The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) has called for equal representation of women and men in all PCB delegations, at its latest session, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27 to 29 June.

Tabled by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and seconded by Ghana, a decision point inviting delegations to continue to encourage and support equal representation of women and men in delegations to the PCB was adopted by consensus. The decision point came in response to a report by the UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, in which he highlighted gender equality and the empowerment of women as one of the core pillars of the Fast-Track approach to ending AIDS and a key priority in the repositioning of the Joint Programme.

The PCB members reflected that governing bodies are central to embedding gender equality in organizations and noted that this is an area in which UNAIDS can again demonstrate its commitment to gender equality.

The UNAIDS Executive Director noted how fostering a culture that empowers women within organizations leads to progress in parity. He shared results from the UNAIDS Secretariat Gender Action Plan, including an increase in women in country director positions (from 27% in 2013 to 48% in 2017) and an increase in the percentage of women in middle management and higher levels, from 44% in 2013 to 48% in 2017.

Gender parity on delegations of governing bodies has been strongly advocated by the International Gender Champions. UNAIDS and the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Co-Chair the International Gender Champions impact group on change management, which aims to identify and overcome institutional barriers that prevent women’s influence and advancement.