CEDAW/C/1996/3/Add.1 English Page 11 Participation of Women in WHO. In this role, she works in close collaboration with the Joint Committee. The terms of reference of the Adviser include identifying women both inside and outside the Organization with potential for appointment to decision-making and policy-making positions in WHO and stimulating a search for qualified women candidates for posts throughout WHO, through contacts with colleagues, member States, other agencies, universities, research centres and NGOs. The Adviser is part of the ad hoc and senior staff selection committees in order to contribute to the equitable consideration of women candidates for vacant posts in the Professional and higher categories. A mechanism exists to monitor progress towards the achievement of the Organization's objectives for increasing the participation of women at all levels in WHO. The Adviser reports regularly to the Director-General on current trends and on further action needed to achieve increased participation of women in WHO's programmes. Women at decision-making levels 38. At headquarters, the proportion of women in Professional and higher categories increased from 27 per cent in 1993 to 29 per cent in September 1994 and 30.1 per cent in September 1995. There are now 2 women in the current 18 ungraded posts. The overall WHO total stood at 25.8 per cent. The agreed overall target of 30 per cent of women in Professional and higher graded posts throughout WHO by 30 September 1995 has not been met, although there was some slight improvement from 1994-1995. 39. For all established WHO offices, the percentage of women from P-1 to the ungraded level rose from 24.8 per cent in November 1993 to 26.5 per cent in September 1994 and to 27.3 per cent in September 1995. The proportion of women at higher-graded categories is well below the proportion of women in categories P-1 to P-4, indicating a disproportionate concentration of women at lower grades. Further efforts are required by management at all levels of the organization to achieve as a minimum the 30 per cent target for representation of women in the Professional categories in the near future. WHO has already taken action based on the policy statement on the status of women adopted by the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC). Policy documents and decisions regarding women in development 40. WHO policy is set by World Health Assembly resolutions. Those with particular reference to women in recent years are listed below. WHA48.19 Reproductive health: WHO's role in the global strategy Notes the present fragmentation of reproductive health activities within WHO, calls for a more coherent approach in priority setting, programme development and management, underlines the need to coordinate with other United Nations agencies, and urges member States to develop further and strengthen their reproductive health programmes. /...

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