Minister, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for the invitation to be part of the exciting finale of the Hack4Girls event.

Today, more than 30 million women and girls have been forced to leave their homes. War, conflict and crises undermine the lives of everyone, but when family and societal structures break down, women and girls become especially vulnerable - to gender based and sexual violence, sexually transmitted diseases, early and forced marriages, unwanted pregnancies and maternal death.

WHO estimates that 60 pct. of preventable maternal deaths take place in settings of conflict, displacement, and natural disaters.

Today's event addresses a critical – and thankfully, an increasingly recognised humanitarian issue: that in emergency situations the fundamental human rights of women and girls are failing to be protected.

For the adolescent girl who has been raped, for the woman who is about to give birth, or for the girl who has been forced to marry, reproductive health services are as vital as water, food and shelter.

We need to ensure that humanitarian action includes recognition of the needs and vulnerabilities of this majority group and that protection is always at the core of humanitarian action.

Over the last years, I have visited a number of camps for refugees and internally displaced people - from Dadaab in Kenya, to Za'atari in Jordan, Rakhine State in Myanmar and Tierkidi in Ethiopia.

These visits have left an unforgettable impression on me. I cannot be anything but enormously impressed by the courage, skills and ingenuity of the women and girls I have met - even when they are faced with surviving in the most dire circumstances.

In crisis, women and girls are not only victims. They can also be leaders and they constitute an important resource to combat the challenges they are being faced with. 

I have personally witnessed; how women are capable of finding innovative ways to cope, how they assume a role to protect and support their families and how they often continue to play pivotal roles in contributing to their local surroundings. 

Women and girls vulnerability to crisis is not a sign of weakness but, of inequality. Women and girls are powerful. If their needs are met and rights protected; they can become the catalyst of change; from the rubble of a crisis to the development, resilience and stability of their families, communities and nations.

It is my understanding that a hackathon is both a marathon and a sprint. I hope that the eruption of creative energy this past weekend will also translate into a momentum for new partnerships and networks among different sectors - each with specific competencies that collectively can create sustainable impact.

I applaud the organizers behind Hack4Girls for convening partners that may not have thought it obvious to work together previously. We need to break down the silo mentality in global development and champion collaborative approaches and innovative solutions. The collective brainpower gathered this past weekend - and in Papirhallen today - is also a good place to build on the momentum we are witnessing

I wish all the finalist teams the best of luck. It gives me an incredible sense of optimism that you - and all of your fellow "hackers" - have used your talent, time and energy to contribute to solving the global challenges of supporting women and girls in humanitarian settings. This is a challenge we must solve.

I’m excited to hear about the ideas and solutions you have created. We need these game-changing ideas if we are to ensure a world, where all women and girls can define their own destinies - no matter who they are, what they have or where they live.

Thank you.