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Statement by Ambassador Wang Min, at the First Regular Session of the Executive Board of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

2011-01-24 01:28
 

Madam Chair,

At the outset, on behalf of the Chinese government, I congratulate Ms. Michelle Bachelet on assuming the post of Under-Secretary-General for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). China has noted that since Ms. Bachelet took office, the work to establish UN Women has been in full swing, and a comprehensive report has been submitted to the session. Ms. Bachelet is a paragon of gender equality and women's participation in politics. China is convinced that, with her outstanding leadership capabilities and diplomatic skills, Ms. Bachelet will make an excellent leader of UN Women and contribute positively to the wellbeing of women across the world.

Madam Chair,

The creation of UN Women is a landmark event for the global endeavor of gender equality and women’s empowerment. With UN Women up and running early this year, the Executive Board is now in urgent need of establishing effective working mechanisms and guiding principles to make itself fully prepared to guide the operational activities of UN Women. China would like to make the following three points on the work of the Board:

First, in working methods, the Executive Board should make it a basic principle to resolve disputes through constructive dialogue. I am pleased to note that the Rules of Procedures we just adopted clearly stipulates that member states should strive for consensus in their discussions. As an entity in charge of gender issues in countries and regions around the world, UN Women should provide a platform for countries to engage in exchanges, dialogue and cooperation on an equal footing.

Second, in operational activities, the Executive Board needs to give top priority to the requests of developing countries, and strengthen their capacity building. Gender equality is not just an issue of human rights, but more an issue of development. We hope the Executive Board will focus on the actual needs of women in developing countries, and take concrete steps to increase support and assistance to developing countries. In this process, the Board also needs to cooperate closely with the host governments and fully respect the national conditions and needs of the host countries.

Third, in allocation of funds and human resources, the Executive Board needs to follow the principle of openness, transparency and equitable geographical distribution. The Chinese delegation has studied carefully the budget report submitted by Ms. Bachelet. We appreciate the great deal of work done by the Secretariat during the integration and transition period of UN Women, and hope the Executive Board will stick to the principle of fairness and transparency in management and use of funds, and increase the representation of developing countries through allocation of human resources.

A good beginning is half done. The Chinese delegation has every reason to believe that, so long as the Executive Board complies with the mandate according to the UN General Assembly resolution 64/289 and strengthens its coordination with the Commission on the Status of Women and other related UN agencies to form synergy, the relevant work will be carried out smoothly and yield positive results.

Madam Chair,

China has a female population of 641 million. The Chinese government always attaches importance to gender equality and women’s empowerment. China has incorporated human rights of women into its National Plan of Action for Human Rights, and mainstreamed women’ s development into its national development plan. China has also actively participated in international cooperation on gender issues, implemented in good faith the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Millennium Development Goals, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and made remarkable progress in this regard.

China welcomes the establishment of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. We have taken an active part in the consultations on the relevant resolution and played a constructive role in the creation of UN Women. The Chinese delegation warmly congratulates the establishment of UN Women’s first Executive Board, and will be actively engaged in its work, so as to make greater contribution to improvement of women’ s status and further implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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