News & information on GEAR campaign » Campaign Documents

GEAR Campaign ECOSOC ARM statement

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:13:44 +0000

[New York, 11 May 2010] GEAR Campaign submitted a written statement for the Annual Ministerial Review (ARM) on gender equality and empowerment of women that will take place during the High-level Segment of the annual session of ECOSOC (UN Economic and Social Council). The High-level Segment of ECOSOC will meet from 28 June to 2 July.

[Read the GEAR Campaign ECOSOC ARM statement]

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GEAR Campaign writes a letter to UN Ambassadors

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:20:10 +0000

[New York, 12 April 2010] While the UN Member States discuss the elements of the resolution that will launch the new UN gender equality entity, the GEAR Campaign reminds that it is important to "get the reform right."

In a letter sent to all the UN Ambassadors on the week of 5th April, the Campaign reminds that this is a once in a life time opportunity to change the status quo on women's rights and gender equality worldwide. The Campaign calls the Ambassadors to ensure that the reform of the UN gender equality architecture will have a truly transformative outcome, and outlines the key features that the new agency should have.

[Read the GEAR Campaign Green Tree letter]

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Analysis of Government statements at the CSW

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:50:03 +0000

[New York, 12 April 2010] The GEAR Campaign has prepared a useful analysis about the content of Government statements at the 54th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) that took place in March this year.

During the CSW, 61 Governments spoke about the creation of the new UN gender equality entity in their official statements. The analysis points out which countries gave general support for the new entity, who called for adequate funding, who gave their support for the immediate recruitment of the USG to head the new entity, who supported civil society participation, and who required a robust operational capacity and country presence.

The analysis is a good reference for further lobbying efforts.

[Read the GEAR Campaign analysis of Government statements at the CSW]

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GEAR Campaign Statement March 2010

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:20:36 +0000

[New York, 28 March 2010] The GEAR Campaign requires the UN to move swiftly forward to create the new UN gender equality entity. The GEAR Campaign statement of March 2010 lines out the elements that the civil society sees as key for the success of the new entity:

The entity needs to be the driver in the UN system for women's empowerment and gender equality with strong, country-level operational capacity
The entity should be ambitiously funded with stable and predictable resources
The entity needs meaningful, systematic and diverse civil society participation
The transparent recruitment process for the Under-Secretary General to lead the entity must begin now.

[Read the GEAR Campaign Statement 2010]

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The New Times for Women – spoof newspaper on GEAR

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:28:47 +0000

[New York, 1 March 2010] Campaigners launched a spoof newspaper called The New Times for Women to mark the start of the 54th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

The newspaper contains imaginary stories about the launch of the new UN women's rights agency, and promotes GEAR Campaign's vision for the agency.

The organizations behind the newspaper point out that governments have signed the deal to create the new UN women's entity last year, but it is not sealed yet, and that the key decisions are long overdue. This year the campaigners want more than the empty words they are hearing every year, and require the agency to be launched without delay.

The paper was widely distributed in the corridors of the UN main building, and given to the official delegates of UN member states and the NGO representatives entering the opening session of the CSW.

You can find an online version of the newspaper at www.newtimesforwomen.com

[Read the joint press release of the organizations behind the spoof newspaper]

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GEAR Campaign CSW statement

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:19:16 +0000

[New York, 28 February 2010] The GEAR Campaign requires the UN Member States to GEAR UP and adopt a resolution setting up the new UN gender equality entity.

The GEAR Campaign statement for the 54th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women lines out the elements that the civil society sees as key for the success of the new entity:

The entity needs to be the driver in the UN system for women's empowerment and gender equality with strong, country-level operational capacity
The entity should be ambitiously funded with stable and predictable resources
The entity needs meaningful, systematic and diverse civil society participation
The transparent recruitment process for the Under-Secretary General to lead the entity must begin now.

Please use this statement if you have a chance to talk with the government officials or the UN representatives of your country about the creation of the new UN entity.

[Read the GEAR Campaign CSW statement]

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GEAR Campaign response to SG’s report

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:51:00 +0000

[New York, 20 February 2010] Secretary General's proposal for the new UN gender equality entity is a good guideline for taking action to set up the new entity. However, it falls short of what is needed in several important issues, says the GEAR Campaign in its response to the UN Secretary General's report.

According to the GEAR Campaign more clarity is needed in issues related to country level operational capacity, long term funding for the entity, civil society participation, and a clear timeline for the appointment of the Under Secretary-General to head the entity.

[Read GEAR Campaign's analysis of SG's gender equality entity proposal]

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GEAR Campaign USG selection criteria

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:35:36 +0000

[New York, 26 October 2009] The GEAR Campaign has put forward selection criteria that the candidates for the position of the leader of the new UN gender equality entity should fulfill. The Campaign also calls on the Secretary-General to immediately begin consideration of well-qualified candidates who would best meet the demands of this important post.

The General Assembly resolution of 14 September 2009 states that the UN Secretary General should appoint an Under-Secretary General (USG) to lead the new women's entity. However, before the process can go forward and the post can be opened for candidates, the UN General Assembly has to agree on allocating the funding needed for the new post form the UN budget. Other option is that the funding for the USG post will be taken from voluntary contributions.

The GEAR Campaign hopes that the USG would in any case be nominated by March 2010.

[Read the GEAR Campaign's selection criteria for candidates for the new USG post]

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GEAR Campaign Statement on SWC resolution

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:43:58 +0000

[New York, 15 September 2009] The GEAR Campaign is pleased with the strong support expressed by the United Nations General Assembly for the creation of the UN gender equality entity, but urges the UN Secretary General and the member states to make the entity operational without delay.

[Read the GEAR Campaign statement on the SWC resolution]

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GEAR Campaign Statement on the upcoming UNGA resolution

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:20:43 +0000

[New York, 28 August 2009] GEAR Campaign urges United Nations member states to move swiftly to adopt a resolution on the reform of UN gender equality architecture. In a statement on the recent report on the System wide Coherence process and upcoming General Assembly resolution, the GEAR Campaign demands member states to establish a composite gender equality entity, to commit to ambitiously fund the new entity, and to agree on the establishment of an Executive Board.

In addition, the Campaign urges the UN Secretary General to initiate a recruitment process for the Under Secretary General who is to lead the future entity before the end of 2009, as well as to establish a transitional arrangement process.

[Read the GEAR Campaign statement on the Report of Co-Chairs and the upcoming General Assembly Resolution]

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