Strong advocacy from New Zealand over the years played a part in a decision by the United Nations General Assembly to establish a single entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, says Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong.The decision, made l
Strong advocacy from New Zealand over the years played a part in a decision by the United Nations General Assembly to establish a single entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, says Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong.
The decision, made last Friday, puts four UN bodies set up to deal with the advancement of women into one agency called the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to be known as UN Women.
Mrs Wong said New Zealand, Australia and Canada had worked closely over the years to help to get the agency established and the announcement was a welcome one.
She said the single entity would be more coherent and effective and would provide greater support and care for women and girls on a global scale.
"The evidence shows that most of the world's poor are women, and most women are poor. But when women are empowered educationally, legally and financially, there is good evidence a country's GDP rises, agricultural practices improve, and children are healthier and better educated."
Mrs Wong said the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) had shown that income earned and controlled by mothers had a 20 times greater effect on the health of their children compared with the same income controlled by fathers.
The new entity will work on policy issues, provide assistance on request to UN member states and promote and monitor the UN system's actions to promote the advancement of women.
It is expected to be operational by next January.
