The current process of reform of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the preparation of a new 6-year strategy for 2001-2006 provide an opportunity to integrate fully into its planning, programming, implementation, and evaluation a gender mainstreaming practice advocated by the United Nations and other major intergovernmental bodies (the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the European Union, the Council of Europe), private foundations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), particularly since the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, China, September 1995). The implementation of UNESCO's major commitments regarding the achievement of gender equity and equality in the period between 1995 and 2000 is presented in 3 parts in this summary review. Part 1 outlines major policy decisions, adopted since 1995 by the General Conference, linked to relevant United Nations decisions on matters concerning the advancement of women and gender equality, and explains what gender mainstreaming means. Part 2 summarizes UNESCO's achievements of the past 5 years. Part 3, "Elements for UNESCO's Future Gender Mainstreaming Strategy" is a preliminary outline, indicating gender equality issues that have emerged as priorities and for which UNESCO has a comparative advantage because of its multidisciplinary mandate; and how gender mainstreaming can be integrated into the organization's work in terms of policy and organizational/practical considerations. Data and graphs are annexed. (Contains 18 notes.) (BT)