HQ, Geneva

International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 each year. It is the occasion of a global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. The United Nations General Assembly, composed of delegates from every Member State, celebrates International Women's Day to recognize that peace and social progress require the active participation and equality of women, and to acknowledge the contribution of women to international peace and security.

This celebration has been the occasion for UNITAR' male staff to put at the honor Women in general, and their female colleagues in particular. The ladies were offered flowers, which they found on their desk in the morning. In the afternoon, Ms. Kareen Jabre, from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), presented and discussed extensively with the staff about the report titled "Women in politics" recently issued by IPU and the United Nations. The discussion was then followed by a drink. The out-posted Offices in Hiroshima and New York also joined the celebration, the day being the occasion to feel UNITAR as one. The idea of surprising UNITAR's women for the IWD initially came from a group of women, but, according to their female colleagues, UNITAR's men "exceeded by far the Ladies’ expectations"!

You can find more information on the report "Women in politics" at :

http://www.ipu.org/press-e/gen298.htm

http://www.ipu.org/english/surveys.htm#MAP2008

Hiroshima Office