Tag Archives: Poverty Eradication

3rd Meeting of the UN Open Working Group developing Sustainable Development Goals

One of the main outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro in June Fatima_W2012, was the agreement by Member States to launch a process to develop a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs).  Marta Iris and her team attended that meeting.  The Open Working Group was established on 22nd of January 2013.   The first meeting in February was organizational, the second in March considered Poverty Eradication.  Winifred Doherty delivered the NGO Sub-Committee for Poverty Eradication statement to the Open Working Group.  The third session is now in process May 22 – 24, 2013.  The topic is “Food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, desertification, land degradation and drought.”  At this session the Co-Chairs meet with the NGO community from 9.00 – 10.00 am each morning.   Fatima Rodrigo, a Presentation Sister made a statement on Wednesday morning on behalf of the NGO Subcommittee for Poverty Eradication.  You can hear Fatima - click here and move to 42.50

Continue to listen to the summary of the co-chair. It will give you a flavor of the sort of thinking that is going on.    The Co-chair noted the depth, breath and complexity of the issues being addressed in attempting to come up with  a set of sustainable goals.   The Open Working Group is tasked with devising a small set of goals that people can relate to and understand.  He noted the call from NGO’s for a transformative agenda:  the  nexus between consumption and production – how get that balance right?   Earth rights vs human rights – how balance these?    Issues of  business and market on the one hand and communities and individuals on the other.  How balance  technology issues, seed issues , indigenous issue?    Government has to take a lead, some issues  cannot be delegated, especially food security for all.   Must get a good sense of the entire food chain from seed to table and from birth all the way just before death.  The importance of land tenure has been heard…

If you want to learn more go to the Sustainable Development Platform

Annual General Meeting of Partnership for Global Justice celebrated Simone Cambell – Winifred was one of the respondents

Flyer Simone Cambellhttp://winifredd.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/img_1375.jpg

Read more about Simone Campbell here and about the Partnership for Global Justice and it’s new Executive Director Deirdre Mullen, a Sister of Mercy from Northern Ireland.  The theme ‘Together We Can Build a Sustainable Future for All”  Following a welcome from Deirdre,  Simone delivered her address.  She reflected that this is a wilderness time – striving for justice – and the surprising gift is ‘Manna’ for a hungry world.  Simone referenced Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones.  Ezekiel is told to ‘Breath on them’ letting them know they can have life.  Manna is nourishment given for the moment – if stored it rots, is destroyed.

We are called to touch the pain of the world as real and to let our hearts be broken by the experience … hope is released into the darkness.  We are called to look at the issues – lift them up and pose questions.  How move forward to build a sustainable future for all.

Simone listed 4 global issues for today –  Climate Change,  Employment, Development and Migration.  Climate change is an issue that requires a global response – it cannot be addressed at the local level.  Climate Change need us to come together in new ways advocating for a healthy world.  Simone quoted Pope Francis with regard to employment saying that it is the right of all to live in dignity, earning a living wage.  Employment is both a global issue and a domestic issue.  The horrific fire in Bangledesh is a wake up call – these workers were supporting first world expectations.  This bring up the issue of corporate responsibility.  Simone invited us to find new ways of advocating with corporate entities.  In Development we need to be conscious of diverse cultures.  Let development  be defined in ways that meet  the host culture and be changed by that culture.  We need to find new ways to work together in diverse cultures.  Migration is greatly influenced by ‘global television’ where hunger and hope come together resulting in movement of peoples.  People go to where the jobs are.  Employers benefit from this exploitation.  Amid all the international policies that exist an international migration policy is lacking.

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Discussion on a new global development agenda have begun at the UN

The Millennium Development Goals  MDG’s set the global development agenda from 2000 to 2015.  There is a push on for their completion by 2015.  At the same time the discussions for a new development agenda has begun around Sustainable Development Goals SDG’s.  The Rio+20 Conference held in Rio de Janeiro in June of 2012 pointed in  ’‘The Future we want’ available in English Spanish and French.  In paragraph 248 (page 46) the resolve was to set up and open working group (OWG) comprising 30 representatives nominated by member states.  This group has been establish and had its second meeting from April 17th – 19th 2013.  I was privileged to deliver the statement on behalf the NGO Subcommittee for Poverty Eradication and the Mining Working Group on Friday morning - A copy of the text is here and the link to the UN WebCast is here (Move to the end of the video about 2.34.

The summary of the three days as presented by one of the Co-chairs is excellent.  Summary as presented by the Co-chair.  I will pick up some highlights to encourage you to read it.  Do these phrases echo with you?  ’We are engaged in a project of joint innovation.  We need and want new thinking.  We all agree that our task is to gradually craft the backbone of the transformative agenda. … The MDG’s a point of departure … we are entering uncharted waters.  This makes our work both exciting and challenging.  … Anxiety giving way to growing intellectual curiosity. …

To achieve complete poverty eradication in a sustainable way we need to address the economic, social and environmental factors  … we need people centered development … calls for strong cooperative global action … we need a narrative of transformative change to realise our vision of sustainable poverty eradication and universal human development , respecting human dignity and protecting our planet  mother Earth, living in harmony with nature for the well-being and happiness of present and future generations.  … We need new thinking on international cooperation beyond the traditional donor-recipient relationship. …”  What I was hearing is the same call that we have set ourselves in our Chapter theme “Energized by the Spirit, we risk together for mission…”

There are times when I find links between the chapter logo and logos that are floating with regard to the new development agenda.  Chapter logo

Compare with the Logo Advancing the Post-2015 Sustainable Development  Agenda

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Follow the interlinkages:  Poverty and Gender – See the following statement available in French, English and Spanish

Égalité entre les sexes pour mettre fin à la pauvreté                              Gender Equality to End Poverty – Bonn Conference Statement to HLP (2)                                               Igualdad de género para poner fin a la pobreza-Carta de Guadalajara al PAN Post 2015 (1)

I have endorsed this statement:  In our various ministries we are addressing  the increasing feminization of poverty, gender based violence, the structural drivers of girls and women’s poverty and inequality, the impact of climate change on girls and women, their families and communities and the devastating effect of land grabbing and the ‘extractive development model’  on perpetuating poverty for girls and women.   We promote  literacy and equality access of girls and women to quality education, implementation of the Social Protection Floor and urge for recognition of girls and women’s unremunerated work in the care economy.  We seek a new development paradigm that works for girls and women, includes girls and women, particularly the voices of socially-excluded, disenfranchised and marginalized girls and women, as part of the solutions and in the decision making.

Sign on to this statement placing women at the heart of Post 2015 development framework to achieve an end to poverty

Did you read the post of March 22 – Gender Equality to end poverty?    The statement highlights the centrality of gender equality to the achievement of human sustainable development and poverty eradication, as well as achievement of the other development goals.  The statement has been further developed and signatures are invited.  You can read the full statement to High Level Panel  and  Sign here to endorse the call for Gender Equality to End Poverty

 

 

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.

 

Girls Transform the World Digital Action Campaign

World Pulse announces its ‘Girls Transform the World Digital Action Campaign… We invite you to join us in uniting voices of girls, young women, and their champions who are breaking through barriers so that girls everywhere will have access to education, and the opportunity to transform the world.”

Tell us your stories – Connect with others – Watch your voice rise.  Find out how you can participate in the campaign.      It is available in 66 languages.

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.
 

RISE together event at UN Headquarters

The United Nations Secretary General’s UNITE to End Violence Against Women campaign held a RISE together event on February 14th at 12.30.  The UNITE campaign and UN officials came together to RISE to end violence against women and girls.  Deputy Secretary-General of United nations Jan Eliasson addressed all gatheredIMG_1148

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I am Rising: Michelle Bachelet’s Message for the One Billion Rising campaign

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet stands up for the fundamental human right of every woman and girl to live a life free from fear and violence, as part of the One Billion Rising campaign sponsored by Eve Ensler’s V-day organization. On 14 February 2013, join her and one billion women and men around the world, who will rise up, walk out, dance and demand an end to this violence.

 

Across the world, social movements, organizations, schools and offices are preparing to take to the streets on Valentine’s Day, Thursday 14 February, to dance for a gender justice revolution: One Billion Rising!
The Campaign recognizes the gravity of persistent violence against women in the home, schools, workplaces and public spheres, women and men are mobilizing to call for an end to rape, and end to the normality of violence against women.
Violence against women is a key issue which prevents the realization of gender justice. It is estimated that one in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime.
Paul Quintos, Campaign Manager, said: “Violence against women has enormous social, economic, physical and psychological impacts on all of society – affecting both men and women. Equitable and sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing the causes and effects of violence against women.”
“Gender justice is critical to poverty reduction and development. There must be substantive social change to challenge patriarchy. Our social and political systems must be reformed by strong government commitments to create a more equitable and just society for all.” The Campaign for People’s Goals for Sustainable Development supports One Billion Rising and calls for effective and substantive legal and political action to address violence against women and children in all spheres of life, and enacted by all people.
The Campaign for People’s Goals calls for governments to:
  • Recognize gender justice as a key objective to achieve development
  • Ensure there is effective legislation, and enforcement of legislation on rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women.
  • Ensure there are widespread social education and programs through schools, workplaces and public centers to change patriarchal attitudes and negative social and cultural practices.

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 …