Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at Beijing+20 Opening Reception

March 11, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Well, my friends, this is the place to be in New York City tonight.

[Cheers]

Any event that has Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ellen Jonson Sirleaf and Melinda Gates all in the same room – something’s happening here, don’t you think?

[Cheers]

What’s happening is the beginning of an effort that will lead us to 2030 and will lead us to profound change all over this world. It will happen if we hold that standard high, if we take it seriously, if we are uncompromising about the fact that we can’t turn back. Women’s rights are human rights, period. 2030 is plenty of time.

[Applause]

The leaders here this evening who are galvanizing the efforts of the United Nations to make sure that we are on a 15-year path to equality – well, nothing says how serious it is, how focused it is more than the presence of the Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and his wife, Ms. Ban Soon-taek. Let’s thank them for their leadership.

[Applause]

And you will hear from the executive director of UN Women, who’s an extraordinary leader, who’s going to be integral to this effort – let’s salute Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

[Applause]

So I’m going to be very quick – I’m going to offer a simple idea. A simple idea – if a majority of our society is made up of women, then a majority of our leadership should be made up of women.

[Applause]

I am proud to say that the city of New York, the largest city in the United States of America – some call us the capital of the world – that, because of our values and because of the strong leadership of our First Lady Chirlane McCray, I’m proud to report to you that of the senior leaders of this administration in New York City, 53 percent are women.

[Applause]

And we’re moving the kind of agenda we need all around the world – education for all of our girls, full-day pre-k for every single girl in New York City – the kinds of things families need – extended school-day hours, paid sick leave so families don’t lose pay because they had a sickness in the family.

We have to support women and girls in every way – economics, education – every way there is. And we will be judged in the next 15 years by whether we put together an actual program to achieve real and meaningful economy. It starts now – real and meaningful equality, excuse me. It starts now. It starts in New York City. It starts at the UN. You are present at the creation of something great.

Give all your spirit and energy today and for these years ahead, because 50/50 is just plain fair, and we’re going to get there in 2030.

God bless you and thank you, everyone.