Report on the annual session of 2023, 19 to 21 June 2023: Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
The document is a comprehensive report on the activities of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) during its 2023 annual session. The session focused on various key areas, including organizational matters, policy and program updates, financial and audit concerns, and responses to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.
The session opened with statements highlighting the persistent challenges in achieving gender equality globally, particularly in the context of current global crises. The Executive Director's report emphasized UN-Women's efforts in crisis response, service provision, and policy support, as well as its collaborations with other UN agencies.
Financial discussions revolved around UN-Women's funding challenges, particularly the need for a balanced core/non-core resource ratio and diversified funding sources. The audit reports and evaluations underscored the Entity's commitment to financial stewardship and operational efficiency.
A significant portion of the document was dedicated to discussing UN-Women's regional activities, especially in Asia and the Pacific, highlighting the varied contexts and challenges in these regions. It also covered UN-Women's efforts to integrate gender equality considerations into global financial strategies.
One of the notable aspects of the session was the focus on UN-Women's response to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. The Entity has enhanced its policies and governance structures in this regard, appointing dedicated specialists and operationalizing frameworks with a victim-survivor-centered approach.
The report also detailed UN-Women's commitment to the repositioning of the UN development system, aligning its work with the central frameworks and processes of the system. This includes aligning with strategic notes at the country level and increasing joint programming funding.
The document concluded with a detailed review of the decisions adopted at the session, covering a range of topics from the Executive Director's annual report, the evaluation function of UN-Women, internal audit and investigation activities, to updates on policies and procedures to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment.
