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UN-HABITAT LAUNCHES FIRST ADVISORY GROUP ON GENDER ISSUES

Naples, Italy - Huairou Commission is happy to announce the successful launch of the UN-HABITAT Advisory Group On Gender Issues (AGGI), which occurred during the Gender Equality Action Assembly (GEAA), on September 2, during the Sixth World Urban Forum in Naples, Italy.

TSeptember 14, 2012 - The AGGI was mandated in a resolution passed during the twenty-third session of the UN-Habitat Governing Council in April 2011, with the objective of strengthening the agency's attention to gender. It is the first advisory group on gender of its kind within the entire United Nations system, and engages a range of stakeholders in advising the Agency on women's empowerment and gender equality in human settlements, including grassroots women.

On a larger scale, the AGGI serves as a reminder that gender equality and women's empowerment are critical in achieving positive results in urban development. It stands as an example for institutionalization of gender and social diversity in the decision-making processes of global development work.  

The Huairou Commission has been UN-Habitat's lead partner in the process for establishing  the Advisory Group on Gender Issues. We collaborated to organize two preparatory working group meetings; one in Nairobi during November of 2011, and a second in New York during February 2012. A Terms of Reference and selection process were defined during these meetings. Special attention was taken in order to achieve a broad range of representation among its 17 members.

We are proud to have had many women from the many members of the Huairou Commission network nominated and ultimately five selected to be on the Advisory Group, including our founder and Chair, Jan Peterson. Additionally, Ana Falú, of the National University of Cordoba in Argentina, Carmen Griffiths of GROOTS Jamaica, Esther Mwaura-Muira of GROOTS Kenya, and Sri Sofjan, CEO of Penang Women's Development Corporation in Malaysia, are network members who will carry the values of Huairou Commission - women's empowerment and inclusion - into their advisory responsibilities. A full list of appointed members can be seen here.

Pictured here during the AGGI Inaugural meeting in Naples: Ramzia Aleryani, Diane Dumashie, Ana Falu, Aminata Dramane Traore (AGGI Chair), Teresa Boccia, Carmen Griffiths, Jan Peterson, and Nilcea Freire. Also present, but not pictured were Ester Borras, Esther Mwaura-Muira, Lakshmi Puri, Honorable M.A. Masunda, Siraj Sait, Sri Husnaini Sofjan, and Thomas Ball. 

During the first meeting in Naples, the AGGI selected Ms. Aminata Traoré, author politician and activist, as Chair, and Mr. Thomas Ball, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Norway to UN-Habitat as Co-Chair of the Advisory Group. All members are to produce a proposed work plan by mid-October, and are expected to provide additional recommendations based upon their observations and participation in key gender-related activities and others deemed strategic at WUF6.

We wish to commend UN-Habitat for setting an example for gender inclusion in decision-making on a global level, and congratulate all 17 appointed members of the AGGI, and wish them luck in their work towards increasing gender equality and women's empowerment in the realm of human settlements work and beyond!