Departments and Offices
last updated 13 June  2013
 
 
The Office of the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI)
 
The Office of the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI) was established in 1997 to “promote and strengthen the effective implementation of the Millennium Declaration, the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) held in Beijing in 1995 and the Outcome Document of the special session of the General Assembly on Beijing+5.”[1] OSAGI:
 
·         Provides advice and assistance on gender issues to the Secretary-General,
·         Represents the Secretary-General at functions on gender issues,
·         Advocates for gender issues and gender mainstreaming in the United Nations,
·         Aids in structuring policies to improve the status of women in the United Nations,
·         Provides leadership to the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Women, Peace and Security, and other task forces.
 
In addition OSAGI manages the Interagency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE). It is a network of organizations, agencies, programs, and funds that focus on issues relating to gender equality and empowerment of women.[2]
 
 
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
 
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is mandated to promote and protect human rights as set forth in the UN Charter and international treaties and laws and to prevent abuses of human rights worldwide. The OHCHR has four divisions:
 
  • The Research and Right to Development Division promotes and protects the right to development, also focuses on women’s rights, trafficking in persons, and developing gender initiatives.
  • The Human Rights Treaties Division provides support to the ten human rights treaty bodies that are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the core international human rights treaties.
  • The Human Rights Council and Special Procedures Division furnishes support to the Human Rights Council through substantive and organizational means.
  • The Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division primarily supports other human rights mechanisms and bodies, and provides technical assistance.[3]
 
The OHCHR also created The Women’s Rights and Gender Section (WRGS) which focuses on:
 
  • Facilitating gender mainstreaming within the OHCHR,
  • Developing policies, research, and advice,
  • Coordinating the OHCHR’s activities on gender and women’s human rights,
  • Ensuring that OHCHR personnel receive gender-based and women’s human rights training,
  • Coordinating OHCHR’s involvement in activities across agencies that concern women,
  • Developing partnerships with other UN bodies and civil societies to promote women’s human rights.
 
In September 2011, OHCHR published a Gender Equality Policy, which “provides internal guidance on how the Office will ensure that a gender perspective and integration of women’s human rights are reflected throughout” the Office’s actions and policies.[4]
 
 

[1] “About the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI),” UN Women, http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osaginew/index.html.
[2] About the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI),” UN Women, http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osaginew/aboutosagi.htm.
[3] “Structure,” About OHCHR, http://www2.ohchr.org/english/ohchrreport2011/web_version/media/pdf/2_About_OHCHR.pdf.
[4] “Annex III: Elements Response from Panelists,” Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/women/AnnualDiscussion2011.htm.