Jill Biden Speaks to Human Rights at UN Summit
Jill Biden Speaks to Human Rights at UN Summit
The first lady Monday spoke to the human suffering from the Russian-led Ukrainian War, LGBTQI rights and eradicating lead poisoning in three speeches.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden Monday reaffirmed the White House’s support to Ukraine in a gathering of worldwide first ladies and gentlemen convened by Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska at the United Nations General Assembly’s Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in New York City.
It was one of three speaking stops at the summit for Dr. Biden.
Held on the margins of the Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the session entitled “Securing the Future for Children: Addressing New Challenges for Soft Power” was co-hosted by the first ladies of Ukraine and Estonia, along with Belize, Finland, Lithuania, Malawi, Guatemala, Suriname, and UNICEF.
“Since the beginning of the brutal Russian invasion, the annual event has become a platform for preparation and mutual assistance,” Zelenska said, noting, “The future of our children is something we all care about, regardless of the country.”
Zelenska then discussed the “impact of military conflicts on children, their abductions, injuries and deaths that resulted from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But this oppression affects not only Ukraine, not only Ukrainian children, but this aggression affects every fourth child in the 15 countries ... directly affected by the war.”
Dr. Biden, who spoke after Mrs. Zelenska, last met with Mrs. Zelenska in July 2024 as part of the 2024 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Washington, D.C. Then, Biden hosted two spousal program events with Mrs. Zelenska in attendance at both.
“The past several years have been a painful reminder that when children are in danger anywhere in the world, they are more vulnerable everywhere,” Biden said.
She told Mrs. Zelenska that “amid such suffering at home, it would have really just been enough for you to just speak out for the people of Ukraine, but you chose to look beyond your borders, calling on world leaders to see our shared challenges with new clarity and fullness. We're here to offer our continued love and continuing support. We stand with Ukraine today and for all the future."
The two first met during a surprise visit on Mother’s Day of May 2022 when Dr. Biden traveled to western Ukraine to visit Mrs. Zelenska and Ukrainian mothers and children who fled their homes due to Russia’s aggression, according to the White House. The visit was part of Dr. Biden’s trip to Eastern Europe to visit Ukrainian refugees and local aid workers in Slovakia and Romania.
Held on the margins of the Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform addressed the global issue of securing a safer and brighter future for children.
Funding a lead-free future
At an earlier session, Biden advocated for a lead-free future and the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future, which aims to unite governments, organizations, and stakeholders in a concerted effort to end childhood lead poisoning. The first lady announced a new partnership being launched by
between UNICEF and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which are convening public and private partners to launch the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future. The initiative, led by USAID Administrator Samantha Power and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, will help address the scourge of lead poisoning in children in low-and-middle income countries, where over 90 per cent of the global harm from lead occurs, according to UNICEF.
Dr. Biden announced at the gathering more than $150 million intended to jump start efforts to end childhood lead exposure in developing countries.
“This funding is 10 times more than what’s been spent annually on this problem to date,” Biden said.
Lead exposure has detrimental and widespread effects. One in two children in low- and middle-income countries has blood lead levels of significant concern, due to exposure from consumer goods (such as paint, spices, cookware, and toys) and from industrial contamination (such as substandard battery recycling practices), according to UNICEF.
First Lady recommits to LGBTQI rights
Dr. Biden started her day at the UNGA by reaffirming the White House’s support for the LGBTQI community at the LGBTQI Core Group’s “Leaving No One Behind: An Inclusive Future for All” session.
The gathering gave senior government officials and civil society representatives the opportunity to recommit to protecting LGBTQI persons around the world, spotlighting challenges and highlighting achievements.
The first lady told about 100 people gathered that “our humanity … guarantees us certain rights” regardless of who you are, your birthplace or your parents. All humans deserve safety, freedom, love and a future, the first lady said.
“And that should be true for LGBTQI people,” Biden said.
In 2023, the first lady went on, the Human Rights Campaign declared a “state of emergency” for LGBTQI people in America, because states across our country passed an unprecedented number of discriminatory laws. In more than 60 countries around the world LGBTQI people are criminalized for who they are, she added.
“But we are not going to stand for hate, discrimination and violence in our own country,” Biden said. “We won’t stand for it anywhere in the world.”
“By gathering her today, we are saying loud and clear: you are enough,” Biden said. “And this community is never alone.”
In recent years more countries have legalized same-sex relationships and recognized marriage equality, moments that would have been “unimaginable just a few decades ago,” Biden said.
The change took tens of thousands of people fighting for decades to have their humanity recognized,” Biden said. “It takes people–just like the ones in this room–speaking with one voice and declaring what is right.”