Kelli Mack/ April 8, 2008/ 9:28 pm/ Gender Issues
Today, an International women's network (DAWN) voiced their discord with the decision of a the UN to name a Spaniard as the executive director of UNIFEM. They felt that the woman was named head because of financial obligations and political pressures from Spain, and other more qualified candidates were overlooked. The UN claims no connection between Spain's promise of 3 million euros ($3.9 million) to a UNIFEM managed trust fund to combat violence against women or political pressure and the naming of Ines Alberdi as executive director.
DAWN says it was informed that there was short list of six candidates and Indian Gita Sen was named the most qualified; however, political pressure from Spain caused the short list to re-examined and Alberdi named as head. DAWN feels that the system is deeply flawed and that it does not agree with the decision and the best candidate was not chosen.
I think the women of DAWN are overreacting. Yes, I think it is important to have a good leader especially for a committee on women, but DAWN does not have full factual information with evidence to back it up. Its arguments are made of hearsay, and they have no reason to doubt the power of the current executive director until they have seen some proof that she was not the best choice.
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN08391592
1 comment:
I agree, I mean, it isn't right to choose politics over merit, but it is nothing new, especially when it comes to positions of power. I think if the new executive director is really unqualified, it will show and that is when people can reasonable gripe.
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