New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Thursday for more integration of women into work usually handled by men, saying the world has at its disposal "the most significant and yet largely untapped potential for development and peace.""Gender equality is not only a goal in itself, but a prerequisite for reaching all other international development goals," Ban told a meeting attended by leaders of women's groups.
The UN has designated March 8 each year as International Women's Day and the meeting at UN headquarters preceded the event.
Ban said he plans to double the staff and increase the resources of the office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. His proposal needs approval by the UN General Assembly.
He also proposed using public resources to reduce the gender gap and increase women's involvement in the decision-making process in society and financing infrastructure projects like roads, sanitation and water supply to respond to women's need in developing countries.
