WO=MEN in New York

Cairo Agenda reaffirmed

2011-04-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

Hilde Kroes, advocay officer of Rutgers WPF, a member organisation of Wo=Men is in New York at the 44th Session of the Commission on Population and Development.

After a very intense week, the UN delegations in the Commission on Population and Development reached a consensus. Until the very last minute, it was doubtful if they could agree on the package made by the facilitator. The negotiations reflected the polarization among states about sexual and reproductive health and rights. The Holy See, even though they represent the smallest 'country' in the world, was particularly vocal against ANY language in relation to sexuality, reproductive health, reproductive rights, gender, abortion, family planning, reproductive health services. They not only deny that people have sexual and reproductive rights, they also question the concept of sexual health, and deny that condoms prevent hiv transmission. They even disagree that unsafe abortions account for maternal mortality.

The Arab group, consisting of 22 countries, negotiated as a block against comprehensive sexuality education for young people. They successfully lobbied for the inclusion of the guidance of parents when it comes to young people’s sexuality. We are quite unhappy about that, but governments also pushed for strong language about young people’s sexual and reproductive health. The Arab Group also pushed for language on sovereignty of the states, which is very bad for those countries where governments really don’t care about women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

On the other hand, the Commission defended the progress made in advancing women’s rights and access to lifesaving health services, and reaffirms the commitment of an overwhelming majority of governments to reaching a key Millennium Development Goal. The MDG 5b target, universal access to reproductive health, is the most off track of all the MDGs. Especially countries like Zambia, South Africa, Urugay, Dominica, Brazil, the Netherlands and the Nordics were amazingly supporting our issues, countering concerns and deliberate misunderstandings of opposing countries.

We were with over 100 pro-choice people in New York supporting the delegations in their battle. This mobilization and the good relationships with the majority of UN member states shows that there is a strong global commitment towards achieving women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights of all, especially of young people!

The fight for sexual and reproductive rights and women's rights continues...

2011-04-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hilde Kroes, advocay officer of Rutgers WPF, a member organisation of Wo=Men is in New York at the 44th Session of the Commission on Population and Development.

Little over one month after the CSW, the world leaders gather again in New York to discuss the issue of "Fertility, Reproductive Health and Development", in light of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, that was signed in 1994. This annual meeting - the UN Commission on Population and Development - holds its 44th session this week.

We knew already about a year ago, that this session would be spectacular. Of all issues, the world seems to be most divided when it comes to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality. Discussions around development and how sexual and reproductive health and rights contribute to that, in terms of human rights, public health and eliminating poverty seems to be narrowed down to heated debates about abortion, sexuality education and reproductive health services. At least, by some states of which among in the Arabic region and the Vatican. They would rather have a world without sex (if it is not to make babies).

Obviously, such a world does not exist. And daily, thousands of women, of which many are young, face great challenges and risks in the sexual and reproductive health. In some areas in Sub Sahara Africa, complications around pregnancy and childbirth is the leading cause of death among women aged 15-19. Millions of young people lack access to comprehensive sexuality education and access to commodities and services. Yearly, over 350000 women die needlessly due to these complications, of which are many caused by unsafe abortions.

We know all that. And we are here - again - to remind governments about these facts, and the needs that need to be addressed. More updates, from the UN building, will follow. Stay tuned!

The final AGREED CONCLUSIONS of the CSW55 are out!!!

2011-03-17T02:12:00.000-07:00

For the Agreed Conclusions click here.

This year’s CSW produced setbacks in already agreed upon language from the Beijing Platform for Action. Negotiations between on the one hand: the Holy See, the Organization of Islamic States (Qatar, Iran, Yemen, Pakistan, Syria) and Benin (on behalf of the Africa Group), and on the other hand: Switzerland, European Union, Turkey, and Mexico, disagreed primarily on the terms “gender”, “gender mainstreaming”, “gender equality”, “gender based analysis”, “sexuality education”, “sexual and reproductive health”, “maternal health”, and WOMEN’S RIGHTS.

Opposition to these terms was strongly argued by the Holy See and the Africa Group. As a result of their efforts, references to early marriage and early child bearing were completely removed. On top of that, these delegations repeatedly asked for a “redefinition” of the term “gender”, to add “men and women” after this term, or to footnote reference to the definition included in the BPFA. They argued that if not defined as ‘men and women,’ gender would come to mean homosexuality, what these delegations fervently oppose. Gender equality as a term is now only used twice in the entire text!!

Allies for women’s and girls’ rights and choices, gender equality, and justice, tried their best to defend the universality of rights, and to prevent a move to "pre-Beijing ages". A statement by the EU delegation that was written as a response to the final version of the Agreed Conclusions, shows the concern about the developments during the CSW:

[…] we note with disappointment the concerns expressed throughout the negotiations by some delegations with regard to concepts such as “gender” and “gender stereotypes”. This language has been fully agreed in the past, including in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and is entirely consistent with efforts to promote the realization of gender equality. As such we were, and will remain, unwilling to go back to pre-Beijing concepts. Mr President, we hope that in the future, delegations can in fact move forward from agreed language and continue to further the overriding objective of the Commission, which is to accelerate and develop the full enjoyment and unhindered exercise of equal rights for women and girls all over the world. […]

For the full EU statement, click here.

What is to be done with the experience of this year’s CSW? By establishing links and connections between (women’s) organizations, a strong network can be build to advocate for the rights of all girls and women!! Also, keep an eye on the upcoming Commission on Population and Development (11-15 April) that will be on “fertility, reproductive health and development”.

VERY IMPORTANT: Don’t forget to come to the CSW de-briefing at WO=MEN in The Hague on April 4^th (3-5 pm)!

There are Agreed Conclusions!

2011-03-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

Last night around midnight we received the news: there are Agreed Conclusions for CSW55!

Through our e-mail list-serve we heard that one of the more progressive delegates described the outcome of the cumbersome negotiations as a relative 'happy end'. The Agreed Conclusions are adopted, even though content wise not ideal. From her point of view there is nothing in it which would fall behind Beijing or open the Beijing Platform for Action and the wording of gender, gender stereotypes etc. could be held. Furthermore, all of the following are in the text: 'life skills and sex education', 'sexual and reproductive health', equal sharing of responsibilities of ‘daily life and care work’ and 'multiple discrimination'.

They said that there is still no "clean text" because it still needs to be re-read with a clearer mind. In their first assessment they estimate that worse could be avoided and that there might even be some useful language in it. Also the atmosphere in the end was definitely better than in the past few days.

We can now say we look forward to the full text, which we will make sure to post when it is available. Though the outcomes of CSW55 are a relief, the tense negotiations that preceded it indicate that vigilance is required. This year's CSW was at first considered a relatively unimportant and predictable one, and then turned out to be a manifestation of seems to be a larger trend: conservative voices that fear progress. They seem to want to limit the rights of the individual, and people's right to make well-informed choices.

On the other hand, the outcome of the negotiations shows that there is a majority of countries that do not accept such a step back from past achievements. These countries did a great job in standing strong during the CSW negotiations. The many organisations and governments that recognize the importance of gender equality, with a broad interpretation of 'gender', should not rest on their laurels. We have to continue working together to give a positive answer to the feelings of fear and discomfort that conservatives are spreading. Because we stand for a world wherein diversity is appreciated and celebrated.

Today we leave New York and fly back to the Netherlands. Thank you for reading our blogs! We'll post the CSW55 outcome document as soon as it's available to us.

Latest news on outcome document of CSW55

2011-03-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Read our latest tweets on the 'Not Yet' Agreed Conclusions. Start from the bottom to follow the events in 'historical' order. We are leaving now because no news is coming out anymore....

dgenderplatform WO=MEN

Delegates are now walking around seeing if they can come to agreements amongst each other to propose to the chair #CSW55

1 hour ago Favorite Reply Delete

dgenderplatform WO=MEN

Progressive delegate:They all thought this #CSW55 would not be important, and now look what is happening...I have never seen this in my life

1 hour ago

dgenderplatform WO=MEN

#CSW55 is officially finished, no agreed conclusions yet. Negotiations are continuing. Seems overcoming gender stereotypes is the issue?

2 hours ago

dgenderplatform WO=MEN

gender equality is agreed in the conclusions, gender-sensitive curricula and overcoming gender stereotypes are still under pressure #CSW55

6 hours ago

Like-Minded Advocates for Gender Equality

2011-03-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

At the moment, negotiations about the Agreed Conclusions are continuing and slowly moving towards language that all country delegations can agree upon. In the previous blogpost we wrote about the obstructive attitudes of the Holy See as well as the African Group towards gender equality in the Agreed Conclusions of CSW55. Let us not forget that there are many individuals and organizations around the world, many of which are our partners, who support gender equality, freedom of choice, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights from a Catholic perspective.

Freedom of Choice

Catholics for Choice (CFC) stand for “a woman’s moral and legal right to follow her conscience in matters of sexuality and reproductive health”. This organization argues from a Catholic perspective that men and women can be trusted to make moral decisions about their lives. Within their programs, they promote condom use and provision of comprehensive sexuality education information. This enables boys, girls, women and men to feel comfortable about their sexuality and live a healthy life.

Priest against HIV/Aids

Irish priest Michael J. Kelly wishes to see structural changes in the status of women. He argues for the urgency for change due to the feminization of HIV/Aids since “without a frontal attack on the injustice of gender inequality – in church, state and every walk of life- the dominance of the epidemic will continue.” According to him, the “Catholic Church must move away from its own discrimination and gender stereotypes towards women and promote their ‘active empowerment’ within it and in society.”

Gender equality as a human right

The “Gender Policy of the Catholic Church of India” was written in 2010 during the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India. The document provides a whole chapter with religious argumentation in favor of gender equality. Moreover, they argue that equality between women and men is both a human rights issue and a pre-condition for, and indicator of, sustainable people-centered development.

Back to the pre-Beijing ages?!

2011-03-03T21:54:00.001-08:00

We can hardly believe it as we hear how the negotiations on the Agreed Conclusions are unfolding behind closed doors: there is a big debate on the inclusion of the word ‘gender’ in the document. Whether it is about gender equality, gender mainstreaming or the importance of gender studies: when gender is mentioned, the African Group (unclear which countries) seems to team up with the Holy See (that is not even a member state but only has observer status) to advocate for removing it altogether.

Why would anyone want to take gender out?

These conservative delegates have argued that there is no agreed definition, and that any definition provided they would not agree on anyway.

What then do they propose?

Replacement of ‘gender’ with words like ‘women and men’, ‘children’ and ‘the family’, or the deletion of the word gender altogether.

Why is that not a good development?

This would take us back to a focus on ‘sex’: women and men as biologically different and therefore with fundamentally different characteristics and qualities. What the Holy See has so eloquently called the recognition of the ‘female genius’ (they never gave a definition for that, but one can only assume it refers to something like the qualities that are inherently feminine, such as caretaking roles in the family).

How does one simple word like ‘gender’ make any difference?

That has to do with everything that the word gender stands for. The following definition of gender derived from the Beijing Platform for Action and articulated by the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI) and the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) now a part of UN-WOMEN, make it very clear:

[Gender] refers to the attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relationships between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes. They are context-specific and changeable. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a women or a man in a given context. In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities. Gender is part of the broader socio-cultural context. Other important criteria for socio-cultural analysis include class, race, poverty level, ethnic group and age.

Beijing Platform and Agreement for Action

To place this whole discussion in a historical perspective: more than 16 years ago, in 1995 (the same year that OJ Simpson was found NOT guilty and just three years after the Holy See finally admitted Galileo was right to state that the Earth rotates around the Sun, THAT’S how long ago!) the Beijing Platform and Agreement for Action was adopted by 197 governments at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. The Platform for Action is a broad-based agenda for promoting and protecting women’s human rights worldwide, which establishes the principle of shared power and responsibility between women and men in all arenas. The Beijing Declaration continues to be the global policy framework for gender equality, women’s human rights and the empowerment of women and girls. Most of all, the context of the declaration is very clear: it is about equality between WOMEN and MEN, nothing more and certainly nothing less.

Gender in jeopardy

Instead of focusing on the issues that future generations will face, the Holy See is making words like ‘gender’ (which has been defined by the feminist movement of the last century) sound controversial. This is a strategy being used in relation to other terms, such as ‘sexual and reproductive health’ and ‘maternal mortality’. Instead of finding language that helps us define the new challenges and ideas of the future, we are losing language that we have already developed.

Sinful sweets

But there is reason for optimism. While we are sitting here as young change makers supporting our delegations in the conference room, a supporter from the Holy See comes to offer us pure heart-shaped chocolates. We know that in the 1600s, chocolate was considered sinful and condemned by the Catholic Church. We are pleased to see that attitudes in the church have taken a 180 degree turn. Hopefully it won’t take another 400 years for the Holy See to endorse gender equality.

The Changed and the Change-makers

2011-03-02T14:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday’s side event The Changed and the Change-makers: Engaging Men and Boys to End Violence against Women and Girls was an example of the increasing consensus that involving men and boys in gender equality issues is essential for change. The session mainly evolved around practical examples for male involvement in ending violence against women.

Even in Finland?!

Jarmo Viinanen, Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, stated that there is no nation immune to the problem of violence against women. In Finland, an average of 100 women a year loose their life because of domestic violence. The country recently adopted a national action plan to stop violence against women. One of the key strategies is to address attidudes and behaviour models, a key audience of which are young men. Viinanen also expressed that though a lack of resources is a key challenge internationally, we should not overstate their importance. Ending violence against women is essentially about the political will to do so, and about overall equality between women and men in society.

UN Women and men

Michelle Bachelet emphasized that men and boys are key allies for change. Her presence at this event seems to express UN Women’s intention to actively involve men in its agenda. Joni had the honor of briefly talking to her, introducing WO=MEN and handing over our popular = button which expresses the importance of working on gender equality with all stakeholders, including women and girls, men and boys. Bachelet’s speech mainly focussed on the issue of violence against women, which is one of the five focus areas of UN Women, and closely related to the other areas of Peace & Security; Leadership & Participation; and Economic Empowerment.

Though Bachelet mentioned many succesful examples of male involvement worldwide (such as by Instituto Promundo in Brazil) she did not actually speak of any vision for the involvement of men in UN Women itself. Bachelet left after half an hour, rushing to the next event where she would be a key note speaker. We therefore had to pose our question on how UN Women envisions men’s involvement in the organization, to people in the audience. The answers were confusing and varied from a woman saying that it is about increasing political will for gender issues (was she insinuating that political will equals male involvement?!) and a woman from UNIFEM informing us that they have a MOU with MenEngage (a memorandum of understanding that expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action.) As an elderly lady from the audience later entrusted us, UN Women is still developing its strategies and there probably is not clarity yet on how to involve men. In our opinion, ‘branding’ and ‘marketing’ UN Women as a sexless organization that works on gender equality for both women and men, would be a good approach to start from.

Every man has a responsibility for change

Jimmy Briggs, an award winning journalist, explained about Man up: a global campaign to activate youth to stop violence against women and girls. Their call to action challenges each of us to “man up” and declare that violence against women and girls must end, through the universal platforms of sport, music, technology and the arts. Briggs: “Most of us see ourselves as good men, because we do not overtly suppress women. But no man can be allowed to be passive about the issues of women and girls, especially violence.” According to Briggs, ending violence against women in an impossible goal without changing the lives of men and boys around the world. For too long their absence has inhibited change and progress. Never before there was such global consensus for male involvement in VAW.

The Most Understanding Husband of Nepal award

Ronni Goldfarb and Jaya Luintel presented the success story of VOICES project and the ‘Most Understanding Husband campaign’ in Nepal of Equal Access International. Through the nation wide radio programme Samajhdari (“mutual understanding”) listeners present their marital dilemmas, on which other listeners can reflect. The idea is not to give answers, but to open a space for discussion and inform listeners on what their rights are. At first mainly women were listening, then the programme became so popular that men started listening too to keep up with their wives. VOICES decided to do a research asking men the question “what is masculinity?” and found out the main answer was: having control over my wife. In repsonse, VOICES launched the Most Understanding Husband campaign. To identify positive male role models, listeners could send a letter giving 10 reasons why they should be nominated most understanding husband of Nepal. Reactions came from all around the country. The nominees won a certificate with a photo of them and their wife together, which is uncommon in Nepal. As one man said: “I used to beat my wife. Nowadays I tell other husbands to listen to Samajhdari, in the hope that I can clear my sin.” VOICES considered the fact that men say they no longer have sex with their wife without her consent, their main achievement. Goldfarb pointed out that the most understanding husband award can be organized anywhere in any context, and they are going to take the idea global.

At the door of the conference room...

2011-03-01T20:35:00.000-08:00

In the blog post of Monday the 28^th titled ‘Youth Lobbying for amendments to Agreed Conclusions’, we explained how we started to work together with CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, and Youth Coalition to influence the Agreed Conclusions. This was only a drop of the numerous activities and developments that have followed.

A delicate equilibrium

This week is the most exciting week of the CSW, as during this week the delegations sit together to find consensus on the main topic. It is a tiresome process because every word (literally!) has to be discussed. For instance, some conservative countries do not agree with the terms ‘gender’ or ‘sexual and reproductive health and rights’. In that way, there is a whole list of terms that are controversial. On the other hand, there are more progressive countries, such as the Nordic countries, that are much more progressive. Since all will have to agree with what will be in the final documents, it depends on the willingness of the delegates to agree with certain words and sentences to get their own wish fulfilled at another place in the document. Basically, it’s an exchange of ‘favours’, a delicate equilibrium.

Lobby

Exactly here lies the entry point of our lobby activities: we need to get as many countries to prioritize the topics of sexual and reproductive health -and wherever possible ‘rights’ as well- and comprehensive sexuality education. Besides, there are some other amendments we wish to be fulfilled as we consider them crucial to the fulfillment of sexual and reproductive health and rights. An example is the reference to ‘gender stereotypes’, which is unacceptable to many conservative countries.

Linguistic support

Much of the proposed amendments are based on previously agreements –also called ‘agreed language’. Therefore, we look up the relevant agreed language to support what we would like to change and provide these to delegates. In that way, they stand very strong to bring this into the discussion. Armed with a number of copies, we stand at the door of the conference room (since we are not allowed inside) to talk to delegates whenever the go to the bathroom or get something to eat.

A long and tiresome process...

Today, the discussions took very long. It started at 1 pm in the afternoon and continued until late in the evening. Finally, the whole document was discussed and the exhausted delegates could go to their hotels. The moderator now needs to do his homework and include what is discussed in a new document. This document again will be discussed in the next two days… a new opportunity for lobbying!

To be continued…

"Doing Right is Doing Smart"

2011-03-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

Joint NGO Statement

Gender Equality and Sustainable Development

New York, March 1, 2011

As Einstein once said: “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it”

You, Me, all of us in this room here today need to realize that we are dependent on each other for a sustainable and just World!!

It is agreed by the World Community, that gender equality is crucial to the achievement of socially, economically and environmentally sustainable forms of development.

We urge member states to partner with civil society and private sector, nationally and internationally. Collaboration between these parties and governments is imperative to protect OUR global public goods.

Global Public Goods include:

- a clean and healthy environment;

- Food stability;

- a Global justice system;

- Economic and financial stability;

- Safety and security

It is a necessity that women equally participate as decision makers at all levels – within governments, civil society and the private sector- to protect these Global Public Goods.

Governments have the potential to create a supportive policy framework to stimulate the private sector to invest in gender equality. This is imperative to a true Green Economy, which is a necessity for us all and generations to come.

We recommend:

equal representation of women and young people at all levels;
governments to partner with businesses and multinationals, and to use policy instruments to commit the private sector to gender equality and sustainable development;
governments to actively engage civil society as an indispensable partner.

As Ban Ki-moon stated at the launch of UN Women: “To invest in women is the right thing to do, it is also a smart thing to do.”

Thank you for your attention,

Rineke van Dam, Junior representative of WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform

Signatures:

WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform, E-Quality, WIDE Network, International Alliance of Women, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, AMREF Flying Doctors, Vrouwenbelangen

Youth lobbying for amendments to Agreed Conclusions

2011-02-28T20:43:00.000-08:00

After giving ourselves about 1,5 day to catch some breath from the first full-power week of CSW, we were eager to get back to work again by the time it was Sunday afternoon. We had some quick sms and e-mail mobilization, and in the evening we met with Michiel Andeweg and Nathalia Pereira Vredeveld of Choice for Youth and Sexuality, and Maria Inés Romero and Sarah Kennell of Youth Coalition at the UNFPA office, to discuss our input as youth present here in New York, on the developments of last week, particularly the first draft of the Agreed Conclusions on the main theme.

Our amendments

It was truly inspirational to meet with this group of young people (19-28) with such clear opinions and ideas on how we could improve the conclusions. Within an hour we had formulated some concrete amendments. We all went back to our hotels and e-mailed around our input to each other. By the time it was 23:30, this document was the result: 4 concrete suggestions for amendments, referring to SRHR and HIV/Aids related issues, as well as a supporting comment on the removal of religious barriers, and the importance of acknowledging that different forms of the family exist around the world.

Though WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform is not a youth organization by itself, we do believe that working with youth is incredibly important. Being a hybrid network of individuals and organizations, we have played a role these days at the CSW in bringing various levels (you could also read years) of experience together and supporting NGO delegates of all ages to find each other and work together.

Lobby

Today we armed ourselves with 130 copies of the suggested amendments and headed to the Informals, where the government delegations discuss page by page the comments made by each country on the draft Agreed Conclusions. We handed out our amendments to every government delegate we could lay our hands on. In that way, we came to talk to delegates from a.o. Malawi, Austria, Zambia, Chile, and of course our own delegates from the Netherlands and the EU. We were truly pleased to find that many of those we did not know personally yet, were very open to us approaching them, and they were asking us to explain what this one-pager was about. We are confident we did the best we could to get our points across. The coming days it will be up to the delegates to pick these issues up and use them during the formal discussions.

National Council of Women Does not Represent Egyptian Women

2011-02-27T05:42:00.001-08:00

Egyptian women’s organisations make a firm statement that the Egyptian delegation at the CSW does not speak for the New Egypt. They are calling for real political, social, cultural and economic change and women’s agendas have to be part of it. Yet this will not be the case when people from the previous regime continue to be in power. The Coalition of Women’s NGOs in Egypt call on us to sign their petition for rapid dissolution of Egypt’s National Council for Women. You can read why below, and sign the petition here.

Women in the revolution

We interviewed Hibaaq Osman from international NGO el Karama and had e-mail contact with Mozn Hassan, Director of local NGO Nazra for Feminist Studies and Egypt Advisor for Global Fund for Women. They told us similar stories. The January 25 revolution was joined by all Egyptians who called for change. Women from different political views, cultural backgrounds, urban and rural classes, participated and were key actors. Hibaaq: “In Egypt, the women stood next to the men saying: we want change! Nobody said: ‘you are a woman so you can not participate.’ The women were good enough to stand next to the men.” The revolution reached certain results, one of which was the overthrow of the previous regime.

The New Egypt

Now these women find their voices in danger of being marginalized again. When the constitution and new political positions are negotiated, women are muted again. Hibaaq: “The same men that they were standing next to during the revolution, when they get into positions of power in the New Egypt, they say that women are less equal. This is a result of new actors getting integrated in systems of the old regime.” The old regime is also continued through women’s voices that fakely represent the New Egypt. Mozn: “The National Council for Women (NCW) which was headed by Suzan Mubarak, wife of previous president Hosni Mubarak, kept for years tryingg to manipulate the communities as a voice of Egyptian women. They did lots of fake unreal changes in order to show the international community that they are empowering women. What we learnt from the January 25 experience is that women who participated in it are refusing NCW & Suzan Mubarak rule, because it is part of the regime that we refuse. The trial of NCW at the CSW this year is giving the wrong message and a dangerous one, as if Egyptian women are supporting the previous regime. This is just wrong!”

Women demand their voices to be heard

How can we prevent women from being muted again? Hibaaq: “First of all, no-one is going to ‘give’ us anything. Women in Egypt should and will continue to demand our rightful place in the new systems. It is about time for a new generation that believes women are equal to men. My generation of women (she is about 40) was fighting for it, the new generation knows it and is out there asking for it.” Though this may largely be an internal matter, women’s representation at the CSW is something that concerns the international community, and one that we all can take action in. The Coalition of Women’s NGOs in Egypt hopes to distribute their statement by independent feminists &women's rights NGOs, refusing NCW representation, and have voices from all over the world supporting independent women to build the New Egypt with a clear gender agenda that could do real empowerment for women.

Launch of UN Women: ‘Honouring the Past, Envisioning the Future for Women and Girls’

2011-02-24T19:07:00.000-08:00

Today, history was written. Although, because of its name, it seems that the launch of UN Women is only meaningful for half of the population, namely women, we believe it should be celebrated by men as well. It is a signal that men cannot go about the world’s challenges alone, and that men and women, girls and boys should run the hurdles- and enjoy the fruits of their efforts TOGETHER.

We had almost given up already, thinking we would not be able to get access to the United Nations General Assembly Hall to attend the official Launch of UN Women. However, with our persistence, we found ourselves right there amongst all those government and NGO representatives to watch Ban Ki-moon, Princess Cristina of Spain and many other exemplary persons celebrating this big step in reaching gender equality across the world.

UN Women made a strong statement by opening the doors of the GA to civil society. The fact that we, as well as many other NGO representatives, were given access to the event ‘relatively’ easily is a symbolic indication of transparency, ownership and willingness to cooperate with civil society. It shows the recognition that “thanks to civil society, whose relentless effort has led to success, UN Women has been founded” (Ban Ki-moon).

To share the highlights of the great speeches that were given – they truly gave us goosebumps – here are some quotes!

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations and ‘man behind UN Women’:

“Establishing UN Women is possibly the best thing we could do.”

“I dream of a world where women can express themselves, make decisions, be capable leaders and can become a genetic engineer.”

“To invest in women is the right thing to do, it is also a smart thing to do”

Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Derector, UN Women:

“There is no limit to what women can do!”

“I am UN Women, we are UN Women!”

Joy Ogwu, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, UN Women Executive Board:

“Equal opportunities for women is not a gift, it’s a right we have long since earned.”

Quoting Nyerere (first President of Tanzania): “Is anyone fast on one foot?”

Princess Cristina of Spain:

“Women are key agents of change and empowerment”

“All women deserve dignity, respect and equity.”

Ted Turner, Founder of the UN Foundation (and the CNN):

“Evidence is clear, investing in women is the smartest thing to do for development”

“Public-private partnerships are essential for UN Women to reach its goals: for funds and for ‘minds’.”

Geena Davis, Academy-Award Winner:

“The reality is that gender stereotypes remain deeply entrenched in the media.”

“If they see it, they can be it.” (about the impact of positive role models in the media on boys and girls)

Other people who spoke were Christiane Amanpour, Joseph Deiss and Rakhi Sahi, as well as Shakira and Nicole Kidman through a video message and satellite connection.

The celebration finished with a song, ONE WOMAN, sang by a number of great artists and the United Nations International School Choir. The song was especially composed for this occasion. See the chorus below:

We are One Woman

You cry and I hear you

We are One Woman

You hurt, and I hurt, too

We are One Woman

Your hopes are mine

We shall shine

…ending with a General Assembly full of women, many activists for years –decades?- standing, clapping and deeply smiling with a twinkle of euphoria in their eyes. And even though our critical minds would have loved to see more MEN in this historic event, it is all quite moving to witness… UN Women has the potential to make a difference for so many women and girls, as well as boys and men. We wish Michelle Bachelet and the whole team of UN Women all the best in their efforts to fulfil this potential. We as civil society offer our support, skills and energy to work together to reach greater gender equality in every corner of the world.

Dutch government delegation

2011-02-24T18:35:00.000-08:00

To hear more about the latest developments in the formal UN member states' negotiations, today we (civil society) met with the Dutch delegation from OCW, Carlien Scheele and Charles de Vries, and the new Dutch Permanent Representative at the UN for gender and SRHR, Hinke Nauta.

EU negotiations

Carlien informed us about the EU negotiations on the Agreed Conclusions. Every year the EU member states come together during the CSW to negotiate amongst each other what they would like to change or add to the draft conclusions. Sometimes they largely agree, at other times they largely don’t, and it has happened that the EU split up in two blocks over more ‘controversial’ issues.

During the EU coordination meetings in the past few days, the Dutch delegation plugged a selection of our Joint NGO recommendations. After two EU meetings there was already agreement between the member states, a unicum in the at least a decade. The notion of women as agents of change was added to paragraph 4, as were the notion of education and training to stop violence against women (on initiative of OCW itself), women entrepreneurship, and reintegration of women and girls into formal education after pregnancy.

Regarding the often disputed topic of sexuality and reproductive health and rights education, an agreement was reached: the addition of the notion of ‘rights’ was not included. The Dutch delegation would have preferred it was and communicated this through informal means, however they chose to agree to maintain coherence within the EU delegation.

Yesterday the EU finalized their input. On Monday the EU will start negotiating with the other UN member states. Carlien and Charles will continue supporting the spokesperson for the EU from the sideline. In the meantime they continue their efforts to explore the field for including LGBT issues in the CSW and UN Women.

Dutch Permanent Mission at the UN

Last but most certainly not least, WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform and Choice for Youth and Sexuality met with Hinke Nauta, who is since a couple of months the new Dutch Permanent Representative at the UN for gender and SRHR. It was an informal meeting where we introduced ourselves and our work, and exchanged thoughts on important issues and possible solutions. The visions in which we can definetly find each other include the importance of involving youth in gender and SRHR issues, and the importance of working with boys and men.

Today: Launch of UN Women!

2011-02-24T06:27:00.000-08:00

The official launch of UN Women, today at 6:30 PM New York time!

"Honouring the Past – Envisioning the Future for Women and Girls", will be hosted by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women.

It will be emceed by Ms. Christiane Amanpour, with other distinguished speakers and performers.

Watch in LIVE through the UN webcast:

http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/index.html

Choose Channel 6 from the menu on the right

CSW Day 2 – Some formalities that turned out to be quite informal

2011-02-23T19:30:00.001-08:00

No civil society access to formal UN sessions

Our evening was totally made yesterday when we managed to get our hands on an access pass for the public tribune of the official UN members states´ session for day 2 of the CSW. Today however, we found ourselves blocked by security guards at the entrance. The UN Security Council had organized an unscheduled meeting in ´our´ room. CSW55 discussions were moved to a room without possibilities for public presence.

The UN Headquarters have been under construction for several years now, which can make space limited and information sharing unorganized. It did make us wonder though, how high the Commission on the Status of Women is ranked on the UN´s priority list. On the other hand, the recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region deserve all the intention of the international community they can get. We aim to give you some more information particularly on the situation of women in the region in the coming days, when we will talk to MENA NGOs.

EU requests civil society for input

This afternoon we participated in the briefing of the Permanent EU mission at the UN. We were pleased to find that, besides informing us on their activities (formal negotiations on the Agreed Conclusions have barely started), the EU delegates were requesting our input and concrete recommendations to improve the draft version of the conclusions.

Our Joint NGO statement was presented by Ines Orobio de Castro from partner organization E-Quality on behalf of Dutch civil society. Many of our recommendations had either already been mentioned and/or were backed up by other civil society representatives. Furthermore, we were quite content to find that the EU mission had already formulated additional paragraphs to the Agreed Conclusions, which address some of our main issues.

Such as regarding the importance of life skills, sexuality and reproductive health education to enable girls and boys to make informed choices; removal of physical barriers in access to education; the importance of (primary) education not only as a goal in itself but as a means for women and girls to get a decent job; and the importance of addressing gender stereotypes and involving boys and men. In the coming days the EU delegates will do their best to bring these issues to the table during the formal negotations on the Agreed Conclusions.

MALE gender activists: a conversation with David Makala

2011-02-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

In several sessions throughout the day, I find myself in the room with the same person. Apparently my interests are similar to his... In the last session of the day, I sit next to him. I find out that he is called David Makala and that he is a Gender and Development Practitioner from Tanzania. One of the very few African men that I have seen at the CSW. In the room at this last session of the day, the atmosphere is tense… an activist vibe is detectible, especially when a lady stands up and shouts “Patriarchy has figured us [women’s activists and feminists] out!”. I wonder what this does to him, as a man, to be a women’s, or rather gender activist amongst so many women who seem to have a rather negative attitude towards men.

“Patriarchy is a monster, but we should not be afraid”

David tells me that there is no way, men can be successful without women, neither can women without men. “I come from a gender perspective, we need to tackle this monstrous Patriarchy together”, says David. “You know, poor men suffer just as much as women, patriarchy impacts girls and women, but also boys and men”. Therefore he believes that men should take greater part in important negotiations and discussions on gender equality such as during the CSW. Because, when men are not part of the equation, we will be going in circles and little structural progress will be made in reaching an improved position for girls and women in the world of today.

Girls-Boys Dialogue

I expected another session called Girls-Boys dialogue to respond exactly to that desire: putting both boys/men and girls/women into the equation. The session was particularly for youth under 18 and surprisingly the room was quickly filled. Where have all these youth been in the past few days? I quickly understand why I haven’t heard or seen them. None of the about 100 youth really stands out and guides the discussion. Girls are too shy and boys lean back. What can spur these youngsters to start a Third Wave of Feminism or should we rather call it ‘Genderism’?

Quotes of Today

2011-02-23T04:48:00.000-08:00

To avoid bombarding you with a large number of blog texts each day, we will be simultaneously using the WO=MEN twitter account for the quotes of the day. Click HERE to see the Twitter messages! You are welcome to FOLLOW us.

Official opening ceremony CSW 55

2011-02-22T21:33:00.000-08:00

Today was the first official day of CSW55. This morning at 10, all UN entities (government delegations) collected at the UN Headquarters for the formal opening ceremony. The UN sessions are closed to the general public, however, some lucky NGO representatives manage to get their hands on access passes for the public tribune (we will not bother you with the procedures). Kirsten van den Hul, UN Womens-representative for the Netherlands, was one of them and shared her impressions with us. Click on the links below to read the full speeches of the key note speakers.

Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secretary-General spoke about the status of women. She emphasized that we have made progress, but it is not nearly enough. For example, 2/3 of all illiterate adults are women. This figure has not changed in the past 20 years.

Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) gave an impressive speech about the importance of investing in women for social development. He stated that ECOSOC welcomes and supports UN Women, which was met with laud applause from the country delegates.

Then Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, made her appearance. The enthousiastic reaction from the official government delegations confirmed what we observed yesterday amongst NGO delegates: women and men from around the world have set their hopes on UN Women to make a significant difference in women’s status and gender equality in the coming years.

You can watch the full the opening ceremony on film by clicking here.

Public-private partnerships

2011-02-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

Financing NAP 1325

During the panel on Investing in Peace: Financing 1325 & the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, Sara Lulo (Avon Global Center for Women and Justice at Cornell Law School) & Greg Starner (White & Case LLP's Commercial Litigation Group) shared their experiences on strategies to work with the private sector. Sara: “Doing good is good business.” This is why the private sector is getting more and more involved in 1325 related, not for profit activities. (For more information, contact Dewi Suralaga from Dutch development organization Cordaid who also participated, Dewi.suralaga@cordaid.nl)

What is in it for the private sector? Greg: “We as a law firm like to see our lawyers on the ground getting experience, as an opportunity to develop expertise. We also like the idea to contribute to programmes that fit our objectives. We want to feel like we are adding value to local communities or international initiatives.” How does a law firm fit in a National Action Plan (NAP) 1325? “Make concrete where we as private sector can add specialized expertise. We need to address our roles specifically in NAPs for 1325.”

Challenges

There can be mutual suspicion. NGOs can have the prejudice that companies do wrong through their business, and attempt to compensate through CSR projects. Companies can have concerns about corruption, inefficiency, low impact of the money and resources that have been invested, and dangers to employees. Sara: “We need to acknowledge what the other one is seeing on the other side. Both can bring real value to the table. It is very important to put in place some kind of accountability mechanism, so companies will feel comfortable that they can see concrete results and won’t be put at risk.” Greg: “Companies are results driven, so we need measurable strategies and indicators.”

Priorities

Sara: “We need to identify champions in the private sector, and equip them to sell the importance of working on, for example 1325 related issues, internally in their companies, with concrete indicators and statistical data to back up their argument. Fuerthermore, they want to know where their money is going. Therefore we need research and quantitative data. We have to emphasize that it is not just a women’s issue, it is a human rights issue (framing). The more information people have, the stronger their engegement will be, and the better they can sell it within their companies.”

Sara continues: “What do we mean with private sector? Not just big businesses, also small local businesses, law firms, media, the health sector. Think creatively! The service sector has a lot of experience and expertise which can be valuable. What is financing? It is not just money. Think of how we can do more with the relationships, such as support in kind: skills training on the ground, or one-time small supplies such as donating 10.000 batteries for flashlights in refugee camps.

UN Women and the private sector

Also UNIFEM/UN Women chose public-private partnerships as a central issue in their interactive workshop on this year’s priority theme. Together with Global Compact (a global platform which convenes companies together with a.o. UN agencies), UNIFEM developed 7 Womens Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

Anthony de Jong (Business Development and Resources at UN Women, the only Dutch employee thus far) explained his work on getting companies enthousiastic to invest in UN Women. Some large international companies have already confirmed that they will provide funding.

Obstacles and solutions for women's access to the private sector

People from countries as diverse as the United States, Australia, Taiwan, South Africa, Nigeria,Canada, Norway and the Netherlands discussed what their most significant national obstacles are to participation of women in the private sector. It turned out women from the global South first mention poverty and lack of education primarily, masculine corporate cultures/structures are only secondary. Women from Northern countries mentioned lack of childcare facilities and flexible working hours, lack of women in top positions, the pay gap and minimal pregnancyleave possibilities (the Netherlands globally lags behind with men getting only 2 days after their child is born!).

They also talked about possible solutions. Companies should not wait for their governments to set quota, but should take their own initaitives to improve the gender balance in their organizations. Also the supply chain of products to their organization must be diversified. Furthermore, companies need to become more flexible towards their employees, for the benefit of both women and men: such as more flexible working hours and possibilities to work from home (‘het nieuwe werken’).

Male involvement: example from Zambia

2011-02-22T20:47:00.000-08:00

After a rather theoretical presentation full of data from the US during the Parallel session on 'Relational Aspects of Gender Equality in Sport: Male-Female Collaborative Advocacy', Mathilda Mwaba from Zambia is asked to take the stage. She is the Executive Director of NOWSPAR, a Zambian organisation that promotes gender equality through sports. She actually comes with much more interesting ‘real’ information about her experiences in challenging gender stereotypes by not only assisting girls and women, but also by starting a dialogue with boys and (young) men.

Mathilda & Mathilda Mwaba, with Kirsten van den Hul

(yes there were men present as well, we just really like this picture)

Every Body Matters

It feels refreshing when Mathilda explains how the organisation is confronted with the reality of the relational context: men want to be involved as well in fighting for greater gender equality! “We cannot avoid including men in our work” says Mathilda. She explains how turning men into supportive partners can have a multiplier effect on challenging violence against girls and women. Sports is a great positive means to accomplish social change. Since “sports is a mirror of society”, such social change within the context of sports can have a positive impact on society at large as well.

A lost opportunity

Altogether, it was a very inspiring presentation. However, during the discussion in the last 30 minutes, little was tried to link Mathilda’s knowledge to the research from the US and Scandinavia. A pity, because here was the opportunity to connect knowledge and ideas about similar problems in different contexts: one of the main benefits of coming together as NGOs, isn’t it? Mathilda came with a clear message, and luckily, her message reached me and through me, it reaches you. More info about NOWSPAR you find HERE.

WO=MEN on USA university blog

2011-02-22T04:43:00.000-08:00

During the NGO Consultation Day, we met an inspiring student, Mariam Yaqub from Lehigh University who got inspired by our message that gender stereotypes need to be challenged, and that men need to be proactively involved in solutions to violence and discrimination against girls. After Joni's statement, she came towards us to ask for more information. She interviewed us over some drinks, which in the end became a pleasant exchange of experiences. You can read her blog with her reflection on our conversation here. Great to meet other activist youth at the CSW!!

Read Mariam's blog!

Highlights of the day – NGO Consultation day

2011-02-21T19:38:00.000-08:00

We’ll give you a daily dosis of inspirational quotes. There’s so much going on we simply can’t go into detail on all of it, so this is a selection that might trigger some thoughts…

“Women can, Yes we can!” Michelle Bachelet states with great confidence. The audience cheers and applauses, the head of UNWomen is already loved by experienced women activists. See for more reflection on Bachelet’s speech the blog below.

“We have to stop it, because it hurts. Even as a man, I also know it.” A young US marine (male) stands up to speak his mind on men’s roles in ending violence against women and girls.

“That right there, is a micro-representation of what is wrong in this world: we are not moving, because we are quite comfortable where we are now…” Dutch Women respresentative at the UN Kirsten van den Hul makes a sharp observation on the behaviour of two NGO representatives who do not want to move up a few seats so we can sit together (eventually they did though :)

“I think I want a third wave feminism.” Donelle Wheeler from UN Women Australia shares our opinion that young women are highly underrepresented during this meeting and that most sessions would benefit quite a lot from some interactive facilitation methods.

“Have you thought about ways to involve those women who cannot be present today, for example through conference calls?” Colorfully dressed Eleanor Nwadinobi from NMWA Nigeria questions the inclusiveness of UN events as a result of high costs and requirement to pay with credit card. (Bachelet: “Yes, we think cooperation with women from civil society all around the world is of utmost importance”).

“Aha, it’s an ‘equates’ sign. I want one, that’s such smart marketing!!!” An enthousiastic young lady quite likes the WO=MEN buttons that represent equality, and immediately pinnes it on her sweater. So did many other women that we gave the flyer to today.

During the Closing session we took the mike to ask attention for the fact that violence against women is a gender issue; affecting both women and men; needing gender stereotypes to be removed; and that girls are not only victim but also change agent, just as boys and men can be partners, role models, peer educators, and change agents as well (see NGO statement on the review theme). Afterwards, we spend about half an hour talking to women who shared their own experiences from the field on the importance of male involvement.

NGO Consultation Day: CSW -1

2011-02-21T18:40:00.000-08:00

Michelle Bachelet (Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General for UNWomen)

About 300 people, nearly all women, in the main room of the Salvation Army are full of excitement. It is the day before the official start of the CSW and we are already together to share our contact cards, experiences and ideas. On top of that, Michelle Bachelet who is the head of UNWomen and a great example comes to speak! Expectations are high…

Civil society: partners of UNWomen!

Michelle Bachelet starts off with sweet words in a room full of women activists and organisations: “today, the NGO consultation is the corner stone of the CSW.” When Bachelet states that civil society is part of the solution to reach greater gender equality, she gets a standing ovation from the NGO representatives present in the room. UNWomen depends on the support and partnership with civil society, and “NGOs are key partners of UNWomen” says Bachelet. Action is added to the words as the question is posed: “How do you, as NGOs, see your involvement with UNWomen?” The level is set high and it looks promising for the coming two weeks.

UNWomen: a Catalyst of Change

How is UNWomen going to make a difference within the large UN network? Clealry, UNWomen is still trying to find its place within the UN structure. It seems confident in knowing what its added value is. Bachelet argues that UNWomen is there to besides reaching its own goals, also to influence and contribute to the agenda of UNDP, UNICEF and other UN institutions. “UNWomen should be seen as a catalyst of change.” The question that remains is whether UNWomen will become a kind of gender watchdog within the UN, or whether it will step beyond that with its own programmes. The answer is given swiftly: “We don’t tackle education directly, this is the responsibility of UNESCO. We don’t tackle health direclty, this is the responsibility of institutions such as the WHO”. UNWomen seems to be the gender igniter, ensuring that all existing UN institutions mainstream gender in their policies… but don’t we aspire it to be much more than that?

“WOMEN CAN, YES WE CAN!”

Going more into the content after all the institutional talk, Michelle Bachelet discussed the vision of UNWomen. “Women will never have equal rights if women are not empowered”. Empowerment is the main theme in her argument. Women should be empowered by improving their political participation and making their voices heard. Secondly, economic empowerment is essential and instrumental. Access to, quality ánd relevance of training and education need to be taken into account. Lastly, voices of women need to be better heard in particularly conflict mediation. “Women in conflicts are powerless”. Increasing the number of female mediators is one way to tackle this problem, but also, Michelle argues that male mediators need to be sensitized to the voices of women in their constituencies. Attention for men in addressing gender issues comes back sporadically throughout the consultation but to our taste way too little…

Rineke van Dam

Junior Representative WO=MEN

Get involved: sign the CSO statements!

2011-02-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

By Joni van de Sand
WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform

In just a couple of days the CSW55 kicks off! Before we can really start our participant observation of the United Nations’ diplomatic jungle, we will give you a short update on what we have been up to. We also present some relevant documents for you to take notice of, hopefully read, and perhaps even sign?! (you will go where many have gone before you…)

Civil society cooperation
In the past few weeks WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform has cooperated closely with other civil society organizations - amongst which E-Quality, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, Vrouwenbelangen, the International Council of Women (ICW) and many more - to collectively formulate statements and recommendations regarding this years relevant themes. (If you don´t know how it all works with the CSW and the differences between main theme/review theme/emerging issue, etc, have a look at the CSW55 website)

Main theme

During a consultation meeting with Dutch civil society representatives we discussed the main theme Access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. This discussion has led to the formulation of 10 concrete recommendations to our own government (which is what they call in UN language our “UN entity”) as well as to all those other governments which have signed the quoted agreements, as well as to all those organizations and individuals that are active in the field! Please read the statement by clicking here.

If you wish to sign this statement on behalf of your organization, please send an e-mail to Ines Orobio de Castro from E-Quality by clicking here.

Review theme

Relatively new is the statement and recommendations we have formulated on this year’s review theme The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child. The statement is partially a result of the meeting when the main theme was discussed (see above) and has been further sharpened with experiences and insights from our own work. The recommendations focus on challenging gender stereotypes, as we argue for the recognition and portrayal of women and girls not only as victims of violence and gender inequalities, but also as agents of change to overcome them. Also, we argue in favour of active involvement and engagement of boys, adolescent- and adult men as positive actors in the elimination of discrimination and violence against the girl child. We depart from the idea that a world without gender discrimination and gender based violence is for the benefit of all.

Please read the statement here. If you want to comment on this statement, or if you wish to sign it on behalf of your organization, please send an e-mail to blogger Joni van de Sand from WO=MEN, by clicking here.

Emerging issue

In addition, our blogger Rineke van Dam (WO=MEN and AMREF/Flying Doctors) will be presenting an oral statement during the Panel 4 discussion on Gender equality and sustainable development. We do not have any document yet, however the two statements above will provide input for this one. Furthermore we will actively look for cooperation (writing and signing) meanwhile in New York. Women in Development Europe (WIDE) will surely be one our partners.

If you also wish to provide input and/or are interested in signing the statement, please send an e-mail to Rineke van Dam, by clicking here.

Our next post will be from New York!

Gender, Women and the New Dutch Government

2011-02-18T05:20:00.000-08:00

By Rineke van Dam
Junior representative WO=MEN

Gender and the emancipation of women remain hot topics up to today. In spite of strong commitment to work on gender equality through international agreements, implementation on the ground is not always taking place effectively. For instance, when the new government took position in the Netherlands at the end of 2010, there was much commotion in the press when the names of proposed ministers were presented: sixteen out of twenty are men, leaving only four women in such leading and exemplary political positions. Media attention soon died away, but the Netherlands is left with a male dominated government.

MDG3 Fund in Danger?
Gender ratio in the government is one way to look at its ‘women-friendliness’. Of course, priorities and policies are of primary importance as well. To our great pride, the Dutch government has a special budget for MDG3, which is spent on initiatives that promote the emancipation of women. However, with all the enthusiasm in budget cuts -the new Dutch government had to drastically cut its spending- it was also planned to retrench the ‘Gender-Fund’: a huge setback in the fight for gender equality. Luckily, with support from civil society organizations, politicians and the wider public, an effective lobby curbed these plans: Five million Euros was put back into the fund…

Gender: a Crosscutting theme
It would be shortsighted to think that the Gender-Fund alone could achieve gender equality. Gender is a crosscutting theme, which stands out clearly from the diverse issues included in the main topic of the upcoming CSW: “Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work”. Education, just to pick one element, is crucial for the emancipation of girls and women. For instance, educated girls are less likely to have unwanted and/or early pregnancies, and they chose to have fewer children. Moreover, child and maternal mortality are significantly lower for educated women. Coming back to the women-friendliness of the Dutch government: it has been decided to remove education as a priority theme in development cooperation. This means that the Dutch government will reduce funding for organizations that invest in improving access to education in the Global South.

A big leap backwards?
It is time to acknowledge that gender, just like education, is a complex, cross-cutting theme that does not deserve to be considered in isolation. Better access to education for girls cannot be seen separated from investments in gender equality through an MDG3 Fund. They come hand-in-hand!

The argument that investments in education have not everywhere, one-for-one resulted in economic growth is not valid. Lack of economic growth in the Global South has many other causes! For instance, protective agricultural policies that prevent African farmers, mostly women(!), from exporting their products into the European Union.

Besides, the Dutch government should recognize the value of education as going far beyond direct economic growth. It is a long-term investment and lies very much at the basis of the emancipation of women and girls. Moreover, it contributes to improved food production, health, safety and many other developmental goals. It is sad that the Dutch government does not acknowledge this complexity and long-term vision. Thereby, it seems to have taken a big leap backwards in the emancipation of women in the world of today.

Gender is still a relevant topic, and with this attitude, Joni and I will get on the plane tomorrow to travel to the 55th session of the CSW in New York.

The Status of Women in 2011

2011-02-11T03:13:00.001-08:00

by Rineke van Dam (junior representative WO=MEN)

The Big Apple, symbol for economic vibrancy, cultural exchange and tempting opportunities. When I receive the call from Joni van de Sand working for WO=MEN that I have been selected as junior representative to attend the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, I feel thrilled and a bit intimidated. Such an opportunity needs to be harnessed. The same evening, I delve into the program for the upcoming session. I need to be well prepared to valuably contribute to discussions on the position of women in the world of today.

Missing Women
The theme under review is the ‘elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child’. This theme makes me think about Amartya Sen’s intriguing example on the implications of discrimination against the girl child. He comes up with the concept of “missing women” and argues that due to unequal access to healthcare and nutrition in a number of countries, mortality rate for young girls and women is considerably higher than for boys and men. As a result, an estimated number of 100 million women are ‘missing’ in South Asia, West Asia and North Africa. Particularly in countries struck by poverty, the girl child suffers disproportionally. This year, the CSW will look at to what extent the conclusions that were drawn on this topic in 2007 have been followed up.

Working Women
The priority theme of this year’s session will be the ‘access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work’. It is a mouth-full making it rather difficult to grasp. Therefore, I rather summarize it as the economic opportunities for women and their ability to participate in the economy in a ‘decent’ manner. I particularly find women’s participation in the labor market a key area to take action in. During my studies, I learned that women generally take the lower paid jobs requiring the least skills and responsibility. Moreover, their jobs often have the least security with little or no social benefits when they fall sick or retire. Such trends are not only found in the Global South (Africa, Asia and Latin America). Wage gaps and discrepancies in access to ‘better’ jobs continue to exist in Europe and the US as well. Considering the feminization of poverty, it is crucial that the gendered access to economic opportunities is put on the agenda of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Motorbike delivery
Lastly, this year’s session will touch upon maternal mortality and morbidity. As an employee of AMREF Flying Doctors, I have seen how gender inequality and poverty contribute to unacceptably high mortality rates of pregnant women. During a visit to Busia, Kenya, a mother of twins told me how she almost died during delivery. The first child was born at home but the placenta would not come out, nor the second child. She had to be transported for 30 minutes over a rough road on the back of a motorbike to reach a health facility. Now she is the lucky mother of two lively boys and can tell the story, something not many other mothers can replicate.

Women in New York
From the 22nd of February until the 4th of March, Joni van de Sand and I will be attending the CSW in New York to discuss all these issues. Through this blog, we will keep you updated with the most relevant developments, interesting events and ‘juicy’ details. Do not hesitate to give comments, ask questions and even to post your own blog by sending your input to joni.vandesand@wo-men.nl!

See you in New York!

Rineke

WO=MEN in New York 2011

2011-02-07T02:01:00.000-08:00

It is time for a new session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

During the 55th session, the main theme will be:
- Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women's equal access to full employment and decent work.
The theme under review will be:
- The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child.

We, Joni van de Sand and Rineke van Dam, will be present in New York on behalf of WO=MEN. Through this blog, we will keep you updated on the most relevant developments, interesting events and 'juicy' details.

We happily invite you to respond to our posts on this blog or write your own post by sending your contribution to j.vandesand@wo-men.nl

Yes, we FEM!

Joni and Rineke

Outcomes CSW 54 online

2010-03-17T04:05:00.000-07:00

On March 12 2010 the CSW adopted seven resolutions:
# Women, the girl child and HIV/AIDS
# Release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts
# The situation of and assistance to Palestinian women
# Women’s economic empowerment
# Eliminating maternal mortality and morbidity through the empowerment of women
# Strengthening institutional arrangement of the UN for support of gender equality and the empowerment of women by consolidating the four existing offices into a composite entity
# Ending female genital mutilation
Downloads are available at the CSW-website.

At the same website Moderator’s summaries of high level round tables and panel sicussions are to be foud:
* High-level round table on “Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly and its contribution to shaping a gender perspective in the realization of the Millennium Development Goals”
* Panel discussion on “Linkages between implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals”
* Panel discussion on “Women’s economic empowerment in the context of the global economic and financial crisis”
* Panel discussion on “Implementing the internationally agreed development goals and commitments in regard to gender equality and the empowerment of women – contribution to the 2010 Annual Ministerial Review of the Economic and Social Council”

For the moment this is our last blog. There are still several subjects to write about on my list, but other commitments have to prevail for the moment. Maybe later.

Leontine Bijleveld

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton inspires on the last day of the CSW

2010-03-12T20:17:00.000-08:00

At 3 p.m. on the closing day of the 54th session of the CSW Secretary of State (US Minister of Foreign Affairs) Hillary Clinton addressed the CSW with an inspiring speech. The deadline for adoption of all the resolutions by 1 p.m. was unfortunately not met. Therefore many delegates could not attend Clinton’s address as they had to go back to the negotiating tables to seek agreement on final language for the resolutions on women’s economic empowerment and HIV/Aids. This did not dampen the spirit of Hillary Clinton and her audience. Invitees from civil society counted their luck as it opened up space for their attendance.
Clinton recalled her ‘maiden’ speech at the NGO Forum in Huairou at the occasion of the Fourth World Conference in Beijing in 1995. That was an important event for herself, as first lady then. It was also important for women around the world, whom she inspired by underwriting the, then fresh, acknowledgement of women’s rights as human rights and human rights as women’s rights. Fifteen years later, Clinton is not satisfied with the progress made: “We have to write the next chapter, as progress made is not the end of the story. It is maybe only the end of the beginning.” She called for recommitment as individuals, as nations and as United Nations to the principle of equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls on the globe. “It is the right thing to do and it is smart to do so, women’s progress is human progress and human progress is women’s progress.” She ended with sharing four commitments on behalf of the Obama administration. First of all US ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This was met with applause from the floor, above all from US civil society representatives. Second support to the establishment of a single, vibrant UN agency dedicated to women’s issues with strong leadership who will sit at the table of the Secretary General. Thirdly, support to strategies to promote more women in positions of leadership. And fourthly, the promise that the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action not only hold a promise to women in developing countries but hold a promise to women in all countries, including the US.
“In every country talent is universal, but opportunity is not.” She concluded: “Let’s go forward and be reenergized in this work.”
Hillary Clinton’s speech was an important energizer for CSW attendants, in particular women’s rights activists, who got frustrated and disillusioned by the total absence of new and forward looking commitments on the part of governments and the UN at large to the agenda of Beijing.

Ireen Dubel
Hivos

Let’s scale up as there are plenty of opportunities!

2010-03-11T20:06:00.000-08:00

On the one but last day of the CSW, the Dutch government in collaboration with AWID, Hivos and Mama Cash hosted a side event on the opportunities for governments to successfully invest in women’s empowerment and gender equality. At the CSW two years ago the Dutch government hosted a similar event. It then launched the MDG3 Fund, a new € 50 million fund in support of Millennium Goal 3: women’s empowerment and gender equality. The overwhelming number of applications submitted, more than 450, asked for multiple folds the amount of resources available. The Fund was raised to € 70 million. Forty five, predominantly international and regional, organisations have since received funding out of the MDG3 Fund. Their activities take place in 105 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Robert Dijksterhuis, head of the gender division at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, used the occasion of this year’s CSW to highlight the relevance of this new funding mechanism, its collaboration with Dutch NGOs as co-signatories to the Fund, and the experience of MDG3 Fund recipients of being capacitated to scale up their work. Dijksterhuis was adamant about his mission: “We as governments can not drive this agenda of gender equality and women’s empowerment on our own. But we can support it as women’s organisations are the driving force. We need to support scaling up of their agenda and programmes. It can be done, and should be done and I so appeal to other donors, fellow bilaterals, foundations and International NGOs to do the same, either contribute to the MDG3 Fund or the UNIFEM Fund for Gender Equality, or set up similar funding mechanisms.”
The MDG3 Fund did not emerge overnight and was the result of a collaborative Dutch NGO lobby towards the Dutch government, inspired by AWID’s action research Where is the Money for Women’s Rights and Organizing. A key actor in this lobby process was the Dutch development agency Hivos, represented by myself, Ireen Dubel, on the panel. The other four panellists were MDG3 grantees. Geeta Misra, MDG3 recipient and Executive Director of CREA (India and global) and board member of the oldest women’s fund Mama Cash, shared the difference the MDG3 funding has made for her organisation in the field of violence against women: upscaling of the work, coalition building across five countries in South Asia and collaboration with Central Asia, plus inclusiveness towards women who are at the margins of violence against women’s work, lesbian women, transgenders, sex workers, disabled women. She emphasized the importance of the MDG3 Fund support to organisations like Mama Cash and other women’s funds, as a mechanism for redistribution of large grants to women’s initiatives at grassroot level. Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng, Executive Director of Isis-WICCE, a regional organisation based in Uganda active on issues of women in (post) conflict situations, was very honest about being a MDG3 recipient. “We got a million and it almost made us crazy, it made our dream come true. It was a lot of money, but to be honest, the money is spend easily given the demands.” The request for results by donors was perfectly responded to by Ruth’ narrative on what Isis-WICCE was able to do, given the new and substantial injection of resources. Delivery of health services to women in post-conflict Liberia, empowerment of Sudanese women resulting in standing for local government office, South-South exchange and professionalisation of her own organisation.
Her conclusion: “The MDG3 Fund must be scaled up!”
For Mallika Dutt from the Indian and US based multi and popular media organisation Breakthrough the MDG3 funding was a game changer in terms of capacity, depth and scale of the work done in the field of violence against women in India. Apart from reaching out to new audiences, new stakeholders have come on board, ranging from ordinary citizens, men and women, engaging with issues of violence against women, to local governments taking responsibility. Asia wide demands are forthcoming for Breakthrough to facilitate similar processes.
Cindy Clark from AWID completed the panel with the latest AWID research on the funding landscape, trends, challenges and opportunities for women’s rights work. Renewed interest to fund this agenda might be jeopardised by the impact of the financial and economic crisis.
The more than hundred persons in the audience shared appreciation of the MDG3 initiative and the Spanish funded UNIFEM Fund for Gender Equality and the need for other donors to come in in support of similar funding mechanisms, in particular given the context of the crisis and falling levels of ODA support and the flux of the Dutch government due to the fall of its cabinet and upcoming elections in June 2010. Robert Dijksterhuis however was optimistic: “The MDG3 grantees and non-awarded applicants are proof of the need and demand. So the future is in collaboration.”

Ireen Dubel
Hivos

Side-event Investing in women's empowerment

2010-03-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

Een foto-impressie.

van Leontine Bijleveld

Lesbians, Bisexual and Trans Women not included

2010-03-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

The rights of lesbian, bisexual women and transgender people (LBT) were not included in the Beijing Platform for Action, despite strong efforts of organizations present at Beijing. Theoretically, the rights of all minorities - handicapped women, widows, LBT etc were part of the 12 critical areas of concern, just not specifically named. This 15 year review showed that many of the actions in the Platform for Action have been watered down, many promises not kept.

The idea that programs to stop violence against women would include violence against lesbian women proved to be false, and lesbian women are under attack in many countries, our rights ignored or denied. In more than 70 countries being lesbian, bisexual or trans is considered a crime, in at least five countries the penalty is death.

The idea of education for all girls in many countries does not include lesbian girls. In schools in Uganda we learned, in a forum on homophobia in the education system organized by ILGA – the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, that lesbians are expelled from school if it becomes known that they are lesbians. Research needs to be done worldwide on the incidence of illiteracy among lesbians. Research in Canada shows that masculine girls face more violence, and from peers, than do feminine boys, and that children of lesbian parents hear every day that there is something wrong with their family. The education system is not engaged sufficiently in stopping homophobia. Chairing the forum, Rebeca Sevilla of Education International reminded us that trade unions have excellent resources on combatting homophobia in schools.

By making lesbians, bisexuals and trans people invisible in the Platform for Action, for 15 years States have done too little to counter homophobia and its terrible effects worldwide.

A positive development however was the side event organized by the Dutch government, in conjunction with the Belgian and Portuguese governments that explored best practices in supporting LBT people. This is the first time that Member States have organized an event on LBT at the CSW. One of the speakers acknowledged that equality means equality for all of us, including sexual minorities. Twenty years ago or more, courageous women formulated the credo "Women's Rights are Human Rights". Its time to embellish that statement with "and that includes all women".

My goal is for the LBT agenda to be an emerging issue at a CSW within 5 years.
Who will join me in the effort to get LBT rights on the CSW agenda?

Lin McDevitt-Pugh
Interim Executive Director, ILGA

Human Rights for All – Sign the Petition

2010-03-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

Since mid February a petition on Amnesty International’s suspension on Gita Saghal, head of AI’s gender unit, circulates on the internet. It has been signed by internationally known feminists like Charlotte Bunch, Mallika Dutt, Sonia Corea, Yakin Ertuk, Ros Petchesky, Virginia Vargas. Salman Rushdie also signed. It is supported by various organisations including AWID, the Urgent Action Fund, Women living under Muslim Laws. So far not that many organisations and individuals based in the Netherlands did sign. High time to change that.

What is it all about? Gita Saghal, Head of the Gender Unit at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London, is suspended for questioning Amnesty International’s partnership with individuals whose politics towards the Taliban are ambiguous. She raised a fundamental point of principle which is about the importance of human rights movements maintaining an objective distance from groups and ideas that are committed to systematic discrimination, this time of women and minorities.
The petition calls upon Amnesty International to clearly and publicly affirm its commitment to all human rights and to demonstrate its obligation to make itself publicly accountable, as it so often has demand of others.
The petition also extends solidarity and support to Gita Saghal.

Please go to the website for more information and to sign the petition.

Leontine Bijleveld

Joint Statement Beijing +15 Review Process

2010-03-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

At thursday 4th March Ama participated in the WIDE breakfast caucus. She proposed on behalf of Wo=men to draft a joint statement criticising the exclusion of civil society from the Beijing +15 Review Process and to allign with the open letter of the international trade union movement (see blog dated March 5th. The proposal was accepted and Ama, Luisa Antolin and some others worked hard on the language. Friday March 5th a final draft was accepted by the European Caucus and circulated for endorsement.

On International Women's Day Ama read out the statement in the High Level Plenary of the CSW. The statement is to be found on the Wide-website, as are the European and international organisations that endorsed the joint statement. WO=MEN is among those.

15 @ 15 - Reproductive Rights Now

2010-03-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

Young People Advocating for Sexual and Reproductive Rights at Beijing +15 Review Friday 5th March 2010 New York

Young people from across the world have gathered together in New York to attend the 54th Commission on the Status of Women which also marks the 15 year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. These documents noted governments’ commitments to increase young people’s access to counselling, sexual and reproductive health information and services, and to promote their rights to privacy, confidentiality, respect and informed consent in this regard.
Today, during the lunch break for government delegates, the coalition of young people made a statement for the support of their rights. Fifteen young men and women, wearing T-shirts with statements such as ‘Dead healthy women’, ‘unplanned pregnancies’ and ‘misinformed’, took a strong stand for achieving the goals that were set in Beijing fifteen years ago. “We demand access to comprehensive sexuality information, services and supplies for all young people. We need it today - and today needed to be yesterday.”
The young people from more than 20 countries and every continent collectively demand their sexual and reproductive rights:
− All young people must have access to comprehensive sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception and emergency contraception, in order to avoid unintended pregnancies.
− Accessible, affordable and safe abortions should be made part of the minimum packages of sexual and reproductive health services.
− All young people should have access to psycho-social health services for prevention of gender-based violence and violence against women.
The cohort of young people believe that decision makers attending the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women need to listen to the needs and demands of young people and promote their human rights including sexual and reproductive rights to ensure the health and wellbeing of women, young people and all people worldwide.
For more information please contact (1)917-744-9181 or wieke@youthcoalition.org

Interessant panel over 30 jaar CEDAW

2010-03-08T19:53:00.000-08:00

Dat het VN-Vrouwenverdrag 30 jaar bestaat bleef niet onopgemerkt op deze CSW. Niet alleen werd er in talloze speeches aan gerefereerd: de middagsessie van vrijdag 5 maart was er aan gewijd. Drie experts presenteerden een paper – elk ruim 10 minuten. Het aardige is dat van twee papers een uitgebreide versie te vinden zijn op de website van de CSW (wel even naar 5 maart doorscrollen). Ze zijn de moeite waard om te lezen, voor geïnteresseerden in het VN-Vrouwenverdrag.
Het ene is het paper van CEDAW-Comitélid Dubravka Šimonović, die betoogde hoe het Vrouwenverdrag aan de ene kant en het Beijing Platform voor Action aan de andere kant elkaar versterken. Het paper geeft een aardig overzicht van de ontwikkelingen de afgelopen 15 jaar. Het andere paper, van Professor Andrew Byrnes uit New South Wales (Australië), heeft een meer academische en juridische insteek - The Convention and the Committee: Reflections on their role in the Development of International Human Rights Law and as a Catalyst for National Legislative and Policy Reform.
De derde spreker was een advocate uit Nepal, Ms. Sapana Pradhan Malla. Ze pleit er voor om zowel de Algemene Aanbevelingen van het CEDAW-Comité als de landspecifieke Concluding Observations te gebruiken in proefprocessen en andere rechtszaken over vrouwenrechten. Ze gaf een aantal voorbeelden van procedures in India en Nepal.

Om een levendige discussie te stimuleren had het secretariaat een notitie gemaakt met concrete discussiepunten (ook te lezen op de website). Uitdrukkelijk waren discussianten van regeringsdelegaties en NGO’s verzocht om geen statements voor te lezen, maar op de papers in te gaan en concrete vragen te stellen. Dat bleek voor de meeste sprekers te moeilijk. Ook werd duidelijk dat vrijwel niemand de moeite had genomen om de papers te lezen, laat staan zich nog wat verder te verdiepen in de recent vastgestelde veranderingen in de werkwijze van het CEDAW-Comité. Zie bijvoorbeeld de website van de 45ste sessie van CEDAW eind januari begin februari.
Soms werden de vragen wel heel concreet: of het Comité advies kon geven hoe de positie van vrouwen aangaande X in land Y verbeterd kon worden. Toch bood het antwoord van Dubravka Šimonović wel aanknopingspunten voor de Nederlandse situatie. Een aantal landen hebben de moeite genomen om CEDAW-Comitéleden uit te nodigen om een toelichting te geven op de (kritische) Concluding Observations en om met hulp van de Comité-leden mogelijkheden voor nieuwe maatregelen te verkennen. Dat zouden we hier ook kunnen doen.
Uit Uganda kwam nog een andere goed idee: daar staat het VN-Vrouwenverdrag elk jaar op de agenda van het parlement (al acht jaar). Besproken wordt hoe nog beter uitvoering gegeven kan worden aan de verplichtingen die voortvloeien uit het VN-Vrouwenverdrag. Dat zouden we in Nederland ook eens kunnen proberen.
Op termijn zal een samenvatting van de sessie op website van de CSW geplaatst worden.

Op het blogspot schaduwrapportage staat een bericht over de Nederlandse interventie tijdens dit interactieve panel.

Leontine Bijleveld
Co-rapporteur Schaduwrapportage Nederland VN-Vrouwenverdrag 2009/2010

We will not be silenced...

2010-03-08T04:41:00.000-08:00

There is not much space for Civil Society to meaningfully engage with their governments and influence the current CSW processes. There is little transparency and access to information is limited. For many people registering and moving around during this CSW is a logistical nightmare. And to top it all off there is a feeling that this process is a bit of a façade. The declaration will not be negotiated, so there will not be a new outcome document. Member states have chosen to copy and paste the declaration from 5 years ago because they fear that opening up the declaration for negotiations will mean taking steps back.

Is it possible that using a declaration that was made 5 years ago is more progressive than making a new declaration that takes the current context and new challenges into account? Is that type of thinking not inherently a sign of taking major steps backwards?

Many Civil Society Organizations have come here to participate in the negotiations of this declaration. We were hoping for some space to influence our governments to improve on the declaration. However, there will not be any negotiations. So what are we all doing here?

A group of women from WIDE and various networks came together to write as statement to Member states and the chairperson of the CSW to express their sentiments on this issue. This statement has been endorsed by a variety of Women’s groups such as WIDE, AWID, DAWN, GAD and so on. Currently the statement is being circulated and people can sign on to it.

Writing this statement has been a very interesting participatory process. We are hoping that the statement will be circulated to Member States and that something will be done about this situation in the coming year. The statement is to be found on the WIDE-website.

Ama

Feminists on the Frontline

2010-03-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

On 4 March I attended a lively and rich discussion on some of the latest findings that are part of the larger multiple-year AWID research on Resisting and Challenging Fundamentalisms.
AWID has undertaken eighteen in depth case studies to grasp how religious fundamentalisms, in different contexts and different religions, operate, how they appeal or not to women, how they impact on women’s rights and women’s activism.
The case studies are a follow up to the 2008 AWID survey among 1600 women’s rights activists on their understanding of religious fundamentalisms. The respondents to the survey were adamant about the similarities between different religious fundamentalisms: preoccupation with controlling women’s bodies and sexuality, curtailment of women’s rights, freedom of movement and speech, and instigation of violence against women.
Nadine Moawad, from Lebanon, shared the history of Meem, an LBT organisation in a country where homosexuality is criminalized, where sexuality education does not exist and that is characterised by religious sectarianism that operates in all spheres of people’s lives. Meem builds a community of support for lesbian, bisexual, queer and questioning women and transgenders. The safety of this community is critical and a precondition for employing other strategies such as alliance building with other progressive forces in the women’s and human rights movement, religious leaders and intellectuals. Online activism is a main strategy that allows Meem to maintain members’ anonymity whilst its online presence enables both public and underground organising, and connection to members and allies across Lebanon and the world. Meem works to reclaim discussions of sex and sexuality in the Arab world, search for gay-friendly Islamic interpretations and to contribute to building an Arab LBTQ movement. Read more
Little is known as yet about Christian fundamentalisms in Africa. Jessica Horn (Sierra Leone/Uganda) explored its dynamics and the impact on women’s activism, with a strong focus on the role of Pentecostalism. African Pentecostalism is characterised by a mass popular base and an ideology of making money, drawing in poor people through promises of material benefits. Mobilization strategies exercised by Christian fundamentalists include the use of popular and mass communication channels, entry into formal party politics, mobilization of women against women’s rights and strategic appeals to cultural and national identity. Women’s rights activists are currently identifying entry points to begin tackling and resisting Christian fundamentalisms in Africa. The civil society coalition against the Anti Gay bill in Uganda is an example of concerted action and solidarity across women’s rights and LGBT activists. However the presence of fundamentalist actors within the broader gender equality sector (which we experienced during the Dutch government LBT side event two days before) weakens the uncompromising response from progressive feminist activists.
Juan Marco Vaggione summarised the findings of eight Latin American case studies. Striking commonalities were found throughout these cases. Catholic fundamentalism is the most influential political actor vis-à-vis women’s rights and abortion has become the political cleavage of women’s rights. Catholic fundamentalism in Latin America targets the state, political parties and civil society in order to influence state policies. In Vaggione’s view catholic fundamentalism in Latin America is a counter response to the success of the women’s rights agenda.
The recommendation to explore strategies of engagement with faith based organisations and to track dissent from within religious fundamentalisms met cautionary responses from the floor. Suggestion was made to also make an assessment of the impact of religious fundamentalism on the human rights system and the mandates of special rapporteurs.
For AWID’s research on Resisting and Challenging Fundamentalisms read more
Ireen Dubel
Hivos

Open Brief vakbondsvrouwen aan Ban Ki-moon

2010-03-05T13:48:00.000-08:00

Een van de eerste gecoördineerde protestacties kwam van de vakbondsvrouwen. Er zijn ruim honderd vakbondsvertegenwoordigers uit alle continenten. Het zijn vooral leden van onderwijsbonden en publieke sectorbonden, naast de vertegenwoordigsters van vakcentrales en hun internationale, de ITUC. Al op dinsdag 2 maart publiceerden de Global Unions een open brief aan de secretaris generaal van de Verenigde Naties om uitdrukking te geven aan hun verontwaardiging over proces en inhoud van de CSW. De open brief is op het ITUC-PSI-EI UNCSW-blog geplaatst (met vertaalfunctie!). Daar kan ook adhesie worden betuigd.
De brief wijst er op dat de bedoeling was tijdens deze CSW de balans op te maken wat er bereik was in alle 12 ‘areas of concern’ en wat er nog gedaan moet worden door regeringen samen met maatschappelijke organisaties, waaronder vakbonden. “Engaging civil society in this assessment proces is critical to the success of the UNCSW, but also to our collective succes in achieving gender equality.”
De vakbondsvrouwen wijzen er op dat effectieve participatie in deze CSW onmogelijk is. Daarbij noemen ze het gesloten proces van hét uitkomst document (de Declaration), maar ook op de eindeloze registratie procedures –er waren participanten die er meer dan 8 uur over hadden gedaan maandag. Verder maakt de verbouwing van het VN-gebouw en de beperkt toegankelijke tijdelijke behuizing zowel onderling contact als informeel contact met regeringsdelegaties er moeilijk. Omdat voorzien is dat de verbouwing van het VN-gebouw tenminste vier jaar zal duren moet daar echt een oplossing voor gevonden worden.
Kennelijk is de boodschap wel aangekomen. Al een dag later nodigde deputy secretary Ashan-Rose Migiro een delegatie van vakbondsvrouwen uit voor een gesprek over de brief. In dat gesprek zijn geen concrete toezeggingen gedaan, maar wel excuses aangeboden. Er zal wel overlegd worden met de beveiliging hoe in de toekomst betere toegankelijkheid tot stand kan komen.

Leontine Bijleveld
WO=MEN

Kale herbevestiging Beijing PfA na 15 jaar

2010-03-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

Dinsdag 2 maart is in de Commission on the Status of Women een verklaring aangenomen ter gelegenheid van de vijftiende verjaardag van de Vierde Wereld Vrouwen Conferentie in Beijing. In de verklaring onderstrepen de regeringen nogmaals het belang van de uitvoering van het Beijing Platform for Action en beloven ze plechtig verdere actie te ondernemen. Waar dat uit bestaat blijft echter duister. Het is een bloedeloze, kale verklaring, te vinden op de Beijing +15 website – in de woorden van Luisa Antolin (WIDE) “everything is a copy paste of what we already agreed before.”
De tekst van de ‘Declaration’ was, al voordat de CSW begonnen was, ‘uitonderhandeld’. Vanaf de loop van januari hebben via de missies van de landen bij de Verenigde Naties (Permanente Vertegenwoordiging) conceptteksten gecirculeerd. Verschillende landen hebben geprobeerd de verklaring op te tuigen, er meer ambitie in te stoppen, maar tevergeefs. Het hele proces heeft zich bijna geheel buiten de NGO’s om voltrokken. Daarover heerst, begrijpelijk, grote frustratie onder de NGO’s. In allerlei caucusses en minder gestructureerde samenwerkingsverbanden wordt op dit moment gewerkt aan tegen verklaringen. Ama werkt in de WIDE-delegatie aan een tekst. Het is nog niet geheel en al duidelijk in hoeverre daarbij samengewerkt wordt. Communicatie onder de NGO’s is erg lastig, omdat er in het VN-gebouw geen ontmoetingsgelegenheden zijn. De locaties waar de meeste side-events plaatsvinden hebben geen wireless toegang. De dagelijkse NGO-briefing is in de Salvation Army op de 52str, toch gauw een half uur lopen van het VN-gebouw. Andere jaren was die altijd in de vergaderzaal waar de officiële sessie om 10 uur begint en daardoor veel beter bezocht. Dat was een goede gelegenheid informatie uit te wisselen en die is er nu eigenlijk niet.

Leontine Bijleveld
WO=MEN

The "colour" of the csw is...

2010-03-04T01:39:00.000-08:00

The colour of the 54th session of the CSW is Opaque:
–adjective
1.not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
2.not transmitting radiation, sound, heat, etc.
3.not shining or bright; dark; dull.
4.hard to understand; not clear or lucid; obscure: The problem remains opaque despite explanations.
5.dull, stupid, or unintelligent. (www.dictionary.com)

Opaque is not a color.

Ama

"The mothers of those bad men"

2010-03-04T01:34:00.000-08:00

Anticipation and enthusiasm overflowed last Saturday. The sounds and sight of an excited mob of grey and white haired ladies is not one you can miss. This weekend there was a large gathering of all walks of women’s human rights defenders. All forms of women’s organizations was represented. They were mostly old and they were ALL very active. The organizers did a great job invited a variety of inspiring speaker such as Dr. Sima Samar, Charlotte Bunch, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda and Alexandra Garita.

Though it was great to have such a large gathering of women in all their diversity, there was also a great sense of frustration. This was both due to sense that not much has been achieved in the last 15 years and due to some logistical organizational shortcomings. At the end of the first day of the NGO forum, there was an open mic. The majority of women stood in line and waited (not always patiently) for a chance make themselves heard. There was such a hunger to be heard that there were very few silent listeners. It all dissolved into a cacophony of comments. In all the noise I picked up a few things:

It is high time for the ladies to hand over the torch to the next generation. This is necessary for a sustainable women’s movement. There needs to be an intergenerational dialogue and meaningful participation of youth.
Also, one of the panelists said, we should not forget that we are the mothers of those bad men we speak of. We can and should reprimand them! Also equality between women and men starts with upbringing, the way we educate our sons. This is of course not to say that the only space for women to influence men is at home. Women are increasingly active in decision making in the public as well as commercial arena.

No matter how many doors are shut, no matter how many voices are silenced women will continue to come because we want the UN to work for us. The NGO forum was great to bring people together. But let us not forget the critical points, because what would the women movement be without criticism? Regional working groups were organized however there was no clarity about what these groups were supposed to discuss. At the end of the forum a call for action was circulated. No one knew who the author was and everyone was annoyed at the fact that there had not been a consultation on this. These would be the first of many closed, opaque non participatory processes here at the CSW.

Ama

CSW-Blog van Cordaid and partners

2010-03-03T19:41:00.000-08:00

Cordaid CSW 54 delegation, staff and partners, are sharing their CSW impressions as well as relevant reports and materials via the Cordaidpartners.com website. We hope you enjoy our posts!

On behalf of the Cordaid CSW Delegation
Margriet Tolsma and Nathalie Lasslop

Dutch Government takes leadership on LBT rights

2010-03-03T18:37:00.001-08:00

Herstory was made on the second day of the CSW in New York. The Dutch government, with support from their Belgian and Portuguese counterparts, hosted a panel on human dignity for lesbian and bisexual women and transgender persons. It was the first, ever, official government organised event at the CSW on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. The meeting space was packed with good attendance by representatives from LBT organisations throughout the world, including many Hivos partners. Carlien Scheele, co-chair of the session and head of the Dutch government delegation, was adamant in her opening speech about the role of civil society organisations in making the event possible and tabling LBT issues at the CSW. A deliberate choice was made to have a co-chair from civil society in the South: Geeta Misra, Executive Director of CREA (India). CREA is a women’s rights organisation with a track record of working on women’s sexual and reproductive rights with an inclusive perspective towards women who tend to be excluded by the mainstream of women’s organisations. This means inclusiveness towards lesbian and bisexual women, transgenders, sex workers, and disabled women. CREA has been an active member of the Indian civil society coalition that achieved the landmark of decriminalisation of homosexuality in India in 2009.
The representatives from the Dutch, Belgian and Portuguese governments shared their latest policy ambitions and challenges in support of promotion of the rights of LBT persons. Common for the three countries is their acknowledgement of inadequate attention for the specific issues of lesbian and bisexual women and transgenders in their overall sexual diversity policies. Gays remains dominant in the LGBT acronym and the policy responses. Representatives from LBT organisations from various parts of the world shared the need for specific attention for the rights and issues of lesbian and bisexual women and transgender persons within sexual diversity policies and programmes. The participants expressed appreciation for the Dutch initiative. They had however hoped for more time for dialogue and interaction.

Ireen Dubel
Hivos

New Times for Women – A dream comes true

2010-03-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

Monday, March 1, on the opening day of the 2010 CSW session, women activists are handing out the brand new Newspaper The New Times for Women to government delegates and NGO representatives as they enter the UN premises and conference rooms. Two smiling and jubilant African women on the front page of this special edition mark the dawn of a new era. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has announced the creation of the new UN women’s rights agency. After many years of persistent lobby and advocacy by women’s rights activists under the leadership of the Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign it is time for celebration at the CSW. Surprised responses. “Really!” “Has it come true?” “So the search for a UN Under Secretary-General to head the new women’s agency can start as of today?”
Attentive readers soon sober up. At the bottom of the page they read: “This is news we would like to read. Turn the page to see where we stand now.”
The special New Times for Women edition is launched by the European section of the GEAR campaign in order to call for accelerated action by governments and the UN Secretary General to realise the dream of the new UN women’s agency. This year’s CSW provides an excellent opportunity to announce its creation as it reviews fifteen years of implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and its impact towards the full realisation of the Millennium Development Goals.
The press statement released by the European section of Gear speaks of a spoof newspaper promoting the GEAR campaign vision for the new super agency. Daniela Rosche from Oxfam Novib has been one of the driving forces behind the New Times for Women. Read the full paper.

Ireen Dubel
Programme Manager Hivos

Redelijk soepele registratie op zondag

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Het veel ons alleszins mee. Het kostte ons vanochtend (zondag) maar tweeënhalf uur om het VN-toegangspasje te bemachtigen. Even na negenen sloten we ons aan bij de pakweg dertig vrouwen die al stonden te wachten. Het was niet koud, de zon scheen, de sneeuw aan de rand van de weg, slechts een enkele auto reed over de 1st Avenue.
Nathalie Lasslop (Cordaid) was ons al voor, queeing samen met Jessica Nkuuhe uit Oeganda, directeur van Hivos-partner Urgent Action Fund Africa. Nkuuhe zit in het side-event van Cordaid morgen/maandag “Meet Women Human Rights Defenders”. Even later viel mijn oog op een tasje waarop niet alleen CEDAW-Working Group Initiative stond (altijd interessant voor de co-rapporteur CEDAW-schaduwrapportage Nederland), maar ook Hivos. Dat bleken afgevaardigden van een Hivos-partner uit Indonesië, waarvan Ireen Dubel onlangs in Jakarta collega’s had ontmoet.
Toen het hek van het VN-gebouw open ging om 10 uur waren die dertig vrouwen voor ons verviervoudigd. Onder de queue-jumpers sprongen de Italianen, de Iraniërs en de Afrikanen in het oog. Die laatste hadden wel smeuige verhalen: de regeringsdelegatie uit Nigeria zou maar liefst uit 60 leden bestaan, terwijl voor iedereen onduidelijk wie nu eigenlijk acting president is. Veel plaatsvervangende schaamte onder de Afrikaanse jongeren (V/M) van de International Women’s Health Coalition.

We hoorden dat er nog maar 900 registraties hadden plaatsgevonden, terwijl die toch al op vrijdag begonnen was. Toen we Dewi Suralaga (Cordaid) bij het foto-gedeelte van de registratie troffen begrepen we een beetje waarom. Op vrijdag had een deel van het VN-personeel wegens sneeuwstorm hun werkplek niet kunnen bereiken. We hoorden verhalen over anderhalve voet sneeuw (45 cm).
Maar goed, dat betekent qua registratie nog een paar duizend te gaan. Dat zal de voorspelde chaos morgen niet verminderen. Luidden de berichten een paar dagen geleden nog dat alle officiële sessies van de CSW, inclusief de opening en andere ceremoniële bijeenkomsten, naar het noodgebouw waren verplaatst (met nauwelijks NGO-plaatsen), vandaag hoorden we weer dat de beweging terug was ingezet, in ieder geval voor de eerste dagen. Dat betekent dat we toch een poging gaan wagen de opening mee te maken op maandag.

Leontine Bijleveld
WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform en Netwerk VN-Vrouwenverdrag

Voorbereidingen voor CSW 54

2010-02-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

Ama van Dantzig (links) en Leontine Bijleveld (rechts) zullen WO=MEN vertegenwoordigen tijdens de 54ste sessie van de CSW. Deze staat in het teken van Beijing + 15.

Ter voorbereiding verzorgen ze, samen met Daniela Rosche van Oxfam Novib,een workshop op het symposium van Genderjustice.nu.
23 februari 2010 in Utrecht.

Op de website van WO=MEN gaf Ama al een impressie van de voorbereidingen. Daar zijn ook de Dutch NGO Recommendations CSW te vinden. WO=MEN nam het initiatief hiervoor.

More information on CSW communication procedure

2009-08-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

27 July 2009
Dear Friends,

I am writing you to share information on an under-used yet potentially effective advocacy tool: the Communications Procedure of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

The Communications Procedure of the CSW deals with allegations of human rights abuse(s) by one or more Member State(s) against women. It does not deal with individual cases of abuse, but rather patterns of abuse.

There are very few prerequisites for submission: the communication itself can be as long or as short as you like (the entire submission can be less than a page long); a petitioner(s) must be identified at first but thereafter can have his/her identity treated confidentially; the petitioner(s) need not be from the country where the alleged abuse is taking place; the communication must contain allegations of a violation the human rights of women; and can be against one or more countries.

Once received, the communication is sent to the Government(s) involved who is then asked to respond. The Division for the Advancement of Women then summarizes all the information received and submits it to the CSW Working Group on Communications who reviews the information and makes recommendations. These findings are then presented to the entire 45 member Commission on the Status of Women for their approval. The approved recommendations are sent to the Government(s) involved (confidential), and a list of patterns of abuse is published in the CSW’s annual report without mention of specific countries (public).

The strength of this procedure is that there are very few prerequisites; with ‘little’ effort a Government can be asked to respond to allegations of abuse; the allegations will be viewed and discussed by the entire 45 member CSW; and the process can result in a set of recommendations being issued by the CSW to the Government in question. The ‘con’ of course is that this is largely a confidential procedure, so that the petitioner will not be able to see the response of the Government or the final set of recommendations.

The deadline for the next round of submissions is 14 August 2009.

I encourage you to consider this communication procedure, with all of its potential ramifications which only you can know, and to visit the website and/or contact me for further information.

Warmly,
Janine Moussa

Women's Rights Section
Division for the Advancement of Women

Wereld nog niet toe aan seksuele rechten

2009-04-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hilde Kroes, werkzaam bij World Population Foundation, lid van Wo=Men, is bij de VN in New York voor vergadering van de Commission on Population and Development.

Er is een resolutie. De regeringsdelegaties waren bereid verregaande compromissen te sluiten om toch met agreed cocnlusions te komen. Liever een gemaakte afspraak met winnende en verliezende terreinen, dan helemaal geen resolutie.

Maar het viel niet mee. Donderdagavond begreep ik voor het eerst de diepste betekenis van het woord 'lobbyen'. Want daar zat ik. Bewapend met mijn laptop, telefoon, kop koffie en de relevante VN resoluties van andere jaren. Tot 3 uur in de nacht. Want zo lang zaten de lidstaten om de tafel om te onderhandelen over de tekst. Het delegatielid van India verliet nog voor middernacht de onderhandelingskamer, hoofdschuddend: hij geloofde er niet meer in dat deze landen het eens gaan worden. Anderen waren meer optimistisch, ook al bleef het de vraag wie aan het langste eind zou trekken. Om 3 uur begrepen we dat de onderhandelingen de volgende dag verder zouden gaan.

De EU was definitief uit elkaar gevallen. De G77 al eerder in de week. In hoekjes van de lobby en kamertjes werden nieuwe blokken gevormd. Nederland maakte een front met Noorwegen, Zweden, Canada, Nieuw Zeeland en Groot-Brittanie en Zwitserland. De Latijns Amerikaanse landen waren een sterk team en Zambia en Zuid-Afrika opereerden zelfstandig en met een duidelijke - progressieve - stem.

Het was spannend op de laatste dag. De Maleisische voorzitter van de onderhandelingen kwam met een tekst waarin hij alle input van de landen zoveel mogelijk had verwerkt. Hij was geduldig geweest tot aan donderdagnacht. Nu was hij er klaar mee. Met deze tekst zou iedereen tevreden moeten zijn. Zijn boodschap was:

Take it or leave it.

Als een razende gingen mijn collega's en ik door de tekst. We hebben nog geprobeerd kleine aanpassingen door te spelen, maar de voorzitter was duidelijk. Dit zou de resolutie worden of anders niets. Sommige EU landen twijfelden nog, maar de NGO mening was onbetwist: ondanks wat ongelukkige toevoegingen was dit een heel goede tekst voor de seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en rechten van iedereen.

Er stond namelijk voor het eerst de frase 'seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en rechten' (SRGR) in een VN tekst. Iets wat wij dagelijks gebruiken in ons werk is niet internationaal erkend, en dan gaat het vooral om de verwijzing naar 'seksuele rechten'. Een no-go gebied voor de conservatieven en sommige religieuze landen op deze aarde. Ik hield mijn hart vast toen de voorzitter van de Commission vroeg of ze de hamerslag kon geven voor deze tekst. Het bleef stil... tot: Iran de hand op stak. 'Madam Chair', zei hij: 'My country and others are confused about the phrase 'sexual and reproductive health and rights'. Ze wilden er niet mee akkoord. De voorzitter gaf de vergadering 10 minuten om hierover tot consensus te komen.

Het was alsof er een wervelwind ging door de vergaderzaal. Mensen krioelden opgewonden om elkaar heen, er werden allianties gesloten, er werd gepraat,overtuigd, teruggetrokken uit de zaal. Het waren de spannendste tien minuten van de hele week. Zou er misschien toch geen resolutie komen? Zal SRGR er toch uit gaan?

Na deze spannende minuten kwam het verlossende woord. Er was consensus. SRGR zou worden veranderd in VN taal: 'seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en reproductieve rechten.' Zoals de Maleisische voorzitter zei: niemand kan even blij zijn met de tekst. We hebben geprobeerd iedereen even niet-blij te laten zijn met de tekst. De conservatieve landen en het Vaticaan hebben in hun statements na afloop van de hamerslag kanttekeningen geplaatst, waarin ze zich distantieren van toegang tot abortus. Malta ging als enige zo ver door te verklaren dat ze niets te maken willen hebben met 'commodities', waaronder oa. condooms verstaan worden.

Maar al met al zijn we tevreden. Even leek het onmogelijke te gebeuren; dat SRGR eindelijk internationaal erkend zouden worden. Dat het op de laatste minuut niet doorging voelt toch als een domper. Maar het geeft wel aan dat er een verschuiving mogelijk is binnen de VN landen. En dat onze lobby pogingen toch tot iets leiden. Dat blijkt wel omdat er in deze resolutie voor het eerst over 'comprehensive sexuality education' (seksuele voorlichting waarin alles bespreekbaar wordt gemaakt - inclusief condooms - zodat jongeren een eigen keuze kunnen maken rond seksualiteit) wordt gesproken. En over het vrouwencondoom. Ook staan er prominente passages in over jongeren, mede door de uitstekende lobby en contacten van de jongerengroep.

In een tekst waarin werkelijk elk woordje telt zijn dit grote stappen voorwaarts. Het is en blijft een politiek spel, maar met verregaande gevolgen voor de gezondheid en rechten van jongeren, vrouwen en mannen op seksueel en reproductief gebied. Deze resolutie is wederom een begin, zoals elk jaar, van het verbeteren van deze rechten en gezondheid. We houden de vinger aan de pols, elke dag!

Uren discussie rond één klein woordje

2009-04-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hilde Kroes, werkzaam bij World Population Foundation, lid van Wo=Men, is bij de VN in New York voor vergadering van de Commission on Population and Development.

Het is donderdagavond na zessen in de avond en mensen beginnen een beetje onrustig heen en weer te lopen. De onderhandelingen zijn al vanaf vanochtend vroeg bezig en er komt maar weinig informatie naar buiten. Het is gissen wat er achter de grote houten deuren gebeurt. Niet alleen dat maakt mensen onrustig, maar ook het feit dat er vandaag een agreement moet komen. Morgen is de dag gereserveerd voor praktische vergaderzaken.

Geruchten zijn er genoeg: vandaag nog was de EU een groep, toen vielen ze uit elkaar, daarna waren ze weer terug als een groep en nu zijn ze alleen uit elkaar op de paragrafen die over seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en rechten gaan. Zambia en Zuid Afrika zijn stevige partners, ze brengen ervaringen uit hun landen mee als het gaat om de gevolgen van het gebrek aan seksuele en reproductieve dienstverlening.

Het thema dit jaar lijkt moeilijker dan gedacht. De review van de afspraken die 15 jaar geleden zijn gemaakt is een aanleiding voor de conservatieve landen (Syrie, Pakistan en Egypte voorop) om hun onvrede uit te spreken over die afspraken. Hoewel de PoA van 1994 niet meer onderhandelbaar is, vertraagt deze onvrede het proces erg. Geraffineerd komen ze met tekstvoorstellen die niet in lijn zijn met deze afspraken. Wij leveren dan teksten aan die wél opgetekend staan voor de progressieve landen.

Men kan het niet eens worden over het woordje 'services'. 'Reproductieve dienstverlening' betekent alles van informatie, educatie, zorg, ondersteuning, behandeling, rond reproductie. Abortus valt daar ook onder en dat is en blijft een heikel punt. Twee uur hebben ze vergaderd over dat woordje, zonder succes. De discussie is opgeschoven naar een later tijdstip. Ergens vannacht.

Ondertussen stuurden de oppositie organisaties een paniekmail naar hun collega's in Amerika. Ze beschreven deze bijeenkomst als 'de ergste VN bijeenkomst sinds 10 jaar', door de aanwezigheid van ons. Ze riepen hun collega's op met spoed naar de VN te komen om te helpen in hun lobby. Twintig extra tegenstanders van onze issues traden vandaag aan. Maar het lijkt een beetje te laat. Ondertussen verspreiden ze het nieuws dat wij pornografie en pedofilie promoten. Wij verstaan echter heel andere dingen onder seksuele rechten.

Het wordt een latertje vanavond!

Chips en late uurtjes, voor seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en rechten

2009-04-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hilde Kroes, werkzaam bij World Population Foundation, lid van Wo=Men, is bij de VN in New York voor vergadering van de Commission on Population and Development.

Nog geen twee weken na de CSW, de vrouwenvergadering van de Verenigde Naties, zitten de werelddelegaties weer met elkaar om de tafel. Dit keer voor de vergadering over bevolking en ontwikkeling, een jaarlijks terugkerend evenement in New York.

Het is half tien 's avonds en af en toe komt er roodhoofdig delegatielid de strict gesloten kamer uitlopen. De Finse dame pakt een appel uit haar tas en haalt diep adem. Ik loop samen met mijn twee Amerikaanse collega's op haar af en vraag hoe het binnen de kamer gaat. 'De onderhandelingen gaan moeizaam', zegt ze, 'we gaan zeker nog tot na middernacht door'. Ze geeft ons de ins en outs over hoe de discussies verlopen. We fluisteren een beetje, omdat mensen van 'de oppositie' niet ver van ons staan af te luisteren. In de TL-verlichte gang van het VN gebouw zitten mensen van allerlei ontwikkelingsorganisatie met smart te wachten op een beetje nieuws. Sommigen zijn driftig aan het typen op hun laptops, te werken aan teksten die delegaties mee kunnen nemen naar binnen. Anderen houden de deur constant in de gaten om te kijken wie er naar buiten komt lopen.

Wat is er zó belangrijk, dat rergeringsdelegaties en NGOs tot zo laat opgesloten zitten in de kelders van de VN?

Deze week, van 30 maart tot en met 3 april, zijn regeringen van over de wereld bij elkaar om de stand van zaken te bespreken na 15 jaar Cairo agenda en 10 jaar Millennium Development Goals. In Cairo in 1994 spraken de wereldleiders een programma af dat zou bijdragen aan bevolking en ontwikkeling - de ICPD. Het was een historisch moment: voor het eerst werd er internationaal erkend dat individuen recht hebben op het maken van vrije keuzes rond reproductie en sexualiteit, op basis van goede informatie en de toegang tot dienstverlening. Het programma - in een notendop - spreekt van vrouwenemancipatie - en empowerment, seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en reproductieve rechten, toegang tot veilige abortus waar dat legaal is en het recht zelf te kiezen over je lichaam en het wel of niet krijgen van kinderen. Vijf jaar later werden de Millennium Doelstellingen opgetekend, 8 doelen om een einde te maken aan armoede.

Vijftien jaar na de ICPD wordt er nu gekeken hoe de regeringen zich aan de afspraken hebben gehouden. En dat is in sommige landen niet zo best. Seksualiteit, reproductie, vrouwenrechten, abortus... de wereld is misschien op geen ander terrein zo verdeeld als op deze issues. En dat is de afgelopen drie dagen wederom duidelijk geworden. De resolutie die vrijdag op tafel moet liggen zal de komende vijf jaar en wellicht verder bepalen. Hoewel slechts woorden en blaadjes papier: wát er precies wordt geformuleerd heeft invloed op miljoenen vrouwen, meisjes, jongens en mannen en hun gezondheid, welzijn en in sommige gevallen: leven.

De Europese Unie trekt gewoonlijk samen op en doet tekstvoorstellen op de draft resolutie. De Nederlandse delegatie leek optimistisch tot eerder op deze dag: er was een akkoord binnen de EU. Opmerkelijk, aangezien Malta ook in deze meeting een groot struikelblok vormt. De Maltese regering is principieel tegen abortus en het recht van jongeren toegang te krijgen tot seksuele en reproductieve dienstverlening. Eerder vandaag hoorden we dat de G77, een groep van ontwikkelingslanden, uit elkaar gevallen is omdat de Islamitische landen en enkele landen in Afrika en Latijns Amerika het niet eens konden worden. Landen als Noorwegen, Canada, Nieuw Zeeland, Zwitserland zijn onze bevriende regeringen. En ook, sinds begin dit jaar, de Verenigde Staten, nu Obama president is.

We zijn met 50 mensen van NGOs in het veld van vrouwenrechten en seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en rechten van over de hele wereld hard en strategisch aan het werk om te zorgen dat er zoveel mogelijk progressieve taal in de resolutie komt. We schrijven tekstvoorstellen, we houden vinger aan de pols bij delegaties, en we zitten tot later op de gangen van VN te wachten op nieuws. Vandaag gaven we op elkaar afgestemde speeches en we vormen een goed front tegen de NGOs die onze oppositie zijn: veelal conservatieve, zwaar religieuze organisaties die tegen condooms, abortus en seks voor het huwelijk zijn. Hun lobby-activiteiten zijn goed georganiseerd en gericht op landen als Malta.

Inspirerend en hoopvol om te zien dat een groep jongeren flink actief is om jongerenissues op de agenda te zetten. Sara en Marina van CHOICE, lid van Share-net, houden een jongerenblog bij, zie: http://www.oneworld.nl/Opinie/Weblog/weblogentry/566/Helft_wereldbevolking_onder_25

De Finse dame is terug in de onderhandelkamer en ik wacht - met een zakje chips en een koek als avondeten - op het volgende beetje nieuws...

Zie voor meer informatie:
WPF: www.wpf.org
ICPD: http://www.unfpa.org/icpd/icpd.cfm
CPD: http://www.un.org/esa/population/cpd/cpd2009/comm2009.htm

54th session will be the implementation of the Beijing Platform on the occasion of its 15th anniversary

2009-04-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

Loeky Droesen is bestuurslid van wo=men en programma medewerkster vrouwenrechten bij Aim for human rights.

The theme of next year's CSW the 54th session has been announced and will be "the implementation of the Beijing Platform on the occasion of its 15th anniversary".

The Commission of the 54th session was elected. They are delegates from Italy, Japan, Senegal and Armenia. The CSW NGO group is planning an event in the days before the start of the 54th CSW, to celebrate Beijing +15 as an NGO community. Time to start thinking about preparing and participating in 2010. Loeky Droesen

Agreed conclusions gepubliceerd

2009-03-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

Loeky Droesen is bestuurslid van wo=men en programma medewerkster vrouwenrechten bij Aim for human rights.

De tekst van de nieuwe agreed conclusions staat op de CSW 53 website, zie de link in onder weblink op deze pagina.

Mocht je het leuk vinden om nog meer inpressie van de CSW te lezen dan kun je ook terecht op de blog. http://internews-equalshare.blogspot.com/. Zij versloegen de CSW met het doel journalisten in afrika op de hoogte te houden van de ontwikkelingen en schreven o.a een verslag van een van onze aim for human rights panels

De Nederlandse NGO's en de Nederlandse overheidsdelegatie zullen binnenkort nog bij elkaar komen om onze ervaringen met elkaar te delen. Zodra de datum en plaats bekend zijn zullen we die informatie hier op de blog mededelen. Loeky Droesen

Er zijn toch agreed conclusions

2009-03-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

Ines Orobio de Castro van E-Quality deelt haar CSW ervaringen op de E-Quality website en hier op de Wo=men blog

Op vrijdag (13/3) zou om half 3 duidelijk worden of er Agreed Conclusions zouden komen. Het duurde echter tot 18.00 uur voordat de vergadering weer werd hervat. Het secretariaat van de CSW had kans gezien om een nieuwe Agreed Conclusion te maken. Weliswaar niet bepaald een hemelbestormend document, maar toch. Het was nu take it or leave it: het hele pakket of niets. Syrië sputterde wat, Iran en Quatar zeiden nee. Daarmee leek de zaak afgeschoten, maar toch gingen de EU en diverse andere landen weer aan de gang om die twee over te halen, dan wel via bevriende mogendheden onder druk te zetten. Want de meeste lidstaten, inclusief notoire dwarsliggers, vonden het toch wel heel erg als de CSW zou worden afgesloten zonder Agreed Conclusions. Het duurde en duurde en om 19.15 moest ik echt weg naar het vliegveld. Onderweg in de taxi kreeg ik een sms van Joan Ferrier dat uiteindelijk de AC's waren aangenomen.
Ik kan ze niet opsturen, want ik heb alleen een papieren versie, en ze staan nog niet op site. ( http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/53sess.htm )

Gemengde gevoelens, want dit slotdocument stelt niet veel voor. Zo is de uiterst brave paragraaf over sexual en reproductive rights van de EU verdwenen. Het lijkt elk jaar moeilijker te worden. Een paar landen kunnen alle andere in gijzeling nemen. En het leek wel of sommige landen precies de bedoeling hadden om te traineren. In ieder geval had het niets meer met het onderwerp te maken. Eerst gingen ze dwarsliggen bij het hoofdthema, en toen de druk op de ketel te hoog werd gingen ze ineens moeilijk doen over de pre-ambule.
Wel bewondering voor het bureau van de CSW dat ze binnen een paar uur een nieuwe tekst gemaakt hebben. Hoog tijd voor een resolutie-vorm, gewoon meerderheid van stemmen.

Dat was het dan. Wij (NL NGO's) hadden in ieder geval een goede samenwerking en werden regelmatig voorzien van informatie door de NL delegatie. Iedereen bedankt, en tot ziens bij de debriefing." Ines Orobio de Castro

Bericht van Ines eerder op de dag

Het wil niet vlotten met de Agreed Conclusions. Met name Syrie gesteund door Iran ligt extreem dwars. Wil op het gebied van mensenrechten van vrouwen en specifiek wat betreft geweld tegen vrouwen, uitzonderingen op grond van religie, cultuur e.d. Afgelopen nacht heeft men tot 6.00 in de morgen onderhandeld. De vorige nacht tot 2.00 uur.

Ondertussen heeft Mira Woldberg (van de NL delegatie) gisteren samen met USA, Nieuw Zeeland, Canada, Egypte en Maleisia 6 nieuwe paragrafen mbt HIV/Aids kunnen fabriceren. De draft Agreed Conclusions waren in het begin 5 pagina's lang, afgelopen maandag waren ze uitgegroeid tot 25 pagina's! Vooral bij het gedeelte over HIV/AIDS waren er tientallen alternatieve paragrafen en/of frasen ingevoerd, die met geen mogelijkheid onderhandelbaar waren, laat staat kondern worden teruggebracht tot een overzichtelijk aantal. Vooral dankzij de compromisloze opstelling van Syrie.

De EU zal nog tekst over reproductieve rechten inbrengen. Afgelopen woensdag (11-3) is de EU er namelijk eindelijk in geslaagd tot overeenstemming te komen. Dat wil zeggen dat Malta overstag is gegaan wat betreft reproductieve rechten, onder voorwaarde dat die alleen in relatie tot HIV/AIDS zouden worden genoemd (dus in de verste verte niets met abortus van doen). Daar was wel overleg op ambassadeursniveau voor nodig geweest. Overigens zal deze EU inbreng het niet halen geen enkele andere delegatie heeft iets over reproductieve rechten), maar het moet in ieder geval op de agenda worden gezet en er ook blijven.

De EU staat ook alleen wat betreft het invoeren van een statement over de hervorming van de gender structuur binnen de VN (GEAR). Helemaal alleen? Nee, want een klein eilandje in de Grote Oceaan, Niue geheten, gaat samen met Zwitserland nog proberen iets hierover te formuleren en in de onderhandelingen te brengen.

Op dit moment (vrijdag 13.00 u) gelooft niemand dat er Agreed Conclusions. Er wordt gesproken over een andere methode van werken, want die nachtelijke sessies en eindeloos getraineer - 1 land kan alle andere gijzelen - leiden tot niets, behalve slechte humeuren.
De CSW zou uitsluitend met resoluties kunnen gaan werken, dan is alleen een meerderheid van stemmen nodig.

Vanmiddag om drie uur wordt waarschijnlijk duidelijk of er nog een door iedereen gedragen slotdocument in zit. Als dat zo is laat ik de uitkomst nog weten.

Ines Orobio de Castro

Land en eigendomrechten en HIV/Aids

2009-03-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

Loeky Droesen is bestuurslid van wo=men en programma medewerkster vrouwenrechten bij Aim for human rights.

“Toen ik gister het Verenigde Naties gebouw uitliep, waren de diplomaten nog druk aan het onderhandelen over de tekst. De verwachting was dat men de nacht door zou moeten onderhandelen en de kans is groot dat men er voor het officiële einde van de CSW op vrijdag niet uitkomt. Dat was vorig jaar ook het geval. Het zijn echt zware dagen voor de onderhandelaars. De Nederlandse overheidsdelegatie is heel actief en probeert met kleine sub clubje op controversiële punten met aanvullende teksten te komen, die wel acceptabel zijn.

De agreed conclusions worden met consensus aangenomen. Dat betekent dat een land de agreed conclusions kan blokkeren door NEE te zeggen. We horen in de wandelgangen dat nu vooral Syrië dwars gaat liggen. Syrië wil o.a dat het woord harmful voor cultural and religious stereotypes blijft staan. Dat zou betekenen dat er ook positieve stereotypes bestaan over de rollen van mannen en vrouwen, dus daar zijn wij en heel veel lidstaten tegen. Maar nog controversiëler is het feit dat Syrië ergens een stuk tekst over women under occupation in wil fietsen. Dat is VN code taal voor vrouwen in de Palestijnse gebieden. Nou, je kunt nog beter een rode vlag voor een stier heen en weer wapperen, dan binnen de VN het onderwerp Palestina opbrengen. Dat is echt vragen om onenigheid. De uit eindelijk tekst van de agreed conclusions zal dus waarschijnlijk nog even op zich laten wachten.

Gister bezocht ik ook mijn laatste panel bijeenkomst over de link tussen HIV/aids en land en eigendom wetgeving. Dat lijkt misschien een vergezochte relatie maar het is heel simpel uit te leggen met een voorbeeld. Vrouw en man zijn getrouwd. Man krijgt aids en gaat dood. Vrouw krijgt van de familie van de man de schuld van de dood van de man (In heel veel landen is de realiteit dat getrouwde vrouwen worden geïnfecteerd door hun man, maar dat de maatschappij de vrouw de schuld geven) De nationale wetgeving zit vaak zo in elkaar dat de vrouw geen eigendomsrechten kan doen geleden op het land en huis. De familie van de man gooit vrouw en vaak ook de kinderen uit het huis. Heel veel vrouwen en aidswezen komen zo in de prostitutie terecht om te overleven. Als ze al niet besmet waren door hun man, is de kans dat ze nu besmet worden heel groot.

Helaas is het zelf in landen waar de wetgeving onder druk van de vrouwenbeweging als is verbeterd in de praktijk voor vrouwen heel moeilijk om hun rechten ook echt te krijgen. Mijn vriendin Anne van de Association of Women’s Judges vertelde me over de situatie in Tanzania waar vrouwen zonder toestemming van de community leider niet mogen reizen. Het vereist heel erg veel moed tegen die culturele regel in te gaan. Dus als de familie van je man je het huis uitgooit en je eigendom inpikt, maar je kunt niet naar de stad waar de rechtbank is dan bestaat je recht op eigendom alleen op papier. In Tanzania hadden de rechters dit probleem opgelost door zelf met enige regelmaat naar de dorpen te gaan zodat er wel toegang tot het recht werd gecreëerd.

Tijdens het panel werd aangekondigd dat een aantal organisaties in Afrika nu gaan samenwerken om van elkaar te leren hoe de situatie kan worden aangepakt. Ook werkt men aan een website om case law te delen. Want belangrijke uitspraken van rechters zijn, zoals een panelist beschreef alleen op papier te vinden in een stoffig archief in de hoofdstad en om ze te kunnen lezen moet je de archivist omkopen met 10 dollar!’ Loeky Droesen

Reflections on attending the CSW from the plane

2009-03-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

Daniela Rosche, of Oxfam Novib also attended the CSW and collaborated on the Dutch NGO’s lobby and other lobby work at the CSW. She shares her impressions of the CSW experience with us in this blog post.

“Wednesday 11 March
On my way back to Amsterdam last night, I was Iucky to enjoy clear skies over Manhattan. There it was: the Big Apple, a seemingly quiet buzz. In Midtown Manhattan, where the UN headquarter is located, I have spent the past two weeks, leading the Oxfam International delegation through the cloudy halls of the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). From above the ground, it seems not so cloudy now. I am glad to realize this because the UN and the CSW meetings are easy places to get lost in and lose perspective.

Bringing the perspective of Oxfam’s partners and colleagues from developing countries to this year’s CSW was one of our main goals. The two key themes on the agenda this year, equal sharing of responsibilities for women and men, also in the context of HIV and AIDS and the impact of the financial crisis on women’s rights, were important issues to reflect on. While governments are still discussing the deletion, inclusion and rewording of language in the (to CSW go-ers famous) “Agreed Conclusions”, it is important to remember what the fuss is all about. It’s about women’s everyday lives and the fact that across the world, women are still earning less than men., are primary care givers for the children, people living with HIV and AIDS the sick, the elderly, are forced to work in the informal labor markets, are under- represented at decision making tables, subjected to violence, and the list goes on. Of course, these issues vary between developed and developing countries. But not in nature, only in degree.

Oxfam’s partners and staff did a great job in bringing that perspective to the enormous number of panels, NGO caucuses and political negotiations. Just as I was leaving, my African colleague and I made a last ditch to get language on the African Women’s Protocol into the final outcome text. A good example of South-North collaboration that, we have to be confident, helps change the inequality of women and bring men more strongly to the table. But also our many NGO colleagues representing organizations working on women’s rights, succeeded to bring that perspective to CSW, especially by bringing so many grass-roots women along. So, as I am just about to be fed some healthy “plane breakfast”, I feel that months of prep work, long hours writing strategies, policy recommendations, amendments and organizing tedious logistical details have been worth it. Even if the outcome text may not be the big splash. Manhattan wasn’t built in a day either.’ Daniela Rosche

De temperatuur stijgt bij de onderhandelingen

2009-03-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

Loeky Droesen is bestuurslid van wo=men en programma medewerkster vrouwenrechten bij Aim for human rights.

“De onderhandelingen tussen de landen over de draft agreed conclusions is in volle gang. Af en toe zien we de Nederlandse overheidsdelegatie voorbij rennen en vertellen ze ons snel de stand van zaken. Gister is men tot half twee aan het onderhandelen geweest over de tekst. Zoals we gister al lieten weten is er binnen de EU eindelijk overeenstemming bereikt over het EU standpunt. Seksuele en reproductieve rechten worden genoemd, maar strikt binnen het kader van HIV/aids preventie. Daar was dan wel overleg op ambassadeursniveau voor nodig binnen de EU. Een teken dat het overleg echt heel lastig is, met het dwarsliggende Malta. Nederland gaat niet zelfstandig nog een aanvullende paragraaf indienen zoals we gister nog even meenden te begrijpen.

Interessant om te weten is ook dat de EU verwacht dat dit tekstvoorstel over seksuele en reproductieve rechten het waarschijnlijk niet gaat halen in de bredere onderhandelingen met de rest van de VN. Geen van de andere delegaties en groepen van landen heeft een verwijzing naar seksuele en reproductieve rechten in hun tekstvoorstel opgenomen. Het blijft wereldwijd een zeer controversieel onderwerp, vrouwen het recht geven over hun eigen lichaam te beslissen.

Het valt ons ook op dat er nu tijdens week twee, waarin de onderhandelingen goed op stoom komen, opeens veel meer, zoals wij ze in de wandelgangen noemen, enge typjes rondlopen. Enge typjes zijn voor ons mensen die erg hun best doen seksuele en reproductieve rechten van vrouwen tegen te werken. Ze promoten onthouding en zijn erg tegen abortus. Er zijn al groepen gesignaleerd die rond lopen met doosjes met daarin plastic foetussen, die ze uitdelen. Verder kregen we net een uitnodiging voor een side event over Womens’reproductive Health van een vriendelijk lachende dame: “testimonies from those who have experienced abortion and from the experts of renewed reproductive health.”

Gister werd ik in de gang aangesproken door een jonge journaliste uit Iran. Ze was van het staatspersbureau, maar verklaarde onafhankelijk te zijn. Haar vragen wezen daar niet op. Ze wilde vooral weten of ik ook niet vond dat er ruimte moest zijn voor het aanpassen van de VN afspraken op basis culturele en religieuze verschillen. Nou vind ik dat absoluut niet acceptabel. Culturele en religieuze normen worden meestal misbruikt om vrouwen in hun keuzevrijheid te beperken. Ik heb dat een beetje diplomatiek ook gezegd, maar maak me nu wel zorgen dat er in de Iraanse pers een stuk komt te staan waarin Aim for human rights uitzonderingen op basis van culturele en religieuze gronden steunt. Even voor de record, dat heb ik echt niet gezegd. Als het goed is krijg ik een eventueel bericht in het Farsi toegestuurd dus dan kan ik het controleren.

Gister aan het eind van de dag was er weer een zogenaamde coordinatie caucus. Een bijeenkomst waarbij de aanwezige NGO’s hun kennis en ervaringen met het onderhandelingsproces delen. Iedereen praat natuurlijk met eigen delegatie en hoort andere informatie, dus het is goed dat die informatie wordt gedeeld. Op basis van de gesprekken inventariseert men ook de tekstvoorstellen, die volgens de NGO’s niet geaccepteerd zouden moeten worden. Ines van E-Quality heeft de belangrijkste punten uit dat overleg uitgewerkt. De zorgen van de NGO’s zijn gedeeld met de Nederlandse delegatie. Maar het is ook gelukt in het VN gebouw kopieën te maken, (een kunst op zich) en die in grote getallen te verspreiden zodat er flink tegen deze punten gelobbyd kan worden.
Ik voeg het overzicht van de punten bij. Het is waarschijnlijk alleen goed te volgen als je een kopie van de draft agreed conclusion in het bericht hieronder erbij pakt. De verschillende versies van de drafts met voorgestelde tekstwijzigingen staan niet op de DAW website helaas." Loeky Droesen

Most problematic parts in the Draft Agreed Conclusions as of 9th March

In the text you see a describtion of why the NGO’s think that part of the text is problematic.

Problematic because of the still unbalanced power relation between women and men:

page 8, para e ter
Holy See: “by providing enforceable means of acces and visitation.....”
(Note: already adopted by the GA dec 2008?)

Not to be adopted, because they undermine the notion of the universality of human rights.

page 1, para 3
Additional proposal of Quar and Iran: “with full respect for the various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of each country's people”

page 16, para u
Additional proposal b Iran: “ taking into account local circumstances, ethics and cultural values”

Not to be adopted: as if there are 'good' stereotypical gender roles and views.

page 20, top
Additional by Pakistan: “harmful” (stereotypes)

page 20, para z
Additional by Iran: “harmful” (stereotypical gender roles)

page 21, para aa
Additional by Pakistan: “harmful” (stereotypical views)

De laatste draft ageed conclusions 12 maart

2009-03-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Voor de echte liefhebbers van het onderhandelingsproces

DRAFT 12 MARCH

Commission on the Status of Women
Fifty-third session, 2– 13 March 2009

Agreed conclusions
The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including care-giving in the context of HIV/AIDS

1. The Commission on the Status of Women reaffirms the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, and the declaration adopted by the Commission on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. AGREED AD REF

2. Facilitator.
The Commission reaffirms the outcome of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, the 2000 Millennium Summit, the 2002 World Summit on Children, the 2002 Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development, the 2005 World Summit, and the outcome to their follow-up processes, and recognizes further that their full and effective implementation is essential to achieve the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS.

3. Facilitator.
The Commission reiterates that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities constitute a legal and policy framework and a set of measures to promote the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men

4. Facilitator
The Commission duly notes the ILO Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981, (No. 156) and its corresponding Recommendation (No. 165) which provides a framework for reconciling work and family responsibilities.

Malaysia, African Group: add: 4 bis
The Commission recognizes that gender inequalities still exist and are reflected in imbalances of power between women and men in all spheres of society. The Commission further recognizes that everyone benefits from gender equality and that the negative impacts of gender inequality are borne by society as a whole and emphasizes, therefore, that men and boys, through taking responsibility themselves and working jointly in partnership with women and girls, are essential to achieving the goals of gender equality, development and peace. The Commission recognizes the capacity of men and boys in bringing about change in attitudes, relationships and access to resources and decision-making which are critical for the promotion of gender equality and the full enjoyment of all human rights by women. (agreed conclusions on the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality, para 3, 2004)

4 bis. Facilitator
The Commission recalls and reiterates that the full integration of women into the formal economy and, in particular into economic decision-making, means changing the current gender-based division of labour into new economic structures where women and men enjoy equal treatment, pay and power, including sharing of paid and unpaid work.

4 ter
The Commission notes that the costs of unequal sharing of responsibilities include weaker labour market attachment for women (foregone jobs, shorter working hours, confinement to informal work, and lower wages), weaker access to social security benefits, and less time for education/training, leisure and self-care, and political activities. AGREED AD REF

5. Facilitator
The Commission reaffirms the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which inter-alia, expressed concern that gender inequality increases women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, the overall expansion and feminization of the pandemic, and also acknowledges that women and girls bear the disproportionate burden to care for and support those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

New Zealand 5 bis – withdrawn

5 ter (Replaces NZ 5 ter: and Aus: 5 ter)
The Commission recognises that caregiving work at the household and family level includes the support and care of children, older persons, the ill, persons with disabilities, and caring associated with various forms of the family kinship and community obligations which is affected by factors such as size of household and number and age of children, with significant differences between developed and developing countries in the availability of infrastructure and services supporting caregiving. The Commission also recognizes that gender inequality and discrimination contribute to the continuing imbalance in the division of labour between women and men and perpetuate stereotypical perceptions of men and women the commission further recognizes that changes in demographics in ageing and youthful societies, and in the context of HIV/AIDS, have increased the need for, and scope of, care.

Chile: 5 bis:
The Commission further welcomes ongoing partnerships between stakeholders at all levels and the commitments on gender equality and HIV/AIDS announced at the 2008 high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals.

Australia 5 bis – moved to global challenges

Facilitator: 5 quart
The Commission acknowledges the important role of civil society and national human rights institutions in advancing the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and in promoting the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, and recognises their contributions to the Commission.

5 bis Facilitator (replaces EU 5 bis and Turkey 5 bis)
The Commission reaffirms the commitment to the equal participation of women and men in public and political life as a necessary pendant to women and men’s equal participation in care giving

5 ter Facilitator
The Commission looks forward to the conclusion of the ongoing reform process of the UN gender system in order to better achieve the commitments to gender equality, the advancement of women, women’s empowerment and human rights.

EU 5 ter: The Commission reaffirms the commitment to ensure the full implementation of the human rights of women and of the girl child as an inalienable and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

6. Facilitator’s Chapeau
The Commission urges Governments, including local authorities, to work cooperatively, as appropriate, with the United Nations system, international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates, as well as civil society the private sector, employer organizations, trade unions, media and other relevant actors, to take the following actions.

Norms and policies

a. Facilitator
Intensify efforts to fully implement the Beijing Platform for Action and the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly, the outcome documents of the International Conference on Population and Development, the World Summit for Social Development, the 2000 Millennium Declaration, the Millennium Development Goals, the outcome of the 2002 World Summit on Children, the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, and the follow-up processes;

Venezuela a bis – moved to international cooperation

b. Facilitator (combined b and b alt Holy See/ African group)
Ratify, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and their Optional Protocols, and consider limiting the extent of any reservations so that they are not incompatible with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty; and implement them fully by, inter alia, putting in place effective national legislation, policies, action plans and monitoring mechanisms.
EU 6 b bis: Ensure that women and children have full and equal access to effective legal remedies for violations, including domestic mechanisms which are monitored and revised to ensure that they function without discrimination, and international mechanisms that address human rights as provided, inter alia, under the CEDAW Convention.

c. Facilitator
Consider, as a matter of priority, the ratification and implementation of the ILO Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156), and the implementation of its corresponding Recommendation (No. 165) which provide a framework for reconciling work and family responsibilities;

d. Facilitator
Take appropriate measures to eliminate in law and in practice all discrimination against women and girls in relation to marriage, family, property and inheritance law.

d bis and ter: USA
Review national laws, including customary laws and legal practices in the areas of family, civil, penal, labor and commercial law, in order to ensure the implementation of the principles and procedures of all relevant international human rights instruments by means of national legislation, and revoke any remaining laws that discriminate on the basis of sex and remove gender bias in the administration of justice.

d and US d bis alternative (proposed Malaysia)
Review, and where appropriate, revise, amend, or abolish all laws, regulations, policies, practices and customs that discriminate against women or have a discriminatory impact on women, and ensure that the provisions of multiple legal systems, where they exist, comply with international human rights obligations, commitments and principles, including the principle of non-discrimination (based on para. 16(b) A/RES/63/155)

i ter Turkey
Take the necessary measures to prohibit all forms of direct or indirect discrimination based on gender or matrimonial status, inter alia, by making reference to family responsibilities; (based on 1996/3 para 12a)

e. Facilitator
Mainstream gender perspectives into all legislation, policies and programmes and incorporate gender-responsive budgeting processes across all policy areas and at all levels and enhance international cooperation to promote gender equality and empowerment of women.

e bis USA
Strengthen coordination, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency in the United Nations system for the achievement of, and to address, under-resourcing in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women.

e bis/Switz/NZ
Increase consultation with women and strengthen their access/involvement to decision-making in policies and programmes to support caregiving, including in the context of HIV/AIDS
[New Zealand: add: and ensure that men and boys are consulted and actively involved in policies and programmes that aim to improve the equal sharing of responsibilities with women and girls.]

e quart: EU
Promote understanding of the critical role of men and boys in achieving gender equality and encourage and support the active involvement of men and boys in bringing about change in attitudes, relationships and access to resources and decision-making, which are critical for the full enjoyment of all human rights by women.

e bis: EU
Take appropriate measures to achieve shared work and parental responsibilities between women and men, including measures to reconcile care and professional life and emphasize men’s responsibilities with respect to household work.

Facilitators alternative for e ter EU, e bis and q bis Syria, e bis and q bis alt Israel
Acknowledge the need to address violence against women holistically, including through the recognition of its linkages between violence against women adn other issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty eradication, food security, peace and security, humanitarian assistance, health and crime prevention.

e ter: EU
Take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse and all forms of violence including in conflict and post-conflict situations, and in crises and other situations of fragility.

e bis: Malaysia -moved to challenges

e bis: China
Take efforts to devise an economic, social and cultural strategy for care based on the acknowledgement of the societal and individual value of adequate care for all and the vision of empowering both women and men full and equal human development opportunities (based on EGM report, para 106)

e bis proposed by EU and Switzerland (and supported by Can, Austr. and NZ).
Increase dialogue between women and men and strengthen women’s access to resources and decision-making in policies and programmes to support caregiving, including in the context of HIV/AIDS. Ensure that men and boys, whose role is critical in achieving gender equality, are actively involved in policies and programmes that aim to improve the equal sharing of responsibilities with women and girls, in order to change attitudes and relationships, which are critical for the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls.

e ter: China - moved to challenges

e bis: Holy See
To ensure that repatriation mechanisms allow for the identification and special protection of persons in vulnerable situations and take into account, in conformity with their international obligations and commitments, the principle of the best interest of the child and family reunification (Resolution "Rights of Migrants" A/RES/63/184 para 14)

e ter: Holy See
Guarantee, to the extent consistent with the obligations of each State, the right of a child whose parents reside in different States to maintain, on a regular basis, save in exceptional circumstances, personal relations and direct contact with both parents by providing enforceable means of access and visitation in both States and by respecting the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of their children (Rights of the child resolution, A/RES/63/241, para 14)

e bis: Syria
Take measures to provide urgent international assistance and protection to women in war-torn and foreign occupation areas as they find themselves unexpectedly cast as sole manager of household, sole parent, caretaker of elderly relatives and caregivers for injured combatants.

e bis Israel
Take measures to assist and protect women who are affected by terrorism, including maimed or injured victims of terrorist acts, or who, as a result of such acts, become the sole provider to their families, the sole household manager, or the primary caregiver to others who are maimed or injured by terrorist acts, and to ensure access to adequate healthcare, including psychological support, to all those so affected;

e bis
Design, strengthen and implement national development plans and strategies, including poverty eradication strategies, with the full and effective participation of women and girls, [including in decision-making], that reduce the feminization of poverty and HIV/AIDS [to enhance the capacity of women and girls and empower them to meet the negative social and economic impacts of globalization];

e bis Qatar
Design, implement and promote family friendly policies and services, including affordable, accessible and quality care services for children and other dependants, parental and other leave schemes and campaigns to sensitize public opinion and other relevant actors on equal sharing of employment and family responsibilities between women and men; (B+5, 82d )

[Costa Rica; EU: delete: Valuing and measuring] [Costa Rica; EU: add: Recognizing] unpaid work

f Facilitator
Promote greater understanding and recognition that all forms of caregiving are a critical societal function and should be shared between women and men within the family and households and strengthen dialogue and coordination between all relevant stakeholders

Alt f Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland
Strengthen dialogue and coordination on, and promote understanding of, the critical social function and value of unpaid work, including care work; promote understanding that unpaid work, including care work, should be equally shared between women and men, boys and girls, within families, extended families and households; and fairly allocate responsibility between the state, the private sector, civil society and households to support unpaid work, particularly care work.

(g) [Costa Rica: merge (g) and (h)] [EU: delete whole para] [Costa Rica: delete: Recognize and] [Turkey: add: take necessary measures to] [Costa Rica: delete: incorporate the value and] [Costa Rica: add: Assess the] cost of [New Zealand: delete: care] [African Group: add: including qualitative care, to family and households] [New Zealand: add: unpaid work within and between families and] [Costa Rica, New Zealand: delete: to] [Costa Rica: add: in order to better reflect its value into] households and society at large in national [Turkey: add: and local] economic and social [Malaysia: add: development] policies, strategies, plans and budgets across all relevant sectors, [Uruguay: add: including education, health and employment] as well as in international development cooperation policies and programmes; (based on E/CN.6/2009/4, para 59)] [Israel :add: take measures to facilitate the reconciliation of work and family life to care for children and other dependants]

Facilitator
g bis – NZ and parts of h
Consider updating the UN System of National Accounts to take into account the unremunerated care work carried out within families and households to measure in qualitative and quantitative terms the unremunerated work that is outside national accounts

G, gbis and h - NZ, Costa Rican, Malaysian proposal to merge 6 OP g, gbis and h
Measure, in quantitative and qualitative terms, unremunerated work that is outside national accounts, in order to better reflect its value in such accounts, and recognize and take necessary measures to incorporate the value and cost of unpaid work within and between households and society at large in policies, strategies, plans and budgets across all relevant sectors.

(h) – moved to data collection section

Labour and social policies

i. Facilitator:
Adopt, implement and monitor implementation of gender-sensitive legislation and policies to improve the human rights, social protection, working conditions and representation of both paid and unpaid caregivers;

i bis – Turkey withdrawn

i ter – Turkey – to be merged with d bis and d ter USA

j and j alt Cuba - alt Australia
Adopt, implement , review and evaluate gender sensitive legislation and policies that promote balance between paid work and family responsibilities, reduce occupational and sectoral segregation, advance equal remuneration, provide for flexible work arrangements and improve access to social security systems, and target these efforts to all workers to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and to support public and private enterprises to promote actively gender equality.

(j) [African Group: add: Assess the existing legislation and] Adopt [Turkey: delete and] implement [African Group: where needed gender-sensitive] [Turkey: add: and monitor] legislation and policies [Turkey: add: and eliminate existing discriminatory legislation, as appropriate] to promote reconciliation of [Malaysia: delete: work] [Malaysia: add: occupational] and family responsibilities, [African Group: delete: including efforts] [African Group: add: This must include efforts] to [Venezuela: add: achieve equal remuneration] [Venezuela, Canada: delete: close the gap] [Canada: add: eliminate the gap] between women [Costa Rica: delete: ’s] and men [Costa Rica: delete: ’s] [African Group: add: remuneration] [Venezuela; African Group: delete: pay] [Turkey: add: and time use] , reduce occupational [Turkey: add: and sectoral] [African Group: delete: segregation] [African Group: add: inequalities], [Malaysia: delete: and][EU: delete: increase flexibility in] [African Group: add: all] [EU: delete: working arrangements] [Japan: add: voluntary] [CARICOM; EU: delete: such as part-time work] [Israel: add: and other home-based work]; [Australia: add: and equal sharing that is targeted to all workers to avoid reinforcing stereotypes] [Turkey: add: coupled with social security schemes] [Malaysia: add: and increase opportunities for women and girls, as well as men and boys, to work in non-traditional sectors] [EU: add: the capacity of public and private enterprises to promote actively gender equality, including by adopting policies and practices aimed at enabling their employees to reconcile their professional, private and family life]

j alt - Cuba
Adopt and implement legislation and/or policies to eliminate/close the gap between
women’s and men’s pay, and promote reconciliation of occupational and family responsibilities, including through the reduction of occupational segregation, the introduction or expansion of parental leave, and flexible working arrangements, such as voluntary part-time work, teleworking and other home-based work; (AC 2004, 6 (m))

(k) [Costa Rica: merge j and k; CARICOM: delete whole para] [USA; Niue: delete: Ensure the protection of] [Niue: add: Ensure the availability of and access to] [USA: add: Strengthen efforts to protect] [EU: add: female and male] [Niue: delete: workers with] flexible working arrangements[Niue, Cuba: add: for all workers][African Group: delete: with] regard [African Group: add: -ing] [African Group: delete: to] wages, social protection [Turkey: add: social security and pensions] and other benefits; [EU: delete: and] [African Group; EU: delete: target] [African Group: add: avail] [EU: delete: such measures to all workers] [Philippines: add: and to prevent all worst forms of child labour] [Uruguay: add: so as to avoid reinforcement of gender stereotypes] [Niue, Samoa: add: including temporary and seasonal migrant workers, and ensure protection for workers];

l. Facilitator (l and l bis Turkey)
Ensure that women and men have access to maternity, paternity, parental and/or other forms of leave, and consider providing incentives to men to avail themselves of such leave for caregiving purposes, and take measures to protect women and men against dismissal and guarantee their right to resume the same or equivalent post.

m. Facilitator
Ensure that social protection measures such as health insurance, child and family allowances and information on these benefits are widely available and accessible, and that these measures do not inadvertently reinforce gender biases, that workers are not discriminated against when they avail themselves of the benefits available, and that these benefits cover new, flexible and emerging forms of work, including in the informal sector;

n. Facilitator
Develop and improve social protection and insurance schemes, including adequate pension and savings schemes, that meet basic minimum needs, and recognize leave periods for caregiving in calculation of savings and pension benefits.

o. Facilitator
Strengthen efforts to protect the rights and ensure decent work conditions for domestic workers, including working hours and wages, and to improve their access to health-care services and other social and economic benefits.

o bis: Niue moved to r

(p) Costa Rica and others to propose text
Take [China: add: strong] measures [USA: add: as appropriate] to address the special needs of girls, including migrant [Mexico: add: indigenous] girls, [Niue: add: working or] [Turkey: add: as well as girls at risk of trafficking, early and forced marriages and girls who are not registered at birth] employed as domestic workers and [Niue: delete: of] those performing [Cuba: delete: excessive] domestic chores in their own [Niue: add: or other] households, [Niue: add: including those whose mothers are at work] and [Venezuela: add: promote opportunities for their education] develop [Turkey: add: and implement] measures [Israel: add: and legal instruments] [Turkey: add: and services] to prevent [EU: add: and eliminate] their labour and economic exploitation, [EU: add: including the worst forms of child labour] and [Venezuela: delete: sexual abuse] [Venezuela: add: to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls]; and Niue: add: including through ensuring access to free primary and secondary education and addressing the root causes of this additional burden on girls;] [Uruguay: add: ensure that they have access to education and vocational training, health services, food, shelter and recreation;] [Israel: add: and ensure that they have access to education and vocational training, health, food, care and shelter and are protected from sexual harassment and abuse];

p alt – Venezuela
Ensure that the applicable ILO requirements for the employment of girls and boys are respected and effectively enforced, and ensure also that girls who are employed have equal access to decent work, equal payment and remuneration and are protected from economic exploitation, discrimination, sexual harassment, violence and abuse in the workplace, are aware of their rights, and have access to formal and non-formal education, skills development, and vocational training, and develop gender-sensitive measures, including national action plans where appropriate, to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, including commercial sexual exploitation, slave-like practices, forced and bonded labour, trafficking, and hazardous forms of child labour; (AC 2007, 14.6. (a))

p bis EU
Design and adopt policies and legislation to create a structural framework, which enables men to engage in caregiving at the household level and in paid care work, including child, health or elder care (based on E/CN.6/2009/4, para 57)

Provision of services/ infrastructure

p. bis Strengthen education, health, and social services and effectively utilize resources to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and ensure women’s and girls’ rights to education at all levels and the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health, as well as quality, affordable and universally accessible health care and services, in particular primary health care; Agreed AD REF

p ter Cuba – moved to global challenges

q. Develop and/or expand, and adequately resource, the provision of equitable, quality, accessible and affordable care and support services for all people needing care, including through community-based support systems, while ensuring that such services meet the needs of both caregivers and care recipients, bearing in mind the increased labour mobility of women and men, and, where applicable kinship and extended family responsibilities, and the importance of adequate nutrition. Agreed AD REF

q bis
Assess and respond to the needs for integrated human resources at all levels of the health system, in order to achieve MDG 6 and the targets of the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, and to take actions, as appropriate, to effectively govern the recruitment, training, deployment and retention of skilled health personnel in the prevention, treatment, care and support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Agreed AD REF

q bis Syria
Support the UN relief agencies and organizations and ensure that their necessary care services are provided to meet the needs of women living under foreign occupation, including in the context of care-giving.

q. bis - Israel
To extend cooperation and support to relevant UN relief agencies and organizational mechanisms in their efforts to meet the needs of women in humanitarian emergencies, including the context of caregiving;

q. bis - Switzerland
Support the UN relief agencies and ensure their necessary care services and provided to meet the needs of women living under armed conflict situations, including in the context of caregiving.

q bis - USA
Support UN humanitarian relief agencies and their NGO partners and ensure their access to women and girls in order to meet the needs of women and girls in humanitarian emergencies, including in the context for female-headed households.

q bis - Brazil
Support the UN relief organizations and ensure that their necessary care services are provided to meet the needs of women living in vulnerable situations, including those of HIV/AIDS, poverty eradication, food security, armed conflict, post-conflict and foreign occupation, humanitarian assistance, health and crime prevention.

(r) [EU: delete: Increase investments] [EU: add: Allocate adequate resources] [Malaysia: delete: in] [Malaysia: add: and strengthen efforts to provide] quality [Turkey; Canada: add: accessible] and affordable [Philippines: add: social protection such as social welfare and social safety nets and] public services, [Africa: add: in particular those that target women and the girl child] including [Philippines: add early child care and development facilities], [Malaysia: add: capacity-building and human resource, nutritional, educational and literacy, and heath and social services] [Turkey: add: preschool education] [CARICOM, Africa; Bangladesh, Niue: delete: schools] [EU: add: day-care] [Africa: add: school-based HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns] [CARICOM; Turkey; Niue: add: education] [Bangladesh: add: formal and non-formal education] [CARICOM, EU: delete and], health [CARICOM: add: and other social] [Turkey: add: and full access, particularly to youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services and counselling, especially in the context of STI’s, including HIV/AIDS and care] services [New Zealand: delete: in quality and affordable health services, including schools and health services] [EU: add: including more and better trained health care workers, and family planning] [Africa; Israel: add: with special attention to the prevention and treatment of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS by improved pre-natal, labour, delivery and post-natal care that promotes a healthy outcome for mother and child] [Australia: add: including in remote and rural areas, incorporating gender equality as a basic principle] [Niue: add: incorporating gender equality as a basic principle to advance women and girls’ full participation in economic, social and political life and promote sharing of responsibilities between women and men]; [China: add: with priority given to poor families]

r alt CARICOM
Increase investments and strengthen efforts to provide quality, accessible and affordable public services, including education, health and other social services [which incorporate gender equality as a basic principle.]

Niue from o bis:
Take or strengthen measures to address the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities in education and employment, including improving access to alternative format educational resources, ensuring barrier-free access to educational and other facilities, and greater access to paid work.

r bis – Costa Rica – to be linked with e bis Africa
Elaborate and implement comprehensive national development and poverty reduction strategies that support families and communities in meeting their care responsibilities

r bis - USA
Implement measures to increase capacities of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from risk of HIV infection, through the provision of health care and health services, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and through prevention and education that promotes gender equality within a culturally appropriate gender sensitive framework and provides, whenever possible, age-appropriate sex education based on full and accurate information.

r bis alt – New Zealand
Implement measures to increase capacities of women and adolescent girls delete to protect themselves from risk of HIV infection, insert [to equally share responsibilities] through the provision of insert [quality, affordable and accessible] health care and health services, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and through prevention and education insert [policies and programmes] that promote delete s gender equality within a gender sensitive framework and provide delete s delete whenever possible, age-appropriate sex education based on full and accurate information insert [including in the context of STIs and HIV/AIDS].

r bis – Brazil
Take measures to improve the autonomy of women involved in caregiving, including young women, to protect themselves against the transmission of HIV and other STIs, by means of increased access to female condoms.

(s) Increase [China: add: safe and affordable] [Malaysia: add: availability] [EU: add and improve] access [Malaysia: delete: to] [Malaysia: add: and use of critical] of public infrastructure, such as transportation, [Canada: add: telecommunication] [Malaysia: add: the provision of a safe and reliable] [EU: add: clean] water [Malaysia: add: supply], sanitation [Malaysia: delete: and] energy [Malaysia: add: and affordable housing programmes] [Australia: add: particularly in remote] [Turkey: add: and to labour-saving technologies] [Philippines: add: especially by women], in particular in [Malaysia: delete: rural and slum] [CARICOM: delete: and slum] [Malaysia; CARICOM; China: add: poverty stricken] areas, [China: add: including safe, affordable and equal access to women and girls] to reduce the [Africa: add: burden of] care [Africa: delete: burden] on [Africa: add: family and the] households [EU: add: which is disproportionately borne by women and girls]; (based on E/CN.6/2009/2, para 78 (l))

s alt Malaysia proposed:
Increase the availability, access, and use of critical public infrastructure, such as transportation, the provision of a safe, reliable and clean water supply, sanitation, energy, telecommunications and affordable housing programmes, in particular in poverty-stricken and rural areas, to reduce the burden of care on households;

Caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS

Canada: add: s bis
Reaffirm that the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is an essential element in the global response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, including in the areas of prevention, treatment, care and support, and recognize that addressing stigmatization and discrimination is also a critical element ion combating the global HIV/AIDS pandemic; (Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, A /Res/60/262, para 11).

t. [Switzerland, EU: delete: entire paragraph.] Integrate [Africa: delete: caregiving] [Uruguay: delete caregiving responsibilities of both women and men, [Canada: add: girls and boys] including in home-based care], [Uruguay: add: gender perspectives] [Africa: add: health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, care and support] including in [Africa: add: community] home-based [USA: add: and community-based] care, into [CARICOM: delete: all] [Australia: delete: national] [CARICOM: add: health policies, in particular] [Africa: add: public health] HIV/AIDS policies, strategies, action plans and programmes, [Uruguay: add: taking into account the caregiving responsibility of both women and men] [Africa: add: including those for HIV/AIDS];

Switzerland: add: t alt
Integrate gender perspectives into national HIV/AIDS policies and programmes, taking into account the caregiving responsibilities of both women and men, including in home based care; (based on E/CN.6/2009/2, Para 78n)

EU: add: t.alt
Integrate gender perspectives into national HIV/AIDS policies and programmes, taking into account the caregiving responsibilities of both women and men, and include caregivers, in particular women, including women living with HIV/AIDS, in the decision-making processes; (based on E/CN.6/2009/2, para 78 (n))

u. [Cuba: supports para. would move up ] [Israel: add: Increase prevention measures to] Significantly scale up efforts, [Africa: add to mitigate the impact of poverty and underdevelopment] in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, towards the goal of universal access [Niue: add: confidential and] to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010, [Malaysia; Chile: add: reduce stigma and discrimination] [Iran: add: taking into account local circumstances, ethics and cultural values] [Africa: add: in order to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015] [Niue: add: including to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, services and education] and ensure that those efforts promote [Switzerland: add: the full realization of human rights and] gender equality and take into account the caregiving responsibilities of both women and men [Niue: add: and recognize that violence against women, gender-based violence and women’s poverty are barriers to full enjoyment of the rights to sexual and reproductive health which are inextricably linked with HIV/AIDS];

Para 6 (u) alt Malaysia
Significantly scale up efforts towards the goals of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010 and to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015, inter alia , through mitigating the impact of poverty and underdevelopment in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and ensure that those efforts promote gender equality and the full realization of human rights, as well as prevent and reduce stigma and discrimination, taking into account the caregiving responsibilities of both women and men;

Samoa: add: u bis:

Niue: add: u bis
Take measures to address the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities in HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, including ensuring accessibility and availability of information on HIV prevention, and treatment as well as sexual and reproductive health services, including information, including in alternative formats, and through eliminating stereotypical views of persons, especially women and girls with disabilities and sexuality.]

Cuba: add: u bis
Ensure that in all policies and programmes designed to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support, particular attention and support is given to the girl child at risk, infected with, and affected by HIV/AIDS, including pregnant girls and young and adolescent mothers, as part of the global effort to scale up significantly towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010; (para 14.5 a of the AC, 2007)

v. Strengthen, [EU: add: expand] and improve, [USA: add: expand and make accessible] public [EU: add: including community based] [Philippines: add: and other support] health care [Africa; Brazil: add: and social protection] [China: add: and social protection systems] services [USA: delete: to alleviate] [EU: add: and access to commodities including male and female condoms] [USA: add: and human resources for health by increasing national funding in a continuum of care that supports and alleviates] [Africa: add: specifically related to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS] [Malaysia: add: and to reduce stigma and discrimination] [Niue: add: including in hospital- and hospice-based care] the current demands on women [Switzerland: add: in particular older women] and girls to provide unpaid care services in their [Africa: Malaysia: delete: households and] [Malaysia: delete: and communities] in the context of HIV/AIDS, including in [Malaysia: delete: rural] [Malaysia: add: poverty-stricken] areas;

EU: add: v bis
Ensure that the existing HIV/AIDS policies, strategies, resources allocation and programmes at all levels be reviewed and adapted to ensure that they contribute to empowering women and reducing their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS (based on E/CN.6/2009/6, para 81)

Canada: add: v bis
Strengthen and improve the quality of comprehensive public healthcare and services, including psycho-social support services and increased professional healthcare providers, especially in rural areas, to alleviate the current demands ….

w. [New Zealand: add: Develop multisectoral policies and programmes and] Increase [Africa: delete: resource allocations] [Africa: add: allocation of resources] to strengthen and support [Africa; EU: add: community and] [Philippines: add: support to professional, community and] home-based care providers, including through improved access to information on [Turkey: add: STIs] HIV prevention, treatment, care and support [Africa: add: particularly nutrition and counselling to address stress, stigma and depression] [EU: add: access to social protection mechanisms] as well as training, basic equipment and resources; [China: add: and mental health programmes]

x. Take measures to encourage and support men’s [Switzerland; Malaysia: add: and boy’s] responsibility [USA: delete: for] [USA: add: and involvement in] [Africa: add: community and] [Malaysia: add: unpaid] home-based care in order to address the disproportionate burden borne by women and girls in caring for [CARICOM: delete: the chronically ill] [CARICOM: add: elderly, the sick, persons with disabilities and people living with HIV] [USA: add: and to increase the opportunities for men to enjoy the emotional benefits of enhanced caregiving roles in their families] [EU: add: and create and improve training and education programmes to enhance awareness and knowledge among men as well as women of their roles as parents, legal guardians and caregivers and the importance of sharing family responsibilities, and include fathers and male guardians as well as mothers and female guardians in programmes that teach infant childcare and development;]; [China: add text]

Venezuela: add: x bis
Identify and address the needs of women, including older women and widows, who find themselves having to provide care for those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, including access to health care and support services and antiretroviral treatment

Africa: add: x bis
Identify and address the needs of women, including older women and widows , who find themselves having to provide care for those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, including access to health care and support services, including antiretroviral treatment, promotion and protection of their rights (Based on op5 of the CSW resolution 52/4).

y. Identify and [Turkey: add: take all necessary measures to] address the needs of girls [Africa: add: especially those] [Chile, Costa Rica: delete: heading households] [Malaysia: delete: girls heading] [Malaysia: add: female headed] [Chile: add: inter alia, girls heading households] [EU: add women, especially older women and] in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, for, inter alia, protection, [Malaysia: add: reducing stigma and discrimination], [Venezuela: delete: access to financial [Africa: add: and economic] resources] [Venezuela: add: education] [Bangladesh: add: including micro-credit] [Malaysia: add: including sustainable economic opportunities and empowerment, as well as] [USA: add: inheritance rights,] access to health care [China: add: education and training] and support services, including [USA: add: mental health care, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, HIV testing, prevention, care, treatment and support programmes and] affordable [Africa: add: treatment, and access to education [Africa: delete: HIV/AIDS treatment [Costa Rica: add: and for opportunities to continue their education] [USA: add: and end the stigmatization of persons living with HIV/AIDS]; [EU: add: and sex education and for opportunities to continue their education or occupational training]; [Israel: add: text]

EU: add: y bis
Strengthen measures to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and invest in technologies that give women the possibility to protect themselves against HIV infection, including female condoms, and new preventive technologies such as microbicides and AIDS vaccines.

EU: add: y ter
Develop, implement and promote comprehensive and coordinated measures to eradicate gender stereotypes in all areas, so as to change the representations of the roles of men and women in family and private life, at work and in public and political life

Turkey: add: y bis
Educate men and boys to accept their role and responsibility in the spreading of HIV/AIDS and in matters related to sexuality, reproduction and childrearing and to promote equality between women and men, girls and boys; (based on the agreed conclusions on the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child, 2007, pafa.14.5.c)

USA: add: y bis
Ensure that, in all policies and programmes designed to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support, attention and support is given to the girls at risk, infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, including pregnant girls and young and adolescent mothers.

USA: add: y ter
Increase consultation with women and men, girls and boys to strengthen their access to decision-making in policies and programmes designed to support care-giving, including in the context of HIV/AIDS.

Canada: add: y bis
Urges Governments and other relevant stakeholders to address the challenges faced by older women in accessing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as well as in caring for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphaned and vulnerable children.

Africa: add: y bis
Design and implement programs, including awareness raising programs, to encourage and enable men , including young men, to adopt safe, non coercive and responsible sexual and reproductive behavior and to use effective methods to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexual transmitted infections.

Eliminating [Venezuela, Costa Rica: delete: gender] [Pakistan: add: harmful] [Venezuela, Costa Rica: add: gender-based] stereotypes

Malaysia: add: y bis
Encourage active involvement of men and boys in eliminating gender stereotypes as well as gender inequality in particular in relation to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, as well as their full participation in prevention, advocacy, care, treatment, support and impact evaluation programmes (based on para 6 (o) of agreed conclusions on the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality, 48th CSW)

Brazil: add: y bis
Design and implement programmes, including awareness-raising programmes, to encourage and enable men, including young men, to adopt safe, non-coercive and responsible sexual and reproductive behaviour and to use effective methods to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (based on OP29, CSW 52/4, on Women, the girl child and HIV/AIDS)

EU: add y quart
Develop, implement and promote comprehensive and coordinated measures to eradicate gender stereotypes in all areas, so as to change the representations of the roles of men and women in family and private life, at work and in public and political life

z. Implement comprehensive and coordinated [EU: add: measures, including training and awareness] information [EU: delete: al] campaigns [Canada: add: targeted to girls, boys, women and men], involving, inter alia, [Pakistan: community and local institutions] educational institutions, workplaces in both the public and private sector, the media and civil society, [Canada: religious and traditional leaders] [China: add: including youth organizations] [Niue: add: and leaders of faith-based organizations] [Turkey: add: and local authorities] [CARICOM: delete: to challenge] [CARICOM: add: with a view to eliminating] [Iran: add: harmful] [Pakistan: delete: stereotypical] [Niue: add: traditional and cultural] [African Group: delete: gender] roles [African Group: add: of women and men] [USA: add: raise awareness of gender stereotyping in performance ratings] and promote [Niue: delete: greater] [Niue: add: equal] [EU: add: gender equality and][Turkey: add: and equal] sharing of [Cuba: delete: paid and unpaid] work [China: including caring and family responsibilities] between [African Group: delete: women and men] [African Group: add: them];

USA: add: z bis:
Elaborate policies and programmes of zero tolerance for violence against women and girls, including promoting policies and programmes that encourage the abandonment of female genital mutilation.

USA: add: z ter:
Promote shared responsibility of men and women to encourage safe sex and empower women to have control of and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality in order to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection (based on Beijing Declaration, para 97 and 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, para 59).

aa. [Niue, China: delete: Encourage] [Niue, China: add: Urge] decision-makers at all levels, including those with responsibilities for policies, legislation, programmes [EU: add: education] and allocation of public resources, as well as parents, [China; add: teachers] [USA: add: older persons, caregivers,] [Chile: add: community and] religious [Chile: delete: and traditional] leaders [Canada: faith-based organizations] [EU: delete: and] [Turkey: add: youth] [Niue: delete: and] employers, [Canada: add: teachers and other adult education and media institutions] [Niue: add: and young people] [EU: add: and teachers] [Chile: add: media, influential public figures and other policymakers] to play leadership roles in [CARICOM; Pakistan: delete: challenging and] eliminating [Turkey: add: gender discriminatory] [Pakistan: add: harmful] stereotypical views of [China: delete: women’s and men’s] [China: add: gender] [Niue: add: household and community] roles [Pakistan: add: of women and men] and promoting [Canada: delete: increased] [Canada: add: equal] sharing of paid and unpaid work between women and men [USA: add: and promoting the importance of having women’s perspectives included at all levels of public and private sector decision-making]; [Chile: add: ref. resolution 63/15/8, OP 8 (i) on efforts to end obstetric fistula]

EU: add: aa bis
Take into account the life cycle perspective as an approach to overcome gender stereotypes and to promote the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men

Australia/Niue: aa bis
Adopt measures to increase the representation of women in decision-making positions, and set time-bound targets for achieving gender parity in national legislatures and introduce temporary special measures to achieve these targets;

bb. Create [EU: delete: and] improve [EU: add: and implement] training [EU: add: including for educators at all levels] and education programmes [Turkey: add: those directed to Governments, armed forces and humanitarian agencies] [EU: add: from the earliest possible age so as to accelerate socio-cultural change towards gender equality, including through critical review of school curricula, textbooks and other information, education and communication materials] to enhance awareness [USA: delete: and] knowledge [USA: add: and responsibility] among men and women of their roles as [EU: add: citizens], parents, legal guardians and caregivers and the importance of sharing family and caring responsibilities;

EU: add: bb bis
Take appropriate measures to educate and encourage parents and care givers to treat girls and boys equally [add: and to empower girls in order to prevent any kind of discrimination] and to ensure shared family responsibilities between girls and boys

cc. [EU, Uruguay: delete: Encourage men] [Turkey, USA, Niue, Brazil: add: and boys], [Uruguay: add: Take measures to increase the role of men in caregiving] through training, education and peer programmes, [EU: sensitize and involve men and boys] to participate fully in the care and support of others, [EU: delete: including older persons, persons with disabilities, sick persons, children and other dependants] [Canada: both within households and in care professions] [Philippines: add: and to refrain from committing any form of violence against women and girls]; [EU: add: and thereby encourage them to become agents of change in challenging gender stereotypes and in promoting women’s full enjoyment of human rights]; [Uruguay: and scale up interventions to reach boys and young men] [Australia: add: increase the capacity of men to raise children in a manner oriented towards gender equality …];

Cc alt CANZ
“Take measures to increase the participation of men in caregiving both within households and in care professions through measures such as information campaigns, training, school curriculum, peer programmes and government policies to promote men’s participation as fathers and carers, and to encourage men and boys to become agents of change in promoting women’s rights and challenging gender stereotypes, particularly as they relate to men’s roles in parenting and infant development;”

Philippines: add: cc bis:
Ensure services for the rehabilitation of men-perpetrators of violence and the mobilization of men as support group and advocates for the elimination of violence against women and girls

Turkey: add: cc bis:
Encourage media to review their existing policies with a gender equality perspective in order to integrate balanced and diverse portrayals of women and their multiple roles. (based on agreed conclusions 1996/2 para 2 and 15)

Turkey: add: cc ter:
Develop, support and promote programmes in cooperation with specialized women’s NGOs that aim at women’s awareness of their human rights and empowerment to ensure equality in decision-making in the family and equal sharing of responsibilities in cooperation with all other pertinent actors, including academia.

Turkey: add: cc quart:
Revise existing school curricula to ensure the elimination of gender biases in the role of girls and boys, women and men in family and caring responsibilities, including cultural and customary barriers.

China: add: cc bis
Promote resocialization programmes of girls and boys and provide training to men in care related activities to challenge gender norms and change gender roles and stereotypes

Malaysia: add: cc bis:
Carry out research on the views of men and boys on gender equality and their perceptions of their roles, as well as assessing the impacts of efforts undertaken to engage men and boys in achieving gender equality as an added means to address gender stereotypes (based on para 6 (x) of agreed conclusions on the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality, 48th CSW)

Israel: add: cc bis
Encourage the active involvement of men and boys, through education projects and peer-based programmes, in eliminating gender stereotypes as well as gender inequality, in particular in relation to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, as well as their full participation in prevention, advocacy, care, treatment, support and impact evaluation programmes (AC 2004, para 6 (o)) – see also Malaysia 6 (y) bis

Data collection, research, monitoring and evaluation

dd. Conduct [Niue: add: evidence-based] research and collect [EU: add: analyze and disseminate] [Australia: delete: sex- and age-disaggregated data] [Australia: add: data disaggregated by sex, age and other relevant criteria], [EU: add: and, when necessary, re-examine the national measurement system] [African Group: add: and gender analysis] [Turkey: add: and develop indicators] to inform policy making, measure progress in the sharing of [Canada: add: equal] responsibilities between women and men, including in the context of HIV/AIDS, and identify the barriers men [EU: add: and boys] face to assume increased [African Group: prevention and] caregiving responsibilities due to stereotypical expectations [Niue: add: taking into account the diversity of social, political, economic, cultural and geographic issues];

China: add: dd bis:
Promote re-socialization programs of girls and boys and provide skill training to men in care related activities to challenge and change gender norms and stereotypical roles.

ee. Strengthen the capacity of national statistical offices [Turkey: add: and staff] to effectively conduct and utilize time-use surveys, which provide comprehensive information on all categories of activities, [EU: add: rendering visible women’s and men’s contributions to paid and unpaid work in order] to inform policy development that facilitates the sharing of unpaid work between women and men.

EU: add: ee bis
Develop improved mechanisms for monitoring, evaluating and documenting the implementation and impact of policies and strategies for increasing sharing of responsibilities between women and men and integrate gender-based analyses and impact assessments, as well as gender responsive budgeting, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner across policy areas.

Philippines: ee bis:
Develop gender- and rights-based performance indicators in the monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes

USA: add: ff:
Strengthen the capacity to review legislation with a view to striving to remove discriminatory provisions as soon as possible, and eliminate legislative gaps that leave women and girls without protection of their rights and without effective recourse against gender-based discrimination; (based on BPfA, para 68(b) )

USA: add: gg:
Promote the dissemination of statistics on the relative participation of women and men in leadership roles across various sectors of private enterprise and public office.

EU: Move h here
Measure, in quantitative terms, unremunerated work that is outside national accounts, work, to accurately assess and reflect its value in satellite or other official accounts that are separate from but consistent with core national accounts

(h)[EU: move para to data collection section] [Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Chile: delete whole para or merge with g]: [Syria: delete: Measure] [Syria: add: Develop], in quantitative [African Group: add: and qualitative] [Syria: delete: terms] [Syria: add: measures for], unremunerated work that is outside national accounts, [Malaysia: delete: work to] accurately assess and reflect its value [Malaysia: delete until ‘consistent’] in [New Zealand: delete: satellite or other] official accounts [New Zealand, Samoa: delete: that are separate from but consistent] with [Malaysia: add: -in] [Malaysia: delete: core national] [Malaysia: add: such] accounts; [Israel: add: to cooperate in providing resources and technical assistance in valuing and making visible women’s unpaid work.]

Facing global challenges

Australia: add: 5 bis (moved from 5):
The Commission acknowledges that the financial crisis has had a disproportionately negative impact on women, in particular in relation to the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS. The Commission urges members to adopt initiatives to ameliorate the negative impacts on women of the financial crisis, in particular noting an increased caregiving burden. The Commission further notes the importance of gender-sensitive measures in economic stimuli packages and other responses to the financial crisis. The Commission notes the growing body of evidence demonstrating that investing in women and girls has a multiplier effect on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth and urges members to maintain adequate levels of funding for gender equality measures. (Agreed Conclusions from CSW 52 (E/CN.2008/11)

China: to be added on financial crisis

China: add: e ter (moved from e):
Integrate gender perspectives into counter financial crisis policies and measures and take specific actions to reduce disproportionate and negative impacts including shift of burden on women, and ensure women benefit equality as men from job creation and infrastructure expansion.

Malaysia: add: e bis:
Promote and strengthen international cooperation to accelerate the development process in which women played a key role and should be equal beneficiaries (para 17 (i) of agreed conclusions Equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels, 50th CSW)

Niue, Samoa, Chile: add: hh:
Take all appropriate measures to integrate women, on an equal basis with men, in decision-making regarding sustainable resource management and the development of policies and programmes for sustainable development, including to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, including their displacement from income-generating activities, which greatly adds to unremunerated work, such as caregiving, and negatively impacts on their health, well-being and quality of life, particularly those whose livelihoods and daily subsistence depend directly on sustainable ecosystems.

International cooperation

Cuba: add: ii
Promote and strengthen international cooperation to accelerate the development process in which women played a key role and should be equal beneficiaries (based on agreed conclusions, 2006)

Cuba: add: ii bis
Allocate adequate resources for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women in the workplace, including unequal access to labour market participation and wage inequalities, as well as reconciliation of work and private life for both women and men (based on agreed conclusions 2008)

Cuba: add: ii ter
Also encourages Governments to increase the provision of resources and facilities to women who find themselves having to provide care and/or economic support for those infected with HIV/AIDS or affected by the pandemic, and for the survivors, particularly children and older persons, utilizing funds earmarked for care and support to reduce women’s disproportionate burden of care (based on CSW resolution 50/12, women, girl child and HIV/AIDS)

Cuba: add: ii quart
Urge developed countries that have not yet done so, in accordance with their commitments, to make concrete efforts towards meeting the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourage developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help meet development goals and targets and, inter alia, to assist them in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women (agreed conclusions on financing for gender equality and empowerment of women, 2008, para 21 q)

Cuba: add: ii quint
Strengthen international cooperation in order to develop human resources for health, as well as to increase universal access to health services, including in remote and rural areas of developing countries, taking into account the global crisis of the health workforce and its negative impact on the fight against HIV/AIDS and the burden it creates within the family.

Venezuela: add: ii bis
The Commission calls on all States and the international community, including the United Nations system, and invites international and non-governmental organizations and the private sector to mobilize and allocate all necessary resources, support and efforts, including at the international level, to realize the goals, strategic objectives and actions set out in the Beijing Platform for Action with regard to the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as other relevant commitments.

Venezuela : add ii ter
The Commission reaffirms the commitment to adequate financial resources at the international level for the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Cairo Plan of Action and the Beijing+5 outcome document in developing countries, especially through the strengthening of their national capacities.
(based on AC 2007, para 16 and 17)

Venezuela: add a bis:
Urge developed countries that have not yet done so, in accordance with their commitments, to make concrete efforts towards meeting the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourage developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help meet development goals and targets and, inter alia, to assist them in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women (agreed conclusions on financing for gender equality and empowerment of women, 2008, para 21 q)

s bis - Costa Rica with o bis Niue
Increase international financial and technical cooperation for development and for specific and targeted activities to ensure gender equality and empowerment of women, and increase access to decent work for women, including those with disabilities.

E ter China
Strengthen international cooperation particularly by sustained and enhanced capacity-building, fullfilment of ODA commitments, debt relief and opening of markets to meet the challenges of food, energy, economic and financial crisis and enable early achievement of all MDGs, and integrate gender perspectives into counter-financial and economic policies and measures to reduce negative impacts including shifts of care burden on women and ensure women benefit equally as men from related job creation and infrastructure expansion programmes.

Ii bis - Australia
Ensure women and men benefit equally from measures to ameliorate the economic and financial crisis , including job creation and infrastructure projects. Ensure that all responses to the crisis are gender sensitive and maintain adequate levels of funding for gender equality and the empowerment of women throught the crisis, recognizing that the crisis has had a disproportionatetely negative impact on women and girls, including the shift of the burden of care and recognizing that gender equality promotes sustained economic growth.

Panel over Huiselijk Geweld

2009-03-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

Loeky Droesen is bestuurslid van wo=men en programma medewerkster vrouwenrechten bij Aim for human rights.

Meteen na het panel over HeRWAI hield ik in een veel kleinere zaal, een panel over de ontwikkeling van ons Human Rights Compliance instrument on Domestic Violence. Dit instrument zal hopelijk in de lente van 2010 helemaal gereed zijn, maar we wilde toch graag deelnemers van de CSW op de hoogte stellen. Ook hier was de opkomst enorm, meer dan 30 mensen in een zaaltje waar er 20 in kunnen. Het werd dan ook erg warm.

Lesley Anne Foster van Masimanyane, een van de co-developing organisations van het instrument, nam ook deel aan het panel. Samen legden we uit dat de 10 organisaties die bij de ontwikkeling betrokken zijn, in eigen land zien, dat er tegenwoordig vaak wel wetgeving is met als doel huiselijk geweld uit te bannen. Maar die wetgeving wordt niet uitgevoerd. Het is dus nodig methodes te ontwikkelen die het makkelijker maken voor lokale NGO’s om hun overheden verantwoordelijk te houden.

Er ontstond een interessante discussie over huiselijk geweld, oorzaken en mogelijke oplossingen.
Wat weer opviel is dat huiselijk geweld in alle landen en culturen een probleem is. Het onderliggende probleem blijft de fundamentele machtsongelijk tussen mannen en vrouwen. Geweld tegen vrouwen is een zeer hardnekkig probleem. Bv in Noorwegen is de gelijkheid tussen mannen en vrouwen, vooral ook in het delen van zorgtaken, de laatste 15 jaar, sterk verbeterd. Toch zijn nog steeds evenveel gevallen van huiselijk geweld. In de USA sterven elke dag 4 vrouwen als gevolg van huiselijk geweld en zo zijn er nog veel meer voorbeelden te noemen.

Je zou hopeloos kunnen worden van het feit dat geweld tegen vrouwen zo’n hardnekkig probleem is. Toch geven ontmoetingen zoals deze juist veel energie. Ik zal nog vaak terugdenken aan de jonge vrouw uit het noorden van Kenia. Ze was net verkozen als gemeenteraadslid in haar lokale gemeentebestuur. En ze had zeer zware weerstand ondervonden. “Dat doet een goede moslim vrouw niet.’ Vrouwen die het opnemen tegen zulke grote sociale druk, om het leven van vrouwen te verbeteren, zijn mijn heldinnen.

Verder staat geweld tegen vrouwen zeker op de internationale politiek agenda. Het is nu aan de NGO’s en de nationale politiek om die aandacht in actie om te zetten. Ons instrument zal daar ook een bijdrage aan leveren.

Aan het einde van de bijeenkomst werd ik nog verrast door een Amerikaanse die me een check van 100 dollar wilde geven voor ons goede werk. Ik was ontroerd door het gebaar, maar een Amerikaanse personal check kun je alleen innen met een Amerikaanse bankrekening. Het geld heb ik dus niet wel een goed gevoel. Voor meer informatie, zie Aim website Human rights impact resource center“ Loeky Droesen

HeRWAI panel bij de CSW

2009-03-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

>Loeky Droesen is bestuurslid van wo=men en programma medewerkster vrouwenrechten bij Aim for human rights.

"Gister, 10 maart, bracht ik de hele dag door in de church building waar de side events plaatsvinden. Ik had twee panels aangevraagd bij het CSW NGO’s comité. Lang niet alle panelaanvragen worden toegekend, dus ik was blij dat we de kans kregen onze informatie te delen.

Om 10 uur gingen we van start met een panel waarin we ons Health Rights of Women Assessment Instrument (HeRWAI) presenteerden. Emilia Muchawa, (Zimbabwe Womens Lawyer’s Association), Fezeka Mantakan (Masinanyane, Peddie office, South Africa) en Nompuurko Rarayi (Empilisweni Masimanyane Aids Centre, South Africa) namen deel aan het panel om hun ervaringen met het gebruik van HeRWAI te delen. Het is altijd spannend om te zien hoeveel mensen er op je panel zullen afkomen. Tijdens de CSW is de keuze die mensen hebben enorm, dus we waren heel blij te zien dat de zaal bomvol (80/85 deelnemers) zat. Mensen, die wat later aankwamen, moesten staan.

Veel van de panels tijdens de CSW zijn een beetje saai. Veel speeches, weinig interactie met de zaal. Dat wilden wij anders doen. We begonnen ons panel met het stellen van een aantal vragen aan de zaal. Wie komt er uit het zuiden, wie uit het noorden, wie werkt in gezondheidssector ect. In korte tijd hadden we een beeld van de diversiteit van de deelnemers.

Daarna vertelde ik het verhaal van Thambo, een vrouw die op straat loopt en opeens neervalt. In het ziekenhuis wordt vastgesteld dat ze zware bloedarmoede heeft. Ik vroeg aan de zaal mogelijke redenen van haar situatie te geven. In korte tijd hadden we een hele lijst. Vervolgens bespraken we welke mensenrechten hiermee mogelijk verbonden waren.

De drie panelists vertelden over hun ervaringen met HeRWAI. De spreeksters uit Zuid Afrika, die werken op grass roots niveau op het platteland in hun provincie, benadrukte dat het werken met HeRWAI hen had geleerd, dat je het beleid van je overheid en de mensenrechtenverplichtingen moet kennen, voor een effectievere lobby. Emilia van de Zimbabwaanse Women’s Lawyers Association vertelde dat ze veel ervaring hadden met het recht en lobby activiteiten, maar dat de HeRWAI structuur hen had geholpen hun analysewerk te versterken.

Er waren heel veel vragen uit de zaal en aan het einde van de bijeenkomst bleek ik veel te weinig brochures ect. bij me te hebben. Ze werden ongeveer uit mijn handen getrokken. Mensen komen echt naar de CSW om kennis op te zuigen en daar hebben we met dit panel een goede bijdrage aangeleverd.” Loeky Droesen

EU heeft eindelijk een joint draft agreed conclusion

2009-03-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Loeky Droesen is bestuurslid van wo=men en programma medewerkster vrouwenrechten bij Aim for human rights

We horen net van Carlien Scheele dat de EU tot een gezamenlijk standpunt over de draft agreed conclusions is gekomen. Er komt wel iets te staan over seksuele en reproductieve rechten maar strikt gekoppeld aan de preventie van HIV/Aids. Dat werd tijd want de onderhandelingen worden op vrijdag afgesloten. Zoals we het nu begrijpen zal Nederland zelf een paragraaf inbrengen over seksuele en reproductieve rechten. Nederland steunt ook tekst voorstellen van andere delegaties op dit punt. We krijgen van Carlien zo spoedig mogelijk de tekst toegestuurd.

Ik ben nu met een aantal aanwezige Nederlandse NGO’s bij een panel georganiseerd door de heilige stoel. (de katholieke kerk is als vaticaan vanwege historische redenen een lidstaat van de Verenigde Naties en zeer actief in haar lobby). We vinden het belangrijk te horen wat de standpunten zijn, die men hier naar voren brengt. Gister hield men nog een side event over de link tussen abortus en borstkanker " Loeky Droesen