A/RES/57/180 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 4 per cent increase in the number of women at the D-2 level, which brings the proportion of women at that level to 22.3 per cent, but expressing concern that at other senior levels of the Secretariat the proportion of women has decreased overall since 1998 to only 10.5 per cent of Under-Secretaries-General and 12.5 per cent of Assistant Secretaries-General, Expressing concern that only one of the fifty-one special representatives and envoys of the Secretary-General is a woman, and expressing regret that the number of women heading United Nations agencies has been halved, from six to three, and also that the percentage of women assigned to peace operations has decreased, Taking note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat on possible discrimination due to nationality, race, sex, religion and language in recruitment, promotion and placement, 6 Concerned at the finding of the Office of Internal Oversight Services that the proportion of women separating from the Organization increased from 42 per cent in 1998 to 48 per cent in 2001, that at most levels women are reappointed less frequently than men, and that at these rates the Organization is unlikely to meet its gender parity target without concerted efforts to recruit females and retain the female staff currently employed, Noting that the statistics on the representation of women in some organizations of the United Nations system are not fully up to date, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General 7 and the actions described therein; 2. Regrets that the goal of 50/50 gender distribution was not met by the end of 2000, and urges the Secretary-General to redouble his efforts to realize significant progress towards this goal in the near future; 3. Reaffirms the urgent goal of achieving 50/50 gender distribution in all 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; 4. Expresses concern that in four departments and offices of the Secretariat women still account for less than 30 per cent of staff, and encourages the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to meet the goal of gender balance within all departments and offices of the Secretariat; _______________ 6 7 2 See A/56/956. A/57/447.