This week, the Duchess of Edinburgh, in her capacity as Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and Champion of the UN’s Women, Peace, and Security agenda, visited New York to engage in a series of significant events and discussions.
The Duchess of Edinburgh attended the 69th Commission on the Status of Women. (Royal Family)
During the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, the largest global gathering dedicated to gender equality, the Duchess delivered a keynote address at a UN Friends of Vision group meeting titled “No Woman Left Behind – Closing the Gender Gap in Eye Health to Achieve the SDGs.” This event underscored the vital link between eye health and gender equality.
Opening her speech, HRH said, ‘I am here today to stress to you the importance and imperative of eye health, which on the face of it when so much strain is being felt in so many ways may seem a little odd, but I assure you when we get it right with eye health it has incredible life changing, far reaching positive impacts beyond the act of saving or restoring sight, which is why I am passionate about it and why it is so deserving of our action and attention’.
Sophie conducted engagements in New York. (Royal Family)
In her address, the Duchess emphasised the transformative impact of proper eye care, particularly for women and girls. She highlighted that access to eye health services not only enhances educational and career opportunities but also empowers women to fulfil their multifaceted roles within families and communities. She noted, “if women and girls have access to proper eye care, they are not only more likely to secure better educational and career opportunities, they are then more able to juggle the many responsibilities a woman plays in the home, as well as contributing to community life’.
The Duchess also drew attention to the economic implications, stating that addressing refractive errors in children could lead to a more than 50% increase in their lifetime earnings. She celebrated recent successes in eliminating trachoma in countries like Vanuatu and Vietnam but stressed the ongoing gender disparities in eye health, especially among marginalised groups such as nomadic and indigenous communities and women with disabilities. She called for tailored approaches to ensure equitable access to eye care for all.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh (@RoyalFamily) met young advocates at #CSW69, to hear about the challenges girls face due to conflict, climate change, and child marriage.
Let’s push for gender equality and act on these powerful stories! 💪 https://t.co/2byu010HPN pic.twitter.com/lOLwC1OKQt
— Plan International UK (@PlanUK) March 11, 2025
As the newly appointed Patron of Plan International UK, the Duchess met with youth advocates from Lebanon, Ethiopia, Peru, and Jordan. These young leaders shared their experiences of living through conflict and crisis, providing firsthand accounts of the challenges faced by girls in their communities. Plan International works to end violence against women and girls in such settings and raises awareness about the barriers they encounter worldwide.
The Duchess spoke to youth advocates from Lebanon, Ethiopia, Peru, and Jordan. (Royal Family)
Sadeen, aged 21, from Jordan was one of the young individuals who met with Sophie and highlighted the harsh reality of living amid conflict and climate change: “Growing up in a region where conflict feels like the background noise of daily life, I’ve realised how quickly the basics like water, electricity and safety become luxuries. Climate change doesn’t wait for peace – the summers keep getting hotter, the rain comes late or not at all, and the land suffers with us. I’m watching my community stretched to its limits, where surviving conflict is just the beginning, and battling climate collapse is the next fight we didn’t ask for’.
Sadeen added how she has ‘met women who have rebuilt their entire lives in the middle of destruction, planting rooftop gardens and collecting every drop of water like its gold. These are women solving the climate crisis on the frontlines of war, with nothing but determination and whatever resources they can find’.
This week HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh joined @UN’s largest meeting on female empowerment #CSW.
As Global Ambassador of @IAPB1, HRH made a speech about gender equity in eye health and also attended a Security Council meeting on Afghanistan with UK Ambassador @JamesKariuki_UN. pic.twitter.com/ozpEyIA3rx
— UK at the UN 🇬🇧🇺🇳 (@UKUN_NewYork) March 14, 2025
Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK, said: “The power of listening to and elevating the voices of girls and young women affected by crises cannot be understated. This meeting with The Duchess of Edinburgh was an important moment in our ongoing work to push forward gender equality, ensuring that these young women’s stories are not just heard but acted upon.”
The Duchess’s visit to New York aligns with her ongoing dedication to championing the rights of women and girls globally. In October 2024, she visited the Chad-Sudan border to draw attention to the impact of ongoing conflicts on vulnerable populations. Her roles with the IAPB and Plan International UK reflect her commitment to addressing critical issues at the intersection of health, gender equality, and human rights.
The Duchess is committed to championing the rights of girls and women, and visited the Chad-Sudan border in October 2024 to draw attention to people, specifically women and girls, who are impacted by the ongoing conflict. The Duchess’ work in raising awareness around conflict-related sexual violence dates back to 2019, where the then-Countess of Wessex formally expressed her interest in tackling this area during a Women, Peace and Security agenda and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative reception at Buckingham Palace.
