Women Ambassadors Network

[WIPO Magazine - May 2000, page 19]

Twenty-five women ambassadors to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva gathered at WIPO on June 26 for the presentation of the newly created website of the Women Ambassadors Network. The network, which will link counterparts in Geneva, New York and Vienna, is intended to communicate and inform as well as promote the exchange of ideas and debate on global gender-related issues.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the Permanent Representative of Gabon, Ambassador Yolande Biké, thanked WIPO for having reacted positively to the group's request for technical support to develop and host the website. The new site will also enable the private, secure exchange of information between the ambassadors.

The ambassadors exchanged ideas on further enhancing the efficiency and utility of the site and agreed on the importance of keeping the site up to date. They also discussed the possibility of introducing the site in languages other than English and French and considered creating links to domestic constituencies and non-governmental organizations interested in gender issues.

Launch of the Website

The network was officially launched on July 18 during the 2001 High-Level Segment meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The website can be accessed on http://www.womenambassadors.org and http://www.femmesambassadeurs.org.