This was a very well done workshop, organized by the International Council of Women, and the National Council of Women of the US, and the National Council of Women of Great Britain, and the Korean Institute of Women in Politics.
It featured two key speakers - Lopta Banerjee, the Chief, Civil Society Section for UN Women, and Celine Paramunda, the NGO Representative at the UN for the Medical Mission Sisters. The Moderator, Monica Tolman, is the ICW Coordinator for the Status of Women and did an excellent job in managing the time and the questions.
Lopa Banererjee spoke about the CSW - it is the only UN meeting that attracts so many, over 3000 representatives that focuses on gender equality policy. 75 ministers. Bring states, and civil society, and together, influences policy making.
Achievements and challenges. 3 main streams coming together - 2015 end of MDGs (Millennium Development Goals). They united the world, translated into country goals, gender equality was central. Concerted action, gender equality goals, crucial. Yet, nothing much has changed. 2012 Rio, sustainable development and that has led to the open working group. 2015 Beijing. Framework we can influence, not only network, this agreed conclusions will influence post MDG goals. What must form part of SDGs. Beijing Platform for Action is woefully under implemented. Women's rights must inform Agreed Conclusions. Encouraged to look at text of the Agreed Conclusions. There are sticking points.
Lopa spoke of how crucial for Human Rights framework to be used in assessing MDGs. Progress very slow. In countries and within countries. Does not address violence against women, or unpaid work, access to resources, how gender is part of all other goals, MDGs did not look at the enabling environment, negotiations started, document has grown from 7 pages to 34 pages. Rights at core of development. Even in secure countries, all countries have development goals, political. Reproductive rights, stereotype, family, human rights inclusive in Beijing Platform for Action. Reproductive rights are fundamental. Universal, informed by human rights, gender equality, civil society part of accountability.
Celine Paramunda, a medical doctor, who saw the positive effects of microfinance. Story of what develpment means, right now we look at symptoms, not the root cause. Vandana Shiva has written about this, measurements of gross product does not include unpaid work, values of patrirchty and capitalism. Rape of earth and women are connected. Women in leadership positions are missing. Common good missing. Commodification of water, women and children. Age of trafficking in India is 6 to 10. Trend to privatise everything. Effect of mining most unregulated, and environmentally destructive. Womens equality goal, smart economics.
Post 2012 MDG - will include hi level cosultations, also Rio process, desgn a set of goals, 70 counties sharing. Jan 2013. SDGs Economic, Social, and Environment. Integrate, respect earth summit recommendations. Respect commitment. Women, children, local authority etc., There are Major Groups organized. Steering committee. Aspiration, action oriented. Need to find resources, coming out in summer. Open Working Group come put with report, bold vision, society, radical change at reducing inequality. International trade policies. People centered, not privatising services.Protect nature. Coordinate systems.
Post 2015 agenda, process in place, 4 reports gone to Secretary Genera. UN Women calling for stand alone goal substantive equality, freedom from violence, prevention, sevices, structural, equal access to resources, land. Srengthening women's opportunities, leadership, and participation of families, communities, resources to do this. Gender must be featured in measures, and indicators. Endorsement, level of ambition must aim remain high. Human rights to be addressed across all goals. Change mind sets, individual, families, influence.
Curb extreme wealth. Demand accountability from govt.
Resolution on Human Rights Defenders. Transformative agenda, violence, conflict part of it. Even in conflict, domestic violence is higher. Sexual and reproductive rights are core. No regression. Has to be progress. Reaching out to faith based constituencies, education.
A well done seminar which focused on the processes that society will be undertaking in the years ahead to build a more fair and just society.
--Mary Scott
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