Page 398 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

achieving a 50/50 gender distribution by December 2000. The Secretariat still
has to achieve a critical mass of women, at least 30 per cent, at the Senior
Management and policy making posts (women presently comprise 24 per cent
in this category).

Here at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), we are strongly
committed to the advancement and the promotion of women and are proud to
count a growing number of highly qualified, female senior officials including
the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, The High Com-
missioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, and the Director-General of the World
Health Organization, Gro Brundtland, among us.

In addition, I would like to congratulate Ms. Danuta Hübner; Deputy Ex-
ecutive Secretary of the ECE for all the efforts towards women's advancement
that she has made here in Geneva since taking over as our Focal Point for
women.

As of the 30th of’ November 1999, the percentage of women at UNOG in
the Professional and higher categories (with a contract of one year or more)
was 36,6 per cent compared to 35,6 per cent in November 1998. Presently,
women comprise 42,9 per cent% of the UNOG staff at the D-1 level and above.
Finally, at the P-5 level, a key trade in the management structure of the
Secretariat, women accounted for 42,9 per cent of the staff compared to 4l,3
per cent in November 1998. Our immediate task is to ensure and guide
the provision of assistance to programs and departments in meeting
gender balance requirements through problem assessment and proactive
recruitment actions.

The extreme importance of the advancement of women to positions of
power and decision making both within and outside of the UN cannot be
underestimated. Today’s theme ”Women Waging Peace” cannot underscore
this better. The unique contribution that women can and do make in situations
involving war and peace is clear. The role of women is crucial considering that
the majority of those effected by conflict are women and children and that
many female victims of rape and/or violent crimes who wish to speak about
their case often feel more at ease talking to a woman. Women also make
substantial contributions in the peace and reconciliation areas due to their
unique sensitivity, perspective and approach to conflict.

Yet despite these well-recognized facts, the need to increase the number of
women in high-level positions in Government delegations, peace-keeping

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