India contributes $1 million to UN women's body

Underscoring its commitment to the UN's body on gender equality and women empowerment, India has contributed $1 million to the organisation for the current financial year.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj handed over the cheque as India's contribution to the core voluntary budget of UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) to Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka here yesterday for the 2014-2015 financial year.

The contribution constituted the fifth installment of India's multi-year pledge to provide core predictable funding to UN Women's resources and takes India's existing total contribution to $5 million to the UN body.

Swaraj reaffirmed the Indian government's steadfast commitment to the goals of UN Women, including gender equality, gender mainstreaming and highlighted the important role played by UN Women in the formulation of the post-2015 Development Agenda, including the use of information and communication technology for development, according to a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

India is one of the founding members of the Executive Board of the UN Women, and is presently serving on the UN Women's Executive Board.

Image: The United Nations logo is displayed on a door at U.N. headquarters in New York.

Photograph: Joshua Lott/Reuters