A/RES/56/127
Welcoming also the proposed system-wide medium-term plan for the
advancement of women, 2002–2005, as recommended to the Economic and Social
Council by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-fifth session, 4
Taking into account the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation
of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries, including
least developed countries and small island developing States, and from countries with
economies in transition,
Noting with appreciation those departments and offices that have achieved the
goal of gender balance, as well as those departments that have met or exceeded the goal
of 50 per cent in the selection of women candidates for vacant posts in the past year,
Welcoming the progress made in maintaining and improving the representation
of women at some levels of the Secretariat, in particular in the category of
geographical appointments, and welcoming the fact that the percentage of women
appointed and promoted in the Secretariat has been maintained or increased, but
expressing concern that progress in improving the representation of women at the
senior and policy-making levels has been negligible,
Expressing concern that there are currently no women acting as special
representatives or envoys,
Noting that the statistics on the representation of women in the organizations
of the United Nations system are not fully up to date,
Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General 5 and
1.
the actions described therein;
Reaffirms the urgent goal of achieving 50/50 gender distribution in all
2.
categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at senior and
policy-making levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical
distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the
United Nations, and also taking into account the continuing lack of representation or
underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing
countries and countries with economies in transition;
3.
Welcomes:
(a) 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, including full implementation of the special measures for the
achievement of gender equality; 6
(b) The pledge of the executive heads of the organizations of the United
Nations system to intensify their efforts to meet the gender equality goals set out in
the Beijing Declaration 7 and Platform for Action; 1
(c) The inclusion of the objective of improving gender balance in action
plans on human resources management for individual departments and offices, and
encourages further cooperation, including the sharing of best-practice initiatives,
_______________
4
Ibid., Supplement No. 7 (E/2001/27), chap. I, sect. B, resolution 45/3.
A/56/472.
6
ST/AI/1999/9.
7
Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I.
5
2