BEIJING+ 15 OPENS; LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS GATHER TO REVIEW PROGRESS ON GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT The 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women opened at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday, bringing together UN senior officials, ministers, heads of delegations, activists and NGOs from throughout the globe to assess progress and challenges in women’s empowerment and gender equality.
The gathering, which continues through March 12, is focused on a 15-year review since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were adopted at the landmark Fourth United Nations World Conference for Women in 1995. By Monday afternoon, over 2000 participants had registered, representing 333 non-governmental organizations from around the world. Among the scores of ministers and government leaders who traveled from their capitals to speak at the gathering were the Minister of Gender Equality from Spain, who was representing the European Union; the Samoan Minister for Women, Community and Societal Development, representing the Pacific Islands Forum; and the State Minister for Women and Family Affairs from Turkey. UN speakers included the director of UNIFEM and the chairperson of the General Assembly.Speakers expressed their support for implementing the Beijing Platform for Action and reported on areas of progress in their countries. Several mentioned the importance of addressing violence against women, migration issues and poverty. Some expressed support for the UN’s new gender entity yet despite anticipation; there were no formal announcements about the new entity or its leadership.In essence, Monday’s events set the stage for the following nine days of high-level plenaries, panel discussions and issue-oriented gatherings. More information about the event is available here on the UNDP website: http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2010/march/15-years-after-landmark-… See the links below for more information on UNDP’s participation in the 54th Commission on the Status of Women:o List of UNDP side events during the Commission on the Status of Women [PDF]o UNDP Fast Facts on Progress since the Beijing Conference [PDF]o UNDP’s message for the Commission on the Status of Women 2010 [PDF]o UNDP’s work on Women’s EmpowermentSee below Opening statements from Monday, 1 March• H.E. Mr. Garen Nazarian, Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women• Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General• H.E. Mr. Hamidon Ali, President of the Economic and Social Council• Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs• Ms. Rachel Mayanja, Assistant Secretary-General, Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women• Ms. Ines Alberdi, Executive Director, UNIFEM• Ms. Naéla Gabr, Chairperson, CEDAWHigh-Level PlenaryRegional groups:Argentina on behalf of the MERCOSUR and Associated StatesChile on behalf of the Rio GroupSamoa on behalf of the Pacific Islands ForumYemen on behalf of the Group of 77 and China Member StatesChinaGambiaNew ZealandTurkeyUnited KingdomBackground Documentation:Global 15-year review process in the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women OverviewNational level review of implementation QuestionnaireMember States responsesRegional 15-year review processes Regional reportsRegional meetings
BEIJING+ 15 OPENS; LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS GATHER TO REVIEW PROGRESS ON GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT The 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women opened at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday, bringing together UN senior officials, ministers, heads of delegations, activists and NGOs from throughout the globe to assess progress and challenges in women’s empowerment and gender equality.
The gathering, which continues through March 12, is focused on a 15-year review since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were adopted at the landmark Fourth United Nations World Conference for Women in 1995. By Monday afternoon, over 2000 participants had registered, representing 333 non-governmental organizations from around the world. Among the scores of ministers and government leaders who traveled from their capitals to speak at the gathering were the Minister of Gender Equality from Spain, who was representing the European Union; the Samoan Minister for Women, Community and Societal Development, representing the Pacific Islands Forum; and the State Minister for Women and Family Affairs from Turkey. UN speakers included the director of UNIFEM and the chairperson of the General Assembly.Speakers expressed their support for implementing the Beijing Platform for Action and reported on areas of progress in their countries. Several mentioned the importance of addressing violence against women, migration issues and poverty. Some expressed support for the UN’s new gender entity yet despite anticipation; there were no formal announcements about the new entity or its leadership.In essence, Monday’s events set the stage for the following nine days of high-level plenaries, panel discussions and issue-oriented gatherings. More information about the event is available here on the UNDP website: http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2010/march/15-years-after-landmark-… See the links below for more information on UNDP’s participation in the 54th Commission on the Status of Women:o List of UNDP side events during the Commission on the Status of Women [PDF]o UNDP Fast Facts on Progress since the Beijing Conference [PDF]o UNDP’s message for the Commission on the Status of Women 2010 [PDF]o UNDP’s work on Women’s EmpowermentSee below Opening statements from Monday, 1 March• H.E. Mr. Garen Nazarian, Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women• Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General• H.E. Mr. Hamidon Ali, President of the Economic and Social Council• Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs• Ms. Rachel Mayanja, Assistant Secretary-General, Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women• Ms. Ines Alberdi, Executive Director, UNIFEM• Ms. Naéla Gabr, Chairperson, CEDAWHigh-Level PlenaryRegional groups:Argentina on behalf of the MERCOSUR and Associated StatesChile on behalf of the Rio GroupSamoa on behalf of the Pacific Islands ForumYemen on behalf of the Group of 77 and China Member StatesChinaGambiaNew ZealandTurkeyUnited KingdomBackground Documentation:Global 15-year review process in the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women OverviewNational level review of implementation QuestionnaireMember States responsesRegional 15-year review processes Regional reportsRegional meetings