CThis structure, the first of its kind, established by Zniber, Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN Office in Geneva, on the sidelines of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) , has both normative and operational expertise. It will be an informal space for critical reflection, analysis and advice to support the HRC President in mainstreaming gender equality and parity and women’s empowerment within the Council, in order to accelerate and achieve make tangible progress on the agenda and improve the lives of women and girls around the world.
The Advisory Council will also provide an opportunity for UN agencies and international organizations based in Geneva to share their good practices, achievements and challenges in gender equality and parity within their own institutions. In a speech on this occasion, Zniber stressed the need to put in place concrete measures to guarantee the representation of women at the highest levels of decision-making, believing that it is time to “go beyond celebrating the first woman at the head of a United Nations agency and ensure that the presence of women at the head of an agency becomes a normal phenomenon”.
To achieve this, he said, it is necessary to change mentalities and policies at all levels: international, regional, national and local, hence the interest in creating the first Advisory Council of the President of the Rights Council of Man on gender equality, in Geneva. “The aim is to foster transformative change in dialogue, governance and inclusiveness,” stressed the diplomat.
For her part, the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, responsible for resource management, sustainability and partnerships, Kirsi Madi, expressed the pride of the UN agency in being part of this Advisory Council in the person of its Executive Director, Sima Bahous, emphasizing the importance of this initiative, given the significant challenges facing the march towards gender equality.
“Without accelerating progress towards gender equality, the international community will not be able to achieve Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 relating to gender equality but also the entire 2030 development agenda sustainable”, she warned, emphasizing the relevance of this initiative as the world next year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the World Conference on Women in Beijing and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. .
The launch of this Advisory Council, during a ceremony at the Palais des Nations in the presence of an audience of personalities and diplomats, is an opportunity to celebrate the participation of all regional groups and the main UN entities in efforts aimed at gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, said Madi, expressing her conviction that this Council will constitute a solid platform in favor of achieving the Beijing commitments, the 2030 agenda and the objectives of the HRC.
Note that the advisory council will be composed of representatives of Member States to the UN office in Geneva, the United Nations system and other key stakeholders. The first members invited to be part of this body are recognized for their long experience and expertise on issues related to gender equality, parity and women’s empowerment in the multilateral system.
(with MAP)
