the Commission at its thirty-second session. The concept of affirmative action in the United Nations implied more than providing the legal framework for equal opportunities for women and men; it meant creating an organizational climate in which women could actually reap the benefit of their legal rights. The Co-ordinator reviewed the achievements of the action programme adopted by the General Assembly in that regard, as well as the activities of the Steering Committee for the Improvement of the Status of Women in the Secretariat, the Office of Human Resources Management and her own office to implement the action programme. 9. Responding to questions from several representatives, the Co-ordinator noted that in 1983 the General Assembly had set a target of 25 per cent for the representation of women in United Nations posts subject to geographical distribution. By 1985, that target had not been reached, but the Assembly in its resolution 40/258 B of 18 December 1985 had approved the action programme and set v new target of 30 per cent to be attained by 1990. In 1985 the proportion of women in such posts was 23.1 per cent and in 1988, 26.1 per cent. The currrent financial crisis and retrenchment policies, however, impeded attempts to increase the percentage of women in such posts. There had been a decrease in the number of women at the Assistant Secretary-General level. Among staff from the African region, the proportion of women declined from 12 per cent in 1985 to 11.4 per cent in 1987. The Co-ordinator cited specific problems in the United Nations national recruitment programmes and in the staffing of some of the regional commissions. 10. The Director of the Division for Interorganizational Co-operation and Programme Development of the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat mentioned that a. number of general 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the representation of women in the United Nations and the efforts made to increase their participation. It mentions the legal framework, organizational climate, and action programs to promote equal opportunities. The focus is on the internal workings of the UN and its efforts to improve the status of women within the organization, rather than on specific economic or environmental issues.

**Category**
Employment