The State of Israel has been chosen to serve on a key Commission under the organization, UN Women: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nachson confirmed to JewishPress.com in an email response on Sunday.
The 61st session of the Commission of the Status of Women begins next month, with 45 member states serving a four-year tenure.
“We are talking about the central agency for gender equality, one that is important at the United Nations,” Nachson said. “Israel has a framework agreement with the organization to advance projects which contribute to the status of women around the world, and has donated $75,000 [for that purpose] in the past three years.”
Forty-five member states of the United Nations serve as members of the Commission at any one time, according to the website of UN Women. The Commission consists of one representative from each of the 45 member states, elected by the Economic and Social Council on the basis of equitable and geographical distribution. Eight of the member states are from the Western Europe and other States group in which Israel is listed.
“Israel submitted its application for candidacy this past October, well before the deadline for submission of intent to run for membership, it turns out,” Nachshon said.
“As in other cases in the United Nations, efforts were made even in recent days by the Arab group to create opposition on all procedural fronts, and against all standards of diplomatic propriety, in order to prevent Israel’s addition to the Commission,” he noted.
Nevertheless, Israel was selected — together with Chile — with the support of 40 of the 45 member states to serve on the Board.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon celebrated the event. He was quoted by Walla! News as saying, “Israel is a superpower in the world of gender equality, and through this we can demonstrate our leadership to the world.”