Miguel de Serpa Soares

Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, United Nations

Notwithstanding progress made in some areas to further gender equality, we cannot be complacent. Gender mainstreaming is not just about achieving equality in numbers. Gender equality and parity is possible only with a culture that fosters empowerment and respect. My Office will remain at the forefront of efforts to support the implementation of relevant international commitments, in particular those goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development most relevant to matters of gender equality and the global representation of women.

I support the IGC Panel Parity Pledge.

I support the IGC gender-based violence pledge.

Personal Commitments

I commit to mainstreaming, to the extent possible, gender equality in training materials used in capacity-building programmes and activities implemented by the Office of Legal Affairs, encourage nominations of female candidates for such programmes and strive to ensure gender parity of participants.

I commit to encouraging gender balance in various bodies and in relevant events and processes serviced by the Office of Legal Affairs.