progress against internationally recognized standards to address and incorporate men and women’s concern in all aspects of its work. Upon completion of the programme, a participating institution will be recognized with a gold, silver, or bronze seal demonstrating its progress towards Gender Equality. 

Or simply said - it is a step forward to build strong public institutions where gender equality is a reality. We do hope that many other institutions will follow the suit of the Tax Authority! 

This initiative that we launch today goes one step further by the readiness of the Tax Authority to look into the tax system and explore ways for stronger alignment of the fiscal policies with gender equality commitments. 

UNDP’s EQUANOMICS initiative which we also launch today aims to make fiscal policies work for gender equality and mobilize financing for SDG 5 through tax administrations and fiscal governance. Basically, to create a more inclusive and gender-responsive tax system. 

Mongolia is one of the 8 countries that are part of this initiative. 

We are pleased to see interest from key public institutions in Mongolia to advance gender equality. We do hope to see many more joining, and that the methodology of the Seal being fully internalized by the Mongolian public and private sectors. 

UNDP is committed to supporting such a process because only then, we can build an inclusive and equal society where man and woman, girl and boy enjoy their rights equally, participate in the decision-making equally, and no one is left behind. 

Bay-ral-laa | Thank you