WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

 

GEAR - UN Gender Equality Architecture Reform

 

Attached is the Report of the UN Secretary-General on a

Comprehensive Proposal for the Composite UN Gender Equality Entity.

_________________________________________________________________

 

GEAR Campaign Response to the Report of the Secretary-General - Comprehensive Proposal for the Composite Gender Equality Entity


Revised February 2010

The Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign, a network comprised of more than 300 women’s, human rights, and social justice groups from around the world urges Member States and the UN Secretariat to move swiftly forward on a resolution that will create the gender equality entity and set up a global transparent process for recruiting the Under secretary General to head it.   In this historic year of celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and of the four world conferences on Women held since 1975, there should be no further delay in moving to implement changes that the United Nations has recognized as critical to fulfilling its mandate in working for gender equality as a critical component of development, human rights, peace, and security.  

The GEAR Campaign has been actively engaged in the process of working to reform the United Nations gender equality architecture over the past four years and in this context, welcomed the September 14, 2009 General Assembly’s decision to support the consolidation of the existing four UN gender equality entities into a composite women’s entity (Resolution 63/311) and its request for a comprehensive proposal outlining key organizational arrangements for the new women’s entity. We are pleased that the Secretary-General has produced this report including detailed organizational recommendations for the new entity, for consideration by Member states during this 64th session of the GA.

The “Comprehensive proposal for the composite gender equality entity” moves the process forward and addresses many of the key issues that are critical for the launch of the new women’s entity.  We support the Secretary-General’s report as a guideline for taking action to set up the entity.  However, it falls short of what is needed on several  important issues related to country level operational capacity, long term funding for the entity, civil society participation, and a clear timeline for the appointment of the Under Secretary-General to head the entity.

Following is an analysis of some of these concerns in relation to our Campaign’s key principles.  We hope this will contribute to the intergovernmental discussion and to a resolution adopted soon that addresses these matters and sets up a strong and effective gender equality entity.

Strong country level presence and operational capacity

Financial Architecture and Ambitious Funding

Effective Civil Society Participation

Leadership Criteria and USG Appointment

The United Nations has been an important arena for galvanizing progress on women’s  empowerment and gender equality over the past 60 years.  Yet, 15 years after the landmark Beijing Platform for Action spelled out many steps to advance women’s rights in 12 areas, too little has changed for the world’s women.  To implement that agenda and close the gap in realizing women’s rights, the UN has recognized the need for a strong, well resourced coordinated body to be a driver for these goals at the highest levels of leadership, both at Headquarters and in the field.   The Secretary General’s proposal provides a framework for moving forward on this goal and the ball is now in the court of the member states.  The time to act on realizing this possibility is now.





================================================================
To contact the list administrator, or to leave the list, send an email to: wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com. Thank you.