Source: Coastweek
Michelle Bachelet'S organization would be working on women equality and empowerment, economic empowerment, end violence against women and women's physical security

The United Nations (UN) Women, the newest UN entity, said on Tuesday that it will be working together with governments, women and other associations and stakeholders by focusing on four priority areas to ensure women's equality and their empowerment in the community they live.

Michelle Bachelet, UN Women Under-secretary General and Executive Director, who was in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , for events that took place on the sidelines of the 16th AU Summit, told Xinhua that her organization would be working on four priority areas including, women equality and empowerment, economic empowerment, ending violence against women, and women's physical security.

Bachelet who was also the former President of Chile, said the UN Women which is going to be launched in February 2011 in New York, would be working to ensure gender equality and women empowerment.

"We have defined four priorities; these are global priorities, and of course the priority change from country to country; but I believe that gender equality and women empowerment- that is our task," she said.

"Gender equality would not be reached if women are not empowered; because women are not empowered that they are not relevant and decisions are not taken," she said.

The Executive Director said women have many problems and challenges, and the UN Women would be working to address the issues.

"There are so many priorities for a government; so we decided we need more women in leadership; in some areas women have a big gap; for example in rural areas access to education has the gap and has decreased between men and women, girls and boys have access to education; and in health, they have access to health, it can be good or bad and the gap is diminished.

"But, when you see economics, there is huge gap and when we see women in politics, that is the biggest gap; so we decided we need to empower women, we need women to be relevant; we need more women in decision making positions," she said.

The Executive Director also said the UN Women wants to see women and their active participation in every activity and aspect of life. She also said women would be very active can make influence when they assume decision making positions.

"For example in some countries when you need to pass a law for example, a law ending violence against women, women parliamentarians can be very active on that and help convince all parliamentarians," said Bachelet.

"In many parts of Africa, parliamentarians have been able to introduce for example laws that give the land rights to women; we want women everywhere in different areas, in the justice system, in the banks, in the CEO, in corporate sector, everywhere; so one thing let's support women's capacity and develop skills in leadership and in negotiation," she said.

She also said the UN Women would be working to help women be successful in the economic area.

According to the Executive Director, the Organization would be working with a particular focus on women in rural areas, who together with their husbands work on agriculture.

"For example, women in rural areas are working on agriculture; but they don't have water supply, they don't have storages, and they lose their products; they don't have the access to markets; so we will have a plan to empowering women; but also trying to ensure the possibility of women to have land rights, because sometime women are married; they work together with their husbands, but the husbands die, and in many countries the land will be given to a son, but if she doesn't have a son to an uncle, to whoever, but she is the only working on the land; so we need to improve this situation," said Bachelet.

She further said working to end violence against women is another top priority the UN Women is going to work on.

She also said her Organization would work to raise awareness among boys and men on the issue, and call on their commitment for the campaign.

Women physical security is also another area the UN Women works on with priority, said Bachelet.

The Executive Director said the UN Women would closely work with peacekeeping departments to prevent violence against women in conflict and post-conflict countries.

The organization which has global mandate, would also work with communities and other stakeholders to address the problem.

Africa needs a lot of support; though the women made progress compared to many years ago, there remains a lot to be done, she said.

"Our mandate is global; we are going to work with all countries that have money may need technical assistance," she said.

The Executive Director revealed that the UN Women will be launched in every region