2 July 2010 - UN Women, a new UN body - Statement by the Spokesman of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
"France welcomes the forthcoming creation of UN Women following the General Assembly’s expected adoption of a resolution later today in New York. This new agency deals with gender equality and the advancement of women.
The new structure, which demonstrates the UN’s ability to reform itself, will consolidate four existing bodies: the secretary-general’s Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women; the Division for the Advancement of Women; the UN Development Fund for Women; and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. This merger will help create new synergies.
The UN secretary-general will appoint a deputy secretary-general/executive director with broad powers to better take into account issues of male-female equality in UN structures and programs.
The establishment of UN Women represents a bolstered political commitment to women and will bring greater consistency, effectiveness and visibility to UN efforts.
This reform, which should take effect on January 1, 2011, enjoys broad political support.
On this occasion, we want to stress France’s support for the UN’s establishment of an independent mechanism to investigate laws that discriminate against women."
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