Statement: UNFPA SEGMENT - Annual Session of the Executive Boards

Statement by H.E. Ms. Anna Johannsdottir
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations
Annual Session of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Boards
UNFPA SEGMENT 
3 June, 2025

Madam Executive Director, Mr./Madame President,

Thank you for giving me the floor.

Let me use this opportunity to extend our gratitude to you, Dr. Kanem, for your dedicated leadership and commitment to implementing the mandate of UNFPA. Under your steady and principled guidance, the organization has remained vital for sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and the wellbeing of women and girls around the world. 

We appreciate the achievements made under your leadership and commend all the UNFPA staff for the strong results they have delivered throughout the current Strategic Plan period, despite very challenging circumstances. 

Madam Executive Director, Iceland fully agrees with your point on UNFPA’s unique mandate and its central role in the sustainable development agenda. UNFPA is one of our key partners and we remain committed to our partnership which is grounded in our Framework Agreement. 

Providing flexible core funding continues to be a priority for Iceland and we are pleased to increase our contribution to UNFPA’s Regular Resources by 40 per cent this year. This highlights our continued commitment to UNFPA and the implementation of its important mandate.

We also recognize and strongly support UNFPA’s vital leadership in advancing sexual and reproductive health and in preventing and responding to gender-based violence in humanitarian settings. In times of crisis, these life-saving services must remain central to humanitarian response efforts. They are essential to safeguarding the rights, health and dignity of those most at risk. 

In closing, let me reiterate our strong support for UNFPA and its essential work. As we approach the transition to a new Strategic Plan, we are fully aligned with the priorities outlined in the Nordic statement and we remain committed to a constructive dialogue and close collaboration throughout the finalization of the new Strategic Plan.  

I thank you.