[Brussels, 29 July 2009] The European GEAR Campaign Working Group believes that the effectiveness of the future UN gender equality entity will largely depend on the level of funding that is made available for the work of the future entity.

A recent position paper by the Working Group points out that currently less than 1 % of entire UN expenditure is allocated to gender equality bodies. At the same time, studies indicate that the financing gap for gender equality makes development goals and the MDG3 unattainable. Even according to most conservative estimates, the financing gap for gender equality is expected to reach $ 24 billion USD in 2015. In this context, the initial $ 1 billion USD annual budget for the new gender equality entity demanded by the GEAR Campaign is a modest funding target.

The European GEAR Campaign Working Group urges EU Member States as a matter of priority to start discussing the financing of the future gender equality entity and prepare to make concrete funding commitments.

[Read the EWG position paper on funding of the future UN gender equality entity]