NEW YORK (TIP): Ambassador Asoke K Mukerji, Permanent Representative of India to the UN handed over, December 6, a check for US$ 1 million towards Government of India’s contribution to the core voluntary budget of UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) for the financial year 2013- 2014. This contribution constitutes the fourth installment of India’s multi-year pledge to provide five million US dollars as core predictable funding to UN Women’s resources, and takes our existing contribution to US$ 4 million to UN Women, so far.

The check was received on behalf of UN Women, by H.E. Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women. On this occasion, Ambassador Mukerji also reaffirmed the Government of India’s steadfast commitment to the goals of gender equality, the empowerment of women and gender mainstreaming, as enshrined in the mandate of UN Women. He also encouraged UN Women to focus on increasing the use of ICT and new technologies for empowerment of women. India was one of the founding members of the Executive Board of the UN Women.