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Participation and Representation of Women in the UN

87.16IC Participation and Representation of Women in the Work of the United Nations

Noting that Paragraph 358 of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies Document for the Advancement of Women clearly states that it is essential that women should participate actively in the planning and formulation of policies and programs and in decision-making and appraisal processes in the United Nations.

Aware that Article 8 of the Charter of the United Nations reads, “The United Nations shall place no restriction on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs”;

Concerned that the United Nations has not honoured resolution 2175 on opportunities for women, passed by the United Nations in 1970, nor honoured the 25% target in representation of women in the work of the United Nations established in 1978, to be met by 1982;

Recognizing that the Government of Canada has honoured the 25% target of representation of women in Canada’s delegation to the United Nations;

Realizing that the International Council of Women has actively supported all the major international Conventions for the improvement of the status of women and has pressed for the presence of women throughout the United Nations system;

Believing that the purpose of the United Nations would be strengthened if more women participated in governmental and nongovernmental delegations and in the Secretariat of the United Nations at policy-making levels;

Recommends that the International Council of Women:

  1. Exercise its influence through the ICW Permanent Representative to the United Nations:
    a. To effect action on all Resolutions and targets set by the United Nations to bring about equality in the work of the United Nations and to fully implement paragraph 358 of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies Document on the Advancement of Women;
    b. To urge Member States to advance women candidates for all positions within the United Nations, especially senior positions;
  2. Urge its National Councils in federation to exercise influence on their respective governments to honour the 1982 25% target of representation of women in their nation’s delegation to the United Nations.