“I am determined that UN Women will offer a new dynamic to the global dialogue on gender equality, and bring new energy, drawing on multiple talents, and bringing together men and women from different countries and communities in a shared endeavour.“
– Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director, UN Women
This year, the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN (CSW 55) launched UN Women, the new organization working for the empowerment of women and girls. In her opening remarks, the agency’s new Executive Director, Michelle Bachelet, highlighted five goals for the organization: 1) expanding women’s voice, leadership and participation; 2) ending violence against women; 3) ensuring women’s full participation in conflict resolution; 4) enhancing women’s economic empowerment; and 5) advancing gender equality priorities central to national, local and sectoral planning and budgeting.
The priority theme for CSW this year is access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, including the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. Hundreds of NGOs are hosting parallel events on this issue (and many others that affect women around the world), while working sessions at the UN have made draft resolutions to improve women’s access to education.
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