New York  - Despite government pledges to uphold gender equality, men still outnumber women in top decision-making positions in governments as well as in the private sector, the UN Development Fund for Women said Thursday.

Measures are needed to track progress that governments and multilateral organizations have made in implementing their commitments to enhancing women's rights, the fund said in a report released before the start of the UN General Assembly next week.

The report - Progress of the World's Women 2008/2009, Who Answers to Women? Gender and Accountability - said women still have a long way to go to ensure that pledges in their favour are realized.

The report said men outnumber women 4 to 1 in legislatures and women earn on average 17 per cent less than men do. One-third of women are victims of gender-based violence during their lifetimes, and one in 10 women dies while pregnant although inexpensive healthcare exists, it said.

It said accountability measures work best for women when they can ask for explanations, information and compensation or investigations when needed.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave support to the report, saying, "If any man asks why I support better accountability to women, here's my response: because a government that answers to women will answer to you, too."

Gender equality is part of UN efforts to improve the lives of people around the world. (dpa)