UN Women members to facilitate dialogue with civil society named

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) on Friday announced the members that will be part of a group that will facilitate dialogue between civil society and the agency.

"I am delighted that a group of outstanding international women’s rights advocates and
experts on gender issues have agreed to serve on my Global Civil Society Advisory Group,” UN Women Executive Director, Ms. Michele Bachelet said.

Bachelet stated that the members will play an important consulting role, and provide
strategic perspectives on advocacy on gender equality and women’s empowerment and
on UN Women’s thematic priorities.

She disclosed that the appointments to the Advisory Group are based on wide consultation with civil society networks and nominations from civil society organizations.

Bachelet, who made the appointments, stressed that the advisory group would help
strengthen UN Women’s engagement and partnerships with civil society at all levels.

"I look forward to working together towards our common goals,” she said.

The members have worked in areas related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and bring diverse experience and expertise to the group, including grassroots, rural and community-based leaders, leaders of indigenous people’s groups, feminist scholars, human rights lawyers, and male leaders working on gender and women’s rights issues.

Some of the Advisory Group’s members, who will serve for a period of two years, include
a former Vice-President of Spain, Teresa Fernandez de la Vega Sanz, the founder of the
Centre of Indigenous Cultures of Peru, Tarcila Rivera Zea, the Global Chair of International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, Patricia Perez and the Executive Director of Greenpeace International, Kumi Naidoo.

The members’ first meeting will take place in September during the 67th session of the
UN General Assembly.

UN Women will also set up national and regional civil society advisory groups, and a
dedicated website will be established for the entity to share news between the civil
society groups and UN agency.
-0- PANA AA/MA 18May2012