"True revolution" takes place at UN with respect to gender parity, says French envoy

UNITED NATIONS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- French ambassador to the UNited Nations Francois Delattre said Friday that there is a "true revolution" regarding gender parity at the UN.

"There is a true revolution taking place at the UN with respect to gender parity," Delattre told reporters Friday afternoon, adding that "this priority is no longer a footnote as was too long the case."

"It is no longer PR or marketing," said Delattre, who is holding the UNprecedented "joint presidency" for March and April with German ambassador Christoph Heusgen.

Delattre told reporters about his impressions of an event held Thursday at the French mission residency in New York marking the International Women's Day together with the UN Women and the mission of TUNisia.

"Girls' access to education, women's empowerment and the fight against all kinds of violence towards women and girls are now really central to the UN efforts," he said.

"It's the case of the General Assembly. It's the case of the Security CoUNcil," he said.

The Senior Management Group of the UN, which has been a staUNch supporter and promoter of gender parity, has 23 women occupying senior positions as against 21 men in the hierarchy, according to statistics.