Tag Archives: Economic Justice

Good Shepherd Written Statement for the 2013 ECOSOC High Level Segment 1 – 5 July at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

The High Level Segment will include sessions on the Annual Ministerial Review (AMR). The theme for the AMR segment this year will focus on “Science, technology and innovation, and the potential of culture, for promoting sustainable development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.

This is a unique opportunity for organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC – and for civil society at large – to be heard at ECOSOC deliberations, as well as to contribute to issues of critical concern to the global development agenda. It will also provide a platform to specifically address the topic of scientific and technological innovation, which is a crucial cross-cutting theme for the achievement of the MDGs.

Here is a copy of what we have submitted entitled ‘Social Protection Floors, Gender Equality and Development’

The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, an NGO present in more than 70 countries addresses the Annual Ministerial Review (AMR)  on behalf of girls and women living in extreme poverty.    The theme of the AMR segment brings to mind the Agreed Conclusion of Commission on the Status of Women 55th session, (2008) paragraph 9, outlining how access of girls and women to participation in science and technology is imperative for achieving gender equality and is an economic necessity leading to the full participation of girls and women in social, economic and political development.  The same Commission noted and this continues to be the experience of our organization that dissemination of developments in science and technology has insufficiently responded to women’s needs.   The persistent feminization of poverty, gender based violence and lack of access to health, education, training and employment reinforced by legal, economic, social and cultural barriers renders void the desires of the Commission.

Much has been reflected on, written up and recommended for implementation but the political will toward adapting innovative ways is lacking and thwarted by the demands of an economic model that prioritizes profit over development.  Cultures carry meaning and unless challenged are the drivers of inequalities and violence – gender inequalities, poverty/wealth inequalities and gender based violence and their resultant consequences.   Cultural mindsets reinforcing gender inequality and profits ‘at all cost’ have perpetuated all sorts of human rights violations and exploitative actions against women and girls, sexually, economically, educationally and politically.

The AMR, achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the articulation of a post 2015 development agenda offer new possibilities.  We are on the brink of moving to a new paradigm coupling a human rights based approach with equality.  The Millennium Development Goals did not have a human rights framework nor a gender based violence prevention component.   The dominant economic model has failed to eradicate poverty and has only facilitated growing inequalities.  Poverty reduction, access to quality education, health, water and sanitation, equality between women and men, girls and boys  and the elimination of gender based violence must be addressed.  Science, technology and innovation have much to offer. We are aware of how mobile technology boost health care in Bangladesh and in our programs mobile technology is used to combat violence against women and girls.

One very promising approach which has growing support among member states and non-governmental organization alike is the implementation of nationally tailored social protection floors in accordance with Recommendation 202 of the International Labour Organization.  Our organization advocates for human rights-based social protection floors having a gender sensitive lens, and providing access to essential services and basic income financed from within national budgets.  Human rights are a non negotiable element and more than principles and metrics.  We urge member states to put science, technology and innovation at the service of girls’ and women’s dignity and empowerment through implementation of social protection floors towards sustainable development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

 

Gender Equality to End Poverty

Rosa G. Lizarde, Global Coordinator, Feminist Task Force-GCAP wrote the following  ” Yesterday at the Bonn Advancing the Post 2015 Development Agenda Conference, we had a great session on Gender and Poverty. We took the points raised and developed a statement which will be presented at the Gallery of Statement sessions today with all the other summaries for endorsement from those here. Since some of you may be tuning in online, we are providing the option to sign on as well as the feminist statement of the overall conference.”  Here is the text of the statement.  On behalf of us all I have signed on to the statement.    What do you think about this statement?

GENDER EQUALITY TO END POVERTY

While the UN High Level Panel on Post 2015 has declared that we can end poverty in our lifetime, it is clear that women across the globe are becoming increasingly impoverished and if we do not transform the current political, cultural and economic systems by placing women at the heart of development, we will not be able to achieve an end to poverty.
If the members of the panel are serious about eradicating poverty and inequality, they will consider the following points as they draft recommendations to the UN Secretary-General:
·       Combatting all forms of gender-based violence is essential to end poverty.  Violence against women (VAW) is a structural driver of the increasing feminization of poverty. VAW has been identified as the #1 priority in the e-discussion on Gender Equality that was held as part of the Global Thematic Discussion on Inequalities.  The HLP should prioritize ending violence against women and its intersection with increasing poverty.
·       Stemming and reversing the feminization of poverty and the structural drivers of women’s poverty and inequality, including lack of access to land ownership and property, among others, should be prioritized by the HLP.
·       Caste, Class and Ethnicity perpetuate poverty as social and cultural norms are discriminatory and have a devastating effect on a women’s livelihood. 
·       Both formal and non-formal education has the power to level the playing field for women. Literacy and equality of access for women and girls to quality education should remain relevant targets for post-2015 education and development goals. 
·        The impact of climate change has a devastating effect on women, their families and communities. Worsening natural disasters due to climate change has deepened povety for women and contributes to generational poverty. The HLP must emphasize the link between climate change, worsening natural disasters and women living in poverty.
·        Land grabbing and the ‘‘extractives development model,‘‘ the nexus of government sanctioned mining and other extractives industries, is an assault on the dignity and soveriegnty of women, their families and their communities. The HLP must bring attention to the impact of these unsustainable methods and their devastating effect on perpetuating poverty for women.
·        Current models of measuring economic activity do not take into account unremunerated work, such as the care economy and social reproduction.  The HLP should ensure in new economic measures.
·        Full employment and decent work, and ensuring universal and affordable access to social protection is a pillar for achieving women’s economic independence.
·        Moreover, we need a new development paradigm that works for women, includes women, particularly the voices of socially-excluded, disenfranchised and marginalized women, as part of the solutions and in the decision-making.
 

Empowering People for Social Change

Giving the poorest and most vulnerable the voice and tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty is key to bolstering efforts towards meeting global development goals, according to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report on promoting people’s empowerment, the theme for the fifty-first session of the Commission on Social Development, taking place at United Nations Headquarters from 6 to 15 February, and for its Civil Society Forum tomorrow.   Read more …

Promoting empowerment of people will be at the core when the Commission for Social Development convenes for its 51st session. “Empowering individuals and social groups requires a comprehensive set of policies and institutions. From education and health care to economic and social policy, activities that seek to empower people are expected to increase opportunities and improve people’s quality of life”, said Ms. Larysa Belskaya, Vice-Chair of the Commission’s Bureau.   Read more…

 

UN Commission for Social Development February 6 – 15, 2013

 

 “Promoting empowerment of people in achieving    poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all.”  Read more here …

Good Shepherd will present a side event during CSW 57

Flyer for Side Event during CSW 57

Congratulations on a great initiative undertaken by Sr Therese Thong and her staff in Taiwan.  They registered for a side event during  CSW 57 .  Two staff are coming for the Commission – HUNG-SHIN  LIU and  WANCHING  CHEN.  Hung-Shin is the Deputy Executive Director who will present on Aboriginal Effort to Stop Domestic Violence.   He will be joined on the panel by Ferew Lemma, Executive Director of Nolawi Services, Ethiopia presenting on networking with Government and NGO’s on issues of violence against women.  Maureen McGowan, Director of Handcrafting Justice will address the role of economic justice projects in preventing violence against women and girls.  This side event is a truly international effort to ‘Stop Violence Against Women and Children’ reflecting multidimensional approaches used by good Shepherd Around the World.  The event will take place on Wednesday March 6, 2013 at 10.30 a.m.  If you click on the flyer it will enlarge.   Coming soon the results of the survey you contributed to in August 2012.

Final Draft of the guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights, submitted by the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona

The Final Draft of the guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights, submitted by the special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepulveda Carmona is available in all six languages of the United Nations.  French, Spanish and English uploaded here for your convenience.

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/HRC/21/39&Lang=F
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/HRC/21/39&Lang=S
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/HRC/21/39&Lang=E

Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights made a statement at the 21st Session of the Human Rights Council on 12 September 2012. Link to the full statement is attached here.  English only
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/                                            DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12503&LangID=E

Some quotations from the statement made by Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona on September 12, 2012
“The Guiding Principles aim to be a tool to guide the design and implementation of social policies and poverty eradication efforts, in a manner that respects, protects and fulfills the human rights of persons living in extreme poverty.
These Principles do not create new obligations in regard to human rights. They simply represent a concise guide on how to fulfill existing obligations in the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies to overcome poverty.
It is important to record the long history of these Guiding Principles. They date back to 2001, when the Commission on Human Rights, recognising the necessity of formulating principles on the application of human rights norms in the context of the fight against extreme poverty … The document is relevant for all countries, at all stages of development.”

The GSIJP Office has been contributing to this process since 2001. Good Shepherd Sisters responded to the consultations and submitted very valuable information in 2011. The following units contributed: Colombia (4), Mexico (2) New York (2), France and Central America. Hedwig and Mags in the Geneva Office attended meetings when requested and kept us updated.

A good history of the process is annexed at the end of the document – but in English only. One of the first processes I was engaged in was reviewing an initial draft document with other members of the NGO Sub-Committee for Poverty Eradication. A note I have to this day reads, ‘we must find words to substitute for ‘the poor’. The term agreed was ‘persons living in poverty’. This term is used 120 times in the final draft. We struggled with ‘Poverty as a human condition’ and suggested alternative language ‘Poverty is a dehumanizing condition’ but this did not find its way into the document – see paragraph No 2 a term used by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 2001. Another phrase that stand out for me as innovative at the time was to eliminate ‘the accumulation of wealth and poverty’. The phrase ‘eliminate the accumulation of wealth’ is not found in the final draft.

  • The final draft has 108 paragraphs, 30 pages
  • 14 specific rights are elaborated. (Paragraphs 62 – 90).
  • If you want to discuss poverty read the preface Paragraphs 1-10.
  • The Objectives of the Guiding Principles on extreme poverty and human rights are outlined in paragraphs 11 -13.
  • There are 8 foundational principles.
  • There are three references to implementation of the social protection – see paragraphs 30, 54 and 86 (b).
  • It is imperative at national level that you bring this document to your local government representatives and government ministers.

“Extreme poverty is not inevitable means that the tools for ending it are within reach. A human rights approach provides a framework for the long-term eradication of extreme poverty based on the recognition of persons living in extreme poverty as rights holders and agents of change.”  Paragraph 6.

IPS – HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA | Inter Press Service

IPS – HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA | Inter Press Service.

This high level panel comprises 11 women together with one co-chair President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General  Amina J. Mohammed (ex-officio) on Post-2015 Development Planning.  The panel comprises a range of expertise.   I am happy to see  3 women who will follow  the human rights of girls and women with single-minded purpose.   Queen Rania of Jordan, an advocate and a humanitarian, Queen Rania serves as an Eminent Advocate for UNICEF and Honorary Chairperson for the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI).   The issues of girls will be well represented.  Ms Graça Machel (South Africa)   is a current member of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders who work together for peace and human rights.   She is also a UN independent expert on the impact of armed conflict on children, international advocate for women’s and children’s rights, former freedom fighter and Education and Culture Minister of Mozambique.  Ms Tawakel Karman is a young Yemini journalist, human rights activist and politician who was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize for her role in promoting the “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work” during the 2011 Yemeni uprising.   As I review the list I note that 8 members almost one third of the panel come with economics plus World Bank and the International Monetary Fund experience.  3 members bring expertise on international development, 2 members have experience in the MDG’s,  2 have experience in foreign ministries, 1 from the private sector, 1 Environment, 1 Health and Welfare , 1 Urban rehabilitation and 1 from the Center of American Progress.   One hopes that a progressive new agenda to bring about a just, human rights based, equitable and sustainable  society, free from  poverty,  will be able to emerge from within a group that is predominately experienced in economics.

United in Global Sharing … building the future we want

The Good Shepherd International Foundation is an Italian non profit organization established in 2008 to support the missions of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the developing world.  The Foundation is based in Rome and works in partnership with the Good Shepherd Mission Development Corp. in USA and with the Good Shepherd partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Goals include :
■Ensure economic and social justice for women and children who suffer from
■Violence, abuse and exploitation worldwide.
■Cancel the shame of human trafficking, a modern form of slavery.
■Eradicate poverty through a fair and sustainable development.
■Build a world of peace.     Read more at http://www.fondazionebuonpastore.org/

 

The United Nations Agenda has all these issues in focus – Human Rights, – CEDAW   http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/sessions.htm ;   Sustainable Development: Outcome of Rio+20 Conference  ’The Future we Want’  http://www.uncsd2012.org/thefuturewewant.html (6 languages of the UN)  Empowerment, Poverty Eradication, Full Employment and Decent Work,  and Social Integration – Theme of the Commission for Social Development February 2013  http://social.un.org/index/CommissionforSocialDevelopment/Sessions/2013.aspx

The Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls is the theme of the Commission on the Status of Women, March 2013   http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/57sess.htm  ; Urging the implementation of the Social Protection Floor at national level following Recommendation 202 from the International Labour Confernece in June 2012  http://www.ilocarib.org.tt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1895:new-ilo-recommendation-on-social-protection-floors&catid=117:news-room&Itemid=1035  Following the issue of Human Trafficking through Article 6 of CEDAW, and UNODC http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/index.html?ref=menuside  and at national level.

A lot is happening -  There are new hopes, desires for new committments, new concepts as we move forward.

A good document to read is Realizing the future we want for all (1) Report to the Secretary General from the UN System Task Team on the Post 2015 UN Development Agenda.  http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/poverty-reduction/realizing-the-future-we-want/    A vision for the future that rests on the core values of human rights, equality and sustainability.  Four key dimensions of a more holistic approach: (1) inclusive social development; (2) inclusive economic development; (3) environmental sustainability; and (4) peace and security. See a diagram for this on page 24.

Become aware of phrases like ‘post 2015 development agenda’.  What does it mean?   Sustainable Development Goals?  What are these?     Paragraph 92 of ‘Realizing the Future We Want for All’  reads

“92. Implementation of a post-2015 development agenda will depend, critically, on effective governance capacities at national, local and municipal levels, including political commitment and leadership; and on the legal and economic empowerment of people, especially those most excluded, and of their civil society organizations, to participate effectively in national and local decisionmaking.  As such, governance is an essential issue within all four of the dimensions  outlined above. ”

   Follow the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights – Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda  Carmona.    http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Poverty/Pages/SRExtremePovertyIndex.aspx                                                             Read her book  HumanRightsApproachToSocialProtection (1)   

New – United Nations Social Development Network

Want to be up to date on Social Development issues – Empowerment, Poverty Eradication – follow here – http://unsdn.org  Make this a favourite.    Read about people’s empowerment and development model from Bangladesh. http://unsdn.org/?p=1136&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+unsdn+%28UNSDN%29

[DAWN@Rio 20] DAWN SPEAKS TRUTH TO POWER AT RIO 20! PLEASE SHARE WIDELY!

Here is a quotation from DAWN  – Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era.  “We reject models based on extractivism and current production and consumption patterns that do not contemplate an integral vision of development… We need policies and programs that empower communities and individuals, rather than exposing us to market assault and the changes in climate that affect land, livelihoods, handicrafts, indigenous medicines, staple food, symbolic wealth and our caring social relationships that include women’s informal networks of mutual support.”  Do you agree with this?  The complete text is available and entitled DAWN – Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era – speaks Truth to Power.  Doesn’t that remind you of scripture?  The negotiations in Rio are difficult.  ‘Whether the expected 130 heads of State and thousands of government and UN officials, and civil society advocates in the Rio+20 process can boldly advance human rights and shape global policy to reduce poverty, increase peoples wellbeing, and advance social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic justice must be our core question’ and the subject matter of our prayer.  What future are you wishing for?  Read the full text

[DAWN@Rio 20] DAWN SPEAKS TRUTH TO POWER AT RIO 20! PLEASE SHARE WIDELY!.