• Founded in 1946 by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) through Resolution 11(II).
• Initially focused on women’s political, economic, civil, social, and educational rights.
• Expanded in 1996 to include monitoring the Beijing Declaration and integrating gender perspectives into UN activities.

• Composed of 45 member states elected by ECOSOC based on geographical representation.
• 13 from Africa, 11 from Asia, 9 from Latin America and the Caribbean, 8 from Western Europe and other States, 4 from Eastern Europe.
• Members serve a four-year term.

• Policy Formulation: Establishes global norms and standards for gender equality.
• Monitoring Progress: Reviews gender-related commitments, including the Beijing Declaration.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Conducts research, publishes reports, and promotes women’s rights globally.
• Collaboration: Works with UN entities, NGOs, and civil society organizations to strengthen gender equality.

• Convention on the Political Rights of Women (1953)
• Convention on the Nationality of Married Women (1957)
• Convention on Consent to Marriage (1962)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1979).
• Influenced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
• Led preparatory work for the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (1995).

• Held annually at UN Headquarters, New York.
• Engages member states, NGOs, and UN agencies in discussions on gender-related policies.

PYQ:

[2009] With reference to the United Nations, consider the following statements:

1. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of UN consists of 24 member States.
2. It is elected by a 2/3rd majority of the General Assembly for a 3-year term.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2