NEW YORK, 11 October 2010: – Let me congratulate the General Assembly for having the vision and commitment to put words into action. The quote that we heard so often at the Summit on the Millennium Development Goals just three weeks ago — that gender equality and women’s empowerment are goals in their own right and central to all the other goals — must be more than a mantra, said former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet in her first presentation to the UN General Assembly as leader of newly established UN WOMEN.
– It must become a lived reality for women and men and boys and girls in all countries. The establishment of UN Women sends a clear message that this General Assembly understands that far more is needed.
– I am well aware that the journey to the establishment of UN Women was a long process that involved many different government partners, non-governmental organizations and women’s rights networks worldwide, as well as the UN’s leadership and the staff of the four existing entities. In that process, we have built both committed constituencies and high expectations. We cannot let them down.
In establishing UN Women, you have made three changes that have the potential to deliver important benefits for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Firstly, by elevating the leadership of UN Women to Under-Secretary-General, you have sent a clear message that gender equality must be given a priority that is on par with other development priorities. This is important for the United Nations system; but it will also have reverberating effects on the ground, causing national partners, as well, to re-examine how gender equality expertise is positioned within government ministries, cabinets and civil society coalitions.
Secondly, we have taken an important step towards greater coherence, a central tenet of United Nations reform. We now are well positioned to bridge the operational and normative aspects of the UN’s support to Member States to advance gender equality, and also to have a stronger voice to ensure a more coherent UN system response.
And, thirdly, in establishing UN Women, you have acknowledged that financial investments in gender equality must also be commensurate with the ambition of our vision for change. We must reverse decades of accepting minimal resources for work on gender equality. In almost every field where we examine budgets through a gender lens — whether in post-conflict reconstruction or in support to agricultural development — we see that rarely is more than 6 per cent of the budget visibly dedicated to women’s empowerment and gender equality.
A strong UN Women will advocate for larger investments and a commitment to make budgets respond to gender equality considerations. In that regard, let me also congratulate the Secretary-General and the many partners who joined in the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health announced during the Summit on the MDGs. An initiative that promises investments of up to 42 billion US dollar — where the slow rate of progress has been unacceptable and holds back all of the MDGs — is encouraging for all those who are committed to women’s rights and gender equality.
Over the next three months, I will focus on four major tasks:
First, we are making all necessary efforts for UN Women to be operational by 1 January 2011 and laying the foundations of the new organization with a new identity and vision.
UN Women is committed to strengthening the response of the entire UN system to assist Member States to advance gender equality. That is why my second priority is to consult and strengthen collaboration with entities of the United Nations system to determine how, together, we can start a new era where gender equality support from the entire system, including UN Country Teams on the ground, achieves greater coherence, depth and impact, and where we truly can deliver as one.
This is crucial in every country and every sector, whether in relation to the way that the UN system responds to sexual violence — and in that regard, I look forward to building a strong partnership with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence, Margot Wallström, and recognize the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Rashida Manjoo.
My third priority is to re-engage with the many constituencies that advocated so vigorously for the establishment of UN Women. I remember, when I travelled to Haiti shortly after the horrific earthquake, how important it was to listen directly to the women who were affected and who always know what it is that they need to rebuild the country, but who, too often, are not at the tables where these decisions get made.
In setting priorities for UN Women, I look forward to hearing from women’s groups and networks from countries worldwide. We are already receiving statements, manifestos and many expressions of support and guidance. It is imperative for me to understand, with as much specificity as possible, what women from every country and region of the world expect from UN Women.
In his comprehensive proposal leading to UN Women, the Secretary-General determined that 500 million US dollar will be required for UN Women’s start-up phase, with the bulk for catalytic, country-specific United Nations programmatic support. We intend to meet this challenge in 2011.
My fourth area of focus over the next three months is to reach out to Member States and to also build new innovative partnerships to secure these new resources so that UN Women can make the necessary investments for gender equality and women’s empowerment, and so that we can turn aspirations into change for women and girls.
Læs hele Bachelets tale: www.unwomen. org
