UNIFEM Wins Political Innovation Prize for Gender-Responsive Budgeting Project in Senegal

Brussels — UNIFEM's Executive Director, Noeleen Heyzer, today called on all countries to incorporate gender analysis into their national budget processes by 2015. Heyzer addressed government officials during the opening session of an international conference hosted by the Belgian Secretary of State for Development Co-operation, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and UNIFEM to enlist commitments from countries to link gender equality and women's human rights to the distribution, use and generation of public resources.

"Budgets matter because they determine how governments mobilize and allocate public resources. They are used to shape policies, set priorities and provide the means to meet the social and economic needs of all citizens," said Heyzer. "Budgets matter to women because they are an indicator of government commitment to address women's specific needs."

Gender-responsive budget analysis was pioneered in Australia in 1994, with a federal government assessment of the budget impact on women. It refers to the analysis of actual government expenditure and revenue on women and girls as compared to men and boys. Today there are over 40 initiatives worldwide at varying stages of development.

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Source: UNIFEM News & Events