Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that 8 March 2008 was International Women's Day, he will outline efforts being made at an international level in order to ensure true gender equality, in particular in view of the 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which was held in New York and ended recently. [10292/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is committed to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and is involved in a variety of initiatives at international level to this end. The Irish delegation participated actively at the 52nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which met in New York recently and my colleague, Sean Power, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with special responsibility for Equality Issues, addressed the high level segment of the Commission on 27 February.

The main focus of this year's session of the Commission was "Financing for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women", in recognition of the need for resources to ensure gender equality. Ireland, along with our EU partners, was actively involved in the negotiation of the conclusions on this topic, which were agreed at the closing session on Friday 7 March. These conclusions recognise that gender equality and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all are essential to advance development, peace and security. In addition to the agreed conclusions, the Commission also adopted a number of resolutions on topics such as the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and the girl child, female genital mutilation and the release of women and children taken hostage in armed conflicts.

Ireland also plays an active role in the negotiation and adoption of resolutions at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council aimed at promoting the rights of women and girls. As a State Party to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, Ireland is committed to implementing the provisions of the Convention and ensuring the elimination of gender based discrimination. In Europe, the European Union actively fosters gender equality, with a particular focus on growth and employment and social inclusion and makes available European Social Funds to support gender equality initiatives. The EU also focuses on women at all levels of decision making. The Council of Europe also maintains a significant programme of work in relation to women's human rights and other gender equality measures.