The United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) was created in 1975 by several agencies of the United Nations system to serve as a bridge between the UN and civil society organizations. It was established on the belief that meaningful civil society engagement in UN processes and deliberations is essential for the realization of the goals of the Organization and the pursuit of global democratic governance.

The goal of NGLS is to strengthen the relations between the United Nations and civil society. Given its distinctive UN inter-agency nature, NGLS is uniquely placed to foster dialogue and greater coherence around the main issues on the UN agenda (development, human rights, environment, peace and security, and humanitarian affairs).

Please find the link below for NGLS update:

• NGLS Update

Established in 1969, the Women's National Commission is the official and independent advisory body giving the views of women to the government of the United Kingdom. It is an umbrella organisation representing women and women's organisations inEngland,Northern Ireland,Scotland and Wales to ensure women's views are taken into account by the government and are heard in public debate.

The WNC is based alongside the Government Equalities Office, which was formed from the Women and Equality unit established in 1997 as the Women's Unit, to support the Ministers for Women.

The WNC is an advisory Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB), meaning it is fully funded by government but able to comment freely on government policy. In its unique role, the WNC liaises with, and is consulted by, the Government Equalities Office, as well as other government departments.

For further information please visit: www.thewnc.org.uk

On 14th September 2009 the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on System-wide Coherence. This resolution gives the much-awaited go-ahead for the creation of a single, strong UN women’s rights agency, headed by an Under Secretary-General. We at the European GEAR Campaign Working Group think that the UNGA resolution is a historic moment, which has the potential to start a new era for women’s rights globally.

We would like to thank you for working with us to make this possible, but also to remind you that individuals and civil society organization all around the world will have to continue to speak out and press their governments to ensure that the new UN women’s rights agency will be operational as soon as possible.

Because the text of the resolution is short and vague, swift action has to be taken on its provisions over the coming months in order to concretely set up the new agency. A number of important issues concerning the mandate and the mission, field presence, governance and funding need to be worked out by the UN secretariat and agreed on by the UN member states. Also the process to appoint the head of the new women’s agency and the search for suitable candidates has to be kicked off. If all goes well, the new UN gender equality entity could be launched already in March 2010, during the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

In the present edition of our newsletter we have gathered you information on how the creation of the gender equality entity is advancing at the UN, as well as of the recent GEAR Campaign activities globally and in the regions. Visit our website www.un-gear.euor contact us at campaign@un-gear.eufor all the latest news!