3 March, 2008

Carmen Moreno, Director of UN-INSTRAW, participated in the 52nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) being held from 25 February to 7 March 2008 at United Nations Headquarters. In her statement, and in line with the priority theme of the CSW session, Moreno emphasized that investment in the empowerment of women is a prerequisite to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Moreno also pointed out that the top five biggest spenders dedicate a combined annual total of US$735 billion to military expenditures, while only US$19 billion are needed to eradicate global hunger and malnutrition, US$12 billion to provide education for every child on earth, US$15 billion to provide access water and sanitation for every person in the world, and US$23 billion to reverse the spread of AIDS and Malaria.

“Women are the majority among the poor and the ones who most suffer from lack of access to clean water, hunger and malnutrition, lack of education and are the majority of those newly-infected with HIV/AIDS. Thus, the empowerment of women and girls and the achievement of gender equality require concrete investment in terms of time, funds, people and energy” she declared.

“Additional research and improved data collection will ensure that funding is channeled to where the need is greatest and to where it will have the most impact. Women’s increased access to health, education and employment will result in a change in their families, communities and their countries,” she added.

The CSW Session as well as parallel events are attended by 45 UN Member States, representatives from UN organizations and from civil society, who meet to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide.

Read the Official Statement

Read more about the 52nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women