In order to ensure gender mainstreaming as an integral part of all its activities, the Economic and Social Council, in 2001, established a new regular sub-item (7e) on its annual agenda on "Mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes of the United Nations system" under the agenda item on "Coordination, programme and other questions". The purpose of this item is to monitor and evaluate achievements made and obstacles encountered by the United Nations system, and to consider further measures to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of gender mainstreaming within the United Nations system (ECOSOC resolution 2001/41).

On 11 June 2002, the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, in collaboration with the Division for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, organized a panel discussion on "Gender mainstreaming in the functional commissions of ECOSOC", to support preparations for the Council's deliberations under the new sub-item 7(e).