NEW YORK, JULY 24 – The Italian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mariangela Zappia, joined the International Gender Champions, an international leadership network that brings together female and male decision-makers determined to break down gender barriers and make gender equality a working reality in their spheres of influence. The network was launched at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, July 2015.
“I am a convinced advocate of the necessity to reach gender parity at the decision-making and management levels. We need proactive policies to achieve this goal, and make women empowerment a priority”, stated Zappia, committing herself to recruiting at least one other Gender Champions from an under-represented regional group to join the International Gender Champions New York and pledging to systematically give consideration to the inclusion of gender equality and women`s empowerment issues in all statements and interventions made at the United Nations.
The network numbers over 235 active Champions and Alumni who are the heads of International Organizations, Permanent Missions, and Civil Society Organizations. All International Gender Champions sign the Panel Parity Pledge to no longer sit on single-sex panels. This Pledge is at the core of the International Gender Champions initiative. They also make two individualized commitments that pertain to new or ongoing work to achieve gender equality in their organization and its activities. (@OnuItalia)
