UPDATES FROM THE UN

UN Creates New Structure for Promoting Women’s Rights
The United Nations General Assembly has set up a separate organization for women called UN Women: the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. UN Women will be headed by an under-secretary (USG). The existing four women’s UN entities: the U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues, the U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women, and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) will fall under UN Women. The organization will start work from January 2011. UN Women will be at par with other UN bodies like UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA and will have two key roles: it will support inter-governmental bodies such as the Commission on the Status of Women in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms, and it will help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, as well as forging effective partnerships with civil society. Secondly, it will also help the UN system to be accountable for its own commitments on gender equality, including regular monitoring of system-wide progress.
Source: http://www.unwomen.org
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52024
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10496864.stm
Security Council Adopts Indicators for Implementation of SCR 1325
On the occasion of 10th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 the Security Council has adopted a comprehensive set of indicators towards improving accountability and implementation of UNSCR 1325. These indicators address the impact of war on women and stress the importance of women’s involvement in conflict resolution and peace building in four key areas: women’s participation in all aspects of conflict prevention and peace-making, prevention of violence against women, protection of women’s rights during and after conflict, and women’s needs in relief and recovery. The indicators were produced by 14 UN entities under the leadership of the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues in collaboration with Member States, UNIFEM and women’s civil society groups from around the world.
Report of the Secretary General enlisting the indicators:
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2010/173


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