[New York, 4 February 2010] A new round of intergovernmental negotiations about the new UN women's rights entity started on 4th February.

The negotiations aim at a United Nations General Assembly resolution that wold finally give the UN system the go-ahead to concretely set up the new entity. The starting point is UN Secretary-General's proposal about the details of the entity. The proposal also gives clear guidelines for the Member States on how to take the process further.

In the first meeting, the EU criticized the UN for progressing too slowly in setting up the new entity.

"If this decision is further delayed, the current gender agencies will be kept in limbo and unable to deliver for women around the world," warned Ambassador Juan Antonio Yanez-Barnuevo of Spain, currently holding the Presidency of the European Union. 

EU also urged the UN Secretary-General to "urgently advance" the process of appointing the Under Secretary General who will lead the future women's rights entity.