UN Gender, Human Rights and Youth Theme Group

It provides feedback and advises the UN Country Team (UNCT) and Outcome Working Groups to ensure that gender and human rights are mainstreamed in the planning and implementation of UN activities.

Role and Responsibilities

• Coordinate, intervene and support all activities on the policy and programmatic levels related to gender mainstreaming and promotion of human rights
• Support the mainstreaming of these cross-sectoral issues throughout the programming in all outcome areas, and through the development of new project proposals
• Promote dialogue and cooperation on general or specific human rights and gender issues and mobilize agencies around particular advocacy events related to key gender and human rights issues
• Provide education and training of gender and human rights focal points at all levels to ensure efficient mainstreaming in programmes.

Role of the Chair of the Task Force

• Convene meetings of the Task Force
• Coordinate inputs from team members, and ensure follow up on actions where required
• Liaise with the RCO to receive strategic input from Non-Resident Agencies
• Monitor implementation of the work plan

Composition

Each Task Force will be co-chaired by two designated UN Agencies and will be composed of at least one representative from each Outcome Working Group. The Chair of the Task Force will be appointed by its members.

Working arrangements

The Task Force may meet as often as necessary to carry out their responsibilities (minimum on a monthly basis). The Chair of the Task Force sits in UNCT meetings, when required, and provides reports to the UNCT and Heads of their respective Agencies.

Note: While the Gender and Human Rights Theme Group is a Task Force focused on particular cross-cutting themes, additional Task Forces may be created as needed within the UN Lesotho. These Task Forces will hold similar roles and responsibilities, with the major differences occurring along thematic lines.