In 1994, the value of a Secretariat-wide
network of Departmental Focal Points for women was recognized.
The terms of reference of the Departmental Focal
Points were first issued in the form of a memorandum
dated 27 June 1994 from the Assistant Secretary-General
for Human Resources Management to the heads of departments.
The revised terms of reference was issued on
20 December 1999 as a Secretary-General's Bulletin.
Role of the Focal
Points
The
main role of
the Departmental Focal Points
is
to inform and assist the Focal Point for Women in keeping
abreast of opportunities to improve the status of women
in their departments or offices.
In
addition, they assist the Focal Point and the Office
of the Human Resources Management in identifying qualified
women for departmental vacancies.
They also brief management and staff on current
General Assembly mandates, the Secretary-Generals strategies
and organizational policies for improving the status
of women, and they mentor and counsel staff of their
departments
The
Terms of Reference
Their basic functions
include: to support the Head of Department or
office or regional commission in fulfilling his or her
responsibilities for the achievement of gender equality;
any mechanism to advise the head of department or office
on the selection of staff for vacant posts in the Professional
category and above; to serve as ex officio members of
any mechanism advising on special post allowances for
staff in the professional and general service and related
categories; to assist the Special Adviser on Gender
Issues in monitoring efforts to achieve gender equality;
to assist the Special Adviser in the development of
policies and programmes for the achievement of gender
equality; to counsel and advise women staff within their
department or office on issues affecting their career
development or conditions of service; to meet with managers
and staff in the department to discuss the implementation
of the special measures; and to serve as ex officio
members on local appointment and promotion committees
at offices away from UN headquarters.
Selection Process
Departmental
focal points are appointed by the Head of Department,
following staff-management consultations at the departmental
or office level. Alternatively either the head
of department or the staff representatives of the department
may request a secret-ballot election, which shall be
organized under the supervision of representatives of
both staff and management of the department or office
concerned.
Departments
shall select at least one departmental focal point and
one alternate.
Currently, the larger departments (DESA and DGAACS)
have two representatives and two alternates.
Representatives
and alternates participate equally in the focal point
meetings and discussions. However, if the representative
is present, he or she has the right to vote on a proposal.
The alternate may only vote in the absence of
the representative.
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