To Propose that there Should Be One UN Women’s Representative (Open)

To Propose that there Should Be One UN Women’s Representative (UNWR) per Country as Part of the National Governmental Delegation to the Yearly UN General Assembly (UNGA) (2013, No. 6)

Proposed by: VVAO (The Netherlands)
Seconded by: the Turkish Association of University Women and Spanish Federation of University Women

The 31st GWI Conference resolves that:

  1. National Federations and Associations (NFAs) urge their respective governments to involve and inform national and local women’s organizations about the option of having one UN Women’s Representative (UNWR) per country;
  2. When this has been achieved, NFAs should urge their respective governments to hold a yearly election process for a national UN Women’s Representative (UNWR). This election process should be fair and transparent; and
  3. When this has been achieved, National Federations and Associations  (NFAs) should be encouraged to work together with other women’s organisations in their respective countries to have an UN Women’s Representative (UNWR) included in their national delegation to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) every year.

Suggested Action:

  1. NFAs should urge that women’s organisations and other relevant NGO’s become involved to support the implementation of this resolution;
  2. The process of advocacy for a national UN Women’s Representative (UNWR) should include financial arrangements for the UNWR;
  3.  NFA’s are urged to contact other women’s organisations and relevant NGOs in their countries to hold a yearly election or call for a national UN Women’s Representative. The election process should be fair and transparent and set up so that any member of a woman’s organisation or relevant NGO can put her name forward;
  4. NFAs are encouraged to form a network of women from their respective countries who have worked / are working with the UN. These women together could act as a Committee of Recommendation, supporting women’s representation to the UN. Together with their Ministry of Foreign Affairs and / or the Ministry of Social and Economical Affairs or other relevant Ministries they can lobby effectively on Women’s issues;
  5. NFAs and their national partners/alliances should ensure that the call for candidates is published widely, so that women of all parts of society are informed and can apply;
  6. Approach and inform the media on the UNWR and the call for candidates.

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