A/RES/53/119 Page 2 Concerned at the incremental pace at which the overall representation of women in the Secretariat has increased and at the decline in the percentages of women promoted to and appointed at the P-5 level, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General and the recommendations contained therein,2 takes note of the statement of the Administrative Committee on Coordination on gender equality and mainstreaming in the work of the United Nations system: a commitment for action, adopted by the Committee in March 1998,3 and requests the Secretary-General to report in the year 2000 to the Commission on the Status of Women, in its capacity as the preparatory committee for the high-level plenary review to appraise and assess the progress achieved in the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the 1 Advancement of Women4 and the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women, to be convened by the General Assembly in the year 2000, on progress made to achieve the goals outlined in the statement; 2. Reaffirms the goal of 50/50 gender distribution by the year 2000 in all categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at the D-1 level and above, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, and also taking into account the continuing lack of representation or under-representation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition; 3. Welcomes the ongoing personal commitment of the Secretary-General to meeting the goal of gender equality and his assurance that gender balance will be given the highest priority in his continuing efforts to bring about a new management culture in the Organization, which will include full implementation of the special measures outlined in his report; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to implement fully and to monitor the strategic plan of action for the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat (1995-2000)5 in order to achieve the goal of 50/50 gender distribution by the year 2000, especially at the D-1 level and above; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that individual managers are held accountable for implementing the strategic plan within their areas of responsibility; 6. Encourages the Secretary-General to appoint more women as special representatives and envoys and to pursue good offices on his behalf, especially in matters related to peacekeeping, peace-building, preventive diplomacy and economic and social development, and in operational activities, including resident coordinators, as well as to appoint more women to other high-level positions; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that heads of departments and offices develop gender action plans that establish concrete strategies for the achievement of gender balance in individual departments and offices, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution and in conformity with 2 A/53/376. 3 ACC/1998/4, para. 63. 4 Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.85.IV.10), chap. I, sect. A. 5 A/49/587 and Corr.1, sect. IV. /...