The Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities welcomes the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, 14 September to create a new, more powerful United Nations agency for women.
The General Assembly resolution called for the amalgamation of four existing UN offices dealing with women's affairs into a single body to be headed by an under-secretary-general. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was requested to produce within a year a comprehensive proposal that would specify the new entity's mission statement, organisational arrangements, funding and executive board.
The establishment of such an agency will ensure that women's issues receive high level of attention within the UN system like other sectoral issues that are championed by specific UN agencies (for example United Nations Children's Fund or World Health Organisation).
We are also encouraged that this UN resolution coincides with the decision of the South African government to form a new Ministry focusing on women's issues after the last general elections earlier this year.
The new UN agency for women should provide a much needed coordination and collaboration amongst Women Ministries across the world and ensure that issues affecting women particularly in developing countries remain at the top of the global agenda.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities
15 September 2009
