Gender equality and the empowerment of women are essential to economic and social development, including the achievement of all Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The topic will be discussed in a high-level segment of the session of the Economic and Social Council, held in New York from 28 June to 2 July 2010, on the theme ?Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to gender equality and empowerment of women?. FAO participates in the meeting which is also a contribution to the up-coming High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, on 20-22 September 2010, due to focus on accelerating