Monthly Archives: April 2013

Ending Violence Against Women now translated in Spanish and French

It is with great pleasure that I post the web version of  ‘Ending Violence Against Girls and Women’  in French and Spanish.

New 11  Ending Violence Against Girls and Women  This paper is not intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of violence against women and girls around the world but rather to share information that may provide some insight into the work done by Good Shepherd Sisters in all major regions of the world.

New 11Mettre fin à la violence faite aux femmes et aux filles    Ce document n’est pas destiné à fournir une compréhension globale de la violence faite aux femmes et aux filles à travers le monde, mais plutôt de partager l’information qui peut donner un aperçu du travail effectué par les soeurs du Bon Pasteur dans toutes les grandes régions du monde.

New 11Poner Fin a la Violencia contra las Niñas y las Mujeres  Este documento no pretende abarcar exhaustivamente la violencia contra las mujeres y las niñas alrededor del mundo, sino más bien compartir información que pueda ofrecer una visión más profunda sobre el trabajo realizado por las Hermanas del Buen Pastor en más de 72 países de todas las grandes regiones del mundo en que se hallan presentes las Hermanas del Buen Pastor, según lo expresado por su declaración de misión.

 

NGO CSW Newsletter

NGOCSW Newsletter February – April 2013 featuring many events from the 57th Commission on the Status of Women and the membership meeting of April reflecting on Gender Inequality and the Post-2015 Agenda.  I encourage you to look at this video.

Good Shepherd contributed to and participated in many of these events.  Ferew Lemma from Ethiopia, Wanching and Hung Hsin from Taiwan participated in the NGO CSW Forum ’57 Consultation Day.IMG_1238[1]

Handcrafting Justice (USA) was present at the Artisan’s Fair.

 We also participated in the 2nd annual celebration march to commemorate International Women’s Day.  Wanching

Ferew

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Wanching with the Chair of NGOCSW Soon-Young Yoon

Winifred was a co-facilitator for two of the conversation circles – the one on intergenerational dialogue and migration and Trafficking.  It is worth reading the notes from the  Migration and Trafficking Conversation Circle     

IMG_4654 Ferew followed and participated in the African Caucus, Wanching the Asia Pacific Caucus and Winifred the US/European Caucus. Unfortunately Yolanda was not in the US at the time so we were unable to cover the Latin American and Caribbean Caucus.

We had three advertisements in the NGO CSW Handbook.                             2013  Adv for side event as present by our Team from Taiwan

CSW 57 Adv  Promoting Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights and implementation of the Social Protection Floor

and  CATW Good Shepherd Side events  ‘Survivors Speak: Prostitution and Sex Trafficking.’

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

   Logo_Advancing-the-Post-2015-Sustainable-Development-Agenda

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

 

 

The experiential journey as a three month intern in Geneva

Niluka 2

It was a call from Sr. Susan Chia, Congregational link councilor, who had visited the Sri Lanka/ Pakistan province for a workshop on “Participative model of Leadership” which made me realize the need to get experience in relation to the Human Rights Based Approach and the instruments which were available at international level which could assist us to be more effective at the local level. From that day onwards all the arrangement were made for me to have an experiential learning process in Geneva and I arrived here on 10th January 2013.  Read more…

Congratulation Sr. Niluka Perera from the  Province of Sri Lanka/Pakistan on this achievement and congratulations to your mentors Hedwig and Clare!

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.