Equal rights & equal opportunities for women

It has been 15 years since Governments from around the world adopted The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995. Among the 12 critical areas of concern specified in the Platform, much has been achieved. However, many issues such as gender stereotypes, unequal responsibilities and violence against women still stand in the way of full gender equality and global empowerment of women. Read more

Sustainable development for small island states

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) share economic difficulties and development imperatives with other developing countries. However, as small island states, they also have their own unique vulnerabilities and characteristics, which make their pursuit of sustainable development particularly complex.

Forty-three SIDS and territories all through the world are monitored by DESA, in terms of their sustainable development. Such development should be seen in relation to both the needs and aspirations of human beings, and their responsibility towards present and future generations. Read more

Top executives and philanthropy leaders to promote gender equality

The United Nations launched a new effort today to expand its partnership with the private sector and philanthropies in the battle for complete gender equality and the empowerment of women.

“To the private sector, we look to you to exercise even more leadership for gender equality starting from the top,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a special event at UN Headquarters, attended by some 300 representatives of foundations, private companies, academia and civil society organizations. Read more

Technical reports

2010 World Public Sector Report: Restructuring Public Administration after Conflict

The report emphasizes that because post-conflict situations are heterogeneous, there are no “one size fits all” solutions to governance challenges. In each country, public administration reforms should be tailored to local needs. The report also highlights that contrary to commonly held belief, post-conflict situations not only present challenges, but also offer numerous opportunities to leapfrog stages of development by adopting innovative practices in public administration, particularly the application of ICTs in government and service delivery in the information age we all live in. Read more

Mr. Vincenzo Aquaro was appointed, effective 1 February 2010, as Chief, Knowledge Management Branch, Division for Public Administration & Development Management. Before joining the United Nations, Mr. Aquaro was the Chairman of the Board and CEO of Formit Servizi S.p.A., a leading company in the field of e-governance advisory, management and monitoring services. He was also a member of the Scientific Committee of FORMIT Foundation, and President and CEO of CARMA Research Consortium, with offices in Rome, Naples, Bari, Brussels and Moscow. Read more