The two-week long Commission on the Status of Women, the largest annual intergovernmental forum on women’s rights, kicked off at the U.N. headquarters this week, drawing thousands of nongovernmental organizations and civil society activists to New York, despite some concern over the impact of President Donald Trump’s travel ban on participation.
In a side event on Monday — one of the few before a snowstorm temporarily brought events to a halt — this year’s theme of women’s economic empowerment was brought into focus with a discussion on gender-responsive budgeting.
This tool, which addresses gender bias in government planning, policies and spending, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Yesterday, experts were on hand from Kenya, Tunisia, Morocco, Austria and Mexico to share their experiences in introducing and strengthening budgets to help ensure women have equal opportunities, as well as children, people living with disabilities, and others.
About the author
Amy Liebermanamylieberman
Amy Lieberman is the U.N. Correspondent for Devex. She covers the United Nations and reports on global development and politics. Amy previously worked as a freelance reporter, covering the environment, human rights, immigration, and health across the U.S. and in more than 10 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Nepal, and Cambodia. Her coverage has appeared in the Guardian, the Atlantic, Slate, and the Los Angeles Times. A native New Yorker, Amy received her master’s degree in politics and government from Columbia’s School of Journalism.
