Kaljulaid is co-chair of the steering committee for the United Nations' Every Woman Every Child (EWEC) strategy and made her remarks during a presentation of the group's 10-year progress report.

She said while the organization has been a success in many ways, humanitarian crises, conflicts, climate change, the coronavirus pandemic and other global diseases continue to be a barrier to equality.

"[the pandemic] Is an unprecedented threat, which has already disrupted routine childhood vaccinations, kept children out of school, reduced access to sexual and reproductive services, increased rates of gender-based violence, and more," she said.

EWEC is a global movement which addresses the major health challenges facing women, children and adolescents around the world.

Its recent report covered 10 years of activity, during which time the EWEC said it contributed to declines in child and maternal mortality, child marriages, and the barring of girls from schools, Kaljulaid said.

More national-level policymaking, global solidarity and cooperation are necessary to get out of the current rut, she added, and this can be achieved by using new tech.

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