NEW YORK, APRIL 6 – Following the initiative “MFA gender champions” launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Mission to the UN recently adopted adopted several measures aimed to foster gender equality within its organization and in its external relations: first and foremost a “Panel Parity Pledge” promoting gender balance within all panels and events organized by the Mission, with the commitment to ensuring that this principle is in place also during events which the Permanent Representative and other Mission’s delegates are invited to as speakers, co-organizers, or in any other capacity. This is in line with the role of International Gender Champion taken on by the Permanent Representative Maurizio Massari here in New York.
The Mission will launch several events throughout the year devoted to women empowerment in co-sponsorship with think tanks or local Universities. These projects will seamlessly complement the ongoing work carried out in the UN Commissions, with special focus on themes such as women and disarmament, Italy’s contribution to UN Agencies, Funds, and Programs dedicated to women, thematic resolutions on women and girls’ rights, peacekeeping, and training.
The influence Italy has gained by joining ECOSOC for the three-year period 2022-2024 will allow to promote events on the margin of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Furthermore, by joining UNICEF board for 2022, Italy will be better-versed to define the priorities and actions to support girls and young girls.
The Mission’s support to Italy’s candidacies and recruitment of Italian officials with UN bodies and agencies will aim on adequately promoting and improving women’s participation. A special focus will be given the Mission’s “advocacy” action throughout its social media accounts increasing the share of media campaigns launched in partnership with UN bodies specialized in women rights, such as UN Women and UNFPA. Initiatives such as the Mission’s video campaign for “16 days of UN activism to fight Gender-based Violence”, which had more than 40,000 views and impressions on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, will continue to be shared at European level as best practices that all EU member states can adopt to multiply their impact. (@OnuItalia)