Press Release
Marie-Josée Jacobs at the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women in New York

Date of release : 26-02-2005

Policy area : Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs

On 28 February and 1 March 2005, Marie-Josée Jacobs, Minister for Equal Opportunities, will participate in the 49th session of the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women in New York. Marie-Josée Jacobs will present, on behalf of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the position of the 25 Member States of the EU on equality between men and women.

During the plenary session, Marie-Josée Jacobs will submit the common declaration of the 25 European Ministers, who have portfolios on equality between men and women, and which was adopted in Luxembourg on 4 February 2005. The Minister will also take part in a high-level round table debate which will bring together the high representatives of the Member States around the theme of institutional mechanisms.

The 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will be held in New York from 28 February to 11 March 2005. The work of the Commission will be centred on examining the implementation of the Peking Action Programme and the texts of the 23rd extraordinary session of the General Assembly of 2000.

The United Nations has upheld the principle of equal rights between men and women since its inception in San Francisco in 1945. The 50 founding countries have promoted equal rights between men and women right from the beginning.

The Commission on the Status of Women was formed in 1946 with the aim of promoting this objective in the political, economic, social and educational fields. It prepares reports on the status of women’s rights and formulates recommendations to the Economic and Social Council of the UNO.