Ministerial meeting WPS-FPS at ONU headquarters, New York, 21 sept. 2023 21.09.2023
On September 21, at the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in New York, took place the ministerial meeting of the Global Network of National Focal Points on the theme „Women, peace and security”.
The level of representation of the participants and the venue of the activities made the meeting the most important event in the program of the co-presidency assumed by the USA and Romania in 2023.
The meeting was moderated by the National Focal Points of the USA and Romania, Katrina Fotovat and lieutenant colonel Manuela Elena Bercea, Chief of Gender Management Office in the Ministry of National Defense, the proceedings being opened by the State Secretary of the USA, Antony Blinken, the Ministy of foreign affairs of Romania, Luminița Odobescu, the executive director of UN Women, Sima Bahous.
The Romanian delegation to this event included: the representatives of the Permanent Mission of Romania to the UN, the director of the National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men, Gianina Dimitrescu, and the military representative of Romania to the UN, colonel Sorin Bucur.
During the work of the meeting, the interventions were supported at the highest level of representation, respectively: prime ministers, foreign ministers, state secretaries and general directors of international organizations.
Romania promotes and supports fair and balanced access in all fields, at all hierarchical levels for men and women, military or civilian personnel, in both management and executive positions, respecting performance-based selection criteria.
The next important event on the agenda of the co-presidency will be hosted by Romania, in Bucharest, between November 7-9, 2023, and will represent a new opportunity for the continuation of the exchange of ideas and best practices between the representatives of the Global Network of National Focal Points.
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In 2023, Romania and the United States co-chair the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network (WPS -FPN, Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network).
The Global Network of National Focal Points was established in 2016, at the initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to strengthen the implementation process of the Women, Peace and Security Agendaat the level of the UN member states, by sharing good practices and improving the coordination of programs of funding and assistance.
The Network currently has 100 members and operates under the guidance of the UN, with UN WOMEN providing the secretariat.