[New York, 23 June 2009] The Co-Chairs of the UN General Assembly are pushing the Member States toward a consensus on the creation of the new gender equality entity. In an “executive summary” released on 19th June they summarize the intergovernmental debates on the UN gender equality architecture reform and suggest possible ways forward. The Co-Chairs see that the current session of the UN General Assembly could reach a decision authorizing the Secretary-General to make the necessary arrangements to establish a composite gender equality entity.

In the coming weeks, the Co-Chairs will meet informally with UN Member States and regional groups in order to find common ground on issues where more intergovernmental discussion is needed. One such issue is the funding of the new entity, in particular the balance between voluntary contributions from UN Member States and contributions from the UN regular budget. Another issue to be discussed is the governance of the new entity and the form its Executive Board should take.

[Read the Executive Summary by Co-Chairs]