“It is … right and indeed necessary that women should be engaged in … decision-making processes in all areas, with equal strength and in equal numbers.” These are the words of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in his speech to mark this year's International Women's Day which was celebrated on March 8. For a number of years the United Nations has been planning and implementing reforms to improve its effectiveness. However, current initiatives to reform the UN have women wondering if the organization is not merely paying lip service to the principle of gender equality.