Meaning: This quote by Jenny Shipley, a former Prime Minister of New Zealand, addresses the importance of integrating women's concerns into all aspects of the United Nations' activities and structures. It reflects the ongoing global conversation about gender equality and the need to ensure that women's perspectives and issues are given due consideration in the decision-making processes of international organizations. The quote emphasizes the significance of not marginalizing women's concerns within any part of the UN Secretariat, highlighting the necessity of mainstreaming gender perspectives across all its functions.

In this statement, Jenny Shipley is articulating New Zealand's stance on the inclusion of women's concerns within the United Nations' framework, underscoring the country's commitment to advancing gender equality and women's rights on the international stage. The quote suggests that New Zealand recognizes the importance of addressing gender disparities and promoting the full integration of women's perspectives in global governance and decision-making processes.

The United Nations, as a global organization, plays a crucial role in addressing various social, economic, and political issues around the world. Ensuring that women's concerns are fully integrated into its activities and structures is essential for promoting gender equality, women's empowerment, and the realization of women's rights globally. By advocating for the integration of women's concerns across all aspects of the UN's work, New Zealand is aligning itself with the broader efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable international system.

The notion of not marginalizing women's concerns within any part of the UN Secretariat reflects a recognition of the systemic barriers and biases that have historically limited women's participation and influence in decision-making processes. By emphasizing the need for full integration, Shipley's quote acknowledges the pervasive nature of gender inequality and the importance of addressing it at all levels of global governance.

New Zealand's advocacy for the integration of women's concerns into the UN's activities and structures aligns with the organization's own commitments to gender mainstreaming and the promotion of women's rights. Gender mainstreaming, as defined by the UN, involves the integration of a gender perspective into the preparation, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of policies and programs in all political, economic, and societal spheres. By actively promoting this approach, New Zealand is contributing to the broader efforts to advance gender equality within the UN system and beyond.

Furthermore, the quote reflects the recognition that issues affecting women are not confined to a specific area or department within the UN Secretariat. Rather, women's concerns permeate all aspects of the organization's work, including peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and more. By emphasizing the need for full integration, Shipley's quote emphasizes the interconnectedness of gender issues with the broader scope of the UN's activities and the necessity of addressing them comprehensively.

In conclusion, Jenny Shipley's quote encapsulates New Zealand's commitment to advancing gender equality and women's rights within the United Nations and the broader international community. It underscores the importance of integrating women's concerns into all aspects of the UN's activities and structures, highlighting the need to address gender disparities comprehensively and not marginalize women's perspectives within any part of the organization. By advocating for the full integration of women's concerns, New Zealand aligns itself with the global efforts to create a more inclusive, equitable, and gender-responsive international system.