[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]