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International

for gender equality and the empowerment of Currently, all Regional Commissions are led
women. by women. Do you notice a difference in the
level of cooperation with your counterparts?
What contributions can women in UN I feel honoured to have the opportunity to work
leadership roles bring in strengthening with our team of Executive Secretaries, they
multilateralism? (in International Geneva or are great colleagues and we are able to work
globally) together very efficiently and productively.
To me it is very simple: the complex challenges
we face, from COVID-19 to the climate crisis Do you find it more challenging overall, or
and inequalities, need each resource, talent less?
and innovative potential on board. That has The ways we work together are linked to
been one of the key messages resonating from the well-advanced UN development system
th
the dialogues around the 75 anniversary reform process, which has reinvigorated
of the United Nations. To best respond to cooperation at the regional level and the role
peoples’ needs, we need the expertise, ideas of the Regional Commissions. Despite the
and engagement of all areas of society and different geographical coverage, we have many
all sectors, and without a doubt, if the female common areas of work, ranging from the UN
half of the population is not fully involved, Road Safety Fund, to trade facilitation and
empowered and represented, our efforts will gender equality. Right now for example, we’re
be severely undermined. working on the issue of care policies, looking at
countries’ approaches with a gender lens as part
Thinking about women’s role in leadership, of a project on strengthening social protection
and particularly in the diplomatic domain, I policies in governments’ COVID-19 response. “Having
feel it is important not to fall into the trap of more
traditional gender roles and stereotypes. The You are a woman who is currently the United women in
more we break down the persistent barriers Nations Under-Secretary-General and
to women’s role in leadership and decision- Executive Secretary of the United Nations leadership
making, the more we bring to the table the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), roles in the
diversity of perspectives and ways of working an International Gender Champion, you’ve UN does
that we need. served as Permanent Representative and also send
Ambassador of your home country Slovakia,
Having women leaders in multilateral work and navigated a successful career in the a clear
can bring greater sensitivity to the different private sector, all while filling the roles of message to
situations and needs faced specifically by spouse and mother. In what ways has being our member
women and girls. In addition, we can be more women-leader changed your life? States...”
persistent in the search for gender-responsive I believe that all women with career and
solutions and look for broad-based decisions family have to juggle between multiple tasks
in consultations with women’s groups and at the same time. And we can see that with
other stakeholders. That’s certainly a strong good time-management, it is possible. I was
element in my work. always blessed with good teams around me.
So, it has always been a pleasure to work with
Having more women in leadership roles in these teams towards more balanced, gender-
the UN does also send a clear message to sensitive, environmentally considerate and
our member States, and encourages greater forward-looking economic policies. •
political commitment for gender equality,
which I am pleased to see in the delegations MF
participating in our activities. In fact, when
we invite the nomination of candidates to our
intergovernmental meetings, we also recall
UNECE’s commitment to gender equality
and encourage gender balance in our member
States’ participation.

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