Category Archives: UN Women

CSW 65 ends with Agreed Conculsion on March 26 – Consensus just after 6.00 p.m.

Agreed Conclusion on “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimintation of violence, for achievieng gender equality and emowernment of all women and girls” were adopted by consensus. It was quite evident from the insights gleaned from statments issued after the adoption that these were tense and difficulty negotiation. While all the negotiations were done virtually, the ususal dynamics that accompany the annual negotiations prevailed – working until 11.00 p.m. during the two weeks, and through the night on the last few days of negotiation. I am grateful that Member States stayed the course and came to consensus on the need for full and effective participation of women in decision making in public life and on eliminating violence for achieving gender equlaity.

The Executive Director of UN Women Phumzille Mlambo made a statment at the end of the session saying the the outcome document was a robust blueprint on strengthening women’s leadership and participation in public life. Read more. Having followed the session as it unflolded I found that the various country positions indiciated the red lines that are encountered in address gender equality and the ending of all violence against girls and women. While there was consensus with reservations it is quiet clear that the struggle is far from finished.

Ambassador Sautter, Germany on behalf of the EU presented its statement which was published immediately on it Website: See

Other statements generally in support came from Santiago Group, led by Chile. New Zealand spoke on behalf of the following group – Australia, Canada, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Iceland. UK, USA, Nigeria, Mexico, Namibia, each had statements. Other countries, each speaking individually presented reservations – Saudia Arabia, Brazil, Iran, Sudan, Egypt, Lybia, Yemin, Tunisia, Nicurguia, Iraq, Holy See, Maurentinia, and Qutar. China and Russia also made statment. See Commission on the Status of Women March 27th

What are the redlines? What are the contentious issues? Well, terms, the use of terms and the understaning of terms is the trigger for discussion, controversy, and persuasion. The terms gender, gender identity, women in all their diversity, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence, sexual identity, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and human rights defenders give rise to various interpretation – ranging from a human rights perspective to religous, cultural, and moral principles and objections. Concept on motherhood, maternity, paternity, family, role of family in society, gender as defined as male or famale, marriage only between a man and a women are pitted against human right to self expression and ability to make choices.

Other political issues surface – e.g invoking national sovernighty, whereby national laws, and religious laws are to be respected and upheld. Considerations that the agreed conclusion attempt to address a broad ranges of issues which were not the subject matter of the theme eg. climate change, women’s health, human trafficking, and unilateral financial trade agreement. There was referece to the Security Council Resolution 1325 being deleated from the document amid concerns about the impacts of conflict on girls and women and that there were attempt to unpick long standing commitments. Many times is was noted that terms used in the discussion are ambigious especially around gender identity, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and sexual and reproductive health and reprocuctive rights. LGBTQI+ issues are not named and in some cases event the existence of these people has been denied. I was surprised to hear that girls and women with disabilities was a contentionus issue. Further, with regard to ‘human rights defenders’ the question was asked as to why they are a special category needing attention?

I am happy that the discussion was had yet again, and that there are agreed conclusion from CSW 65. One delegate stands out for me – the delegate from Morocco who spake about the ardous hours of virtual imprisonment experinced durng the negotiation. She invited those present to imagine the imprisionment of girls and women within violent sistuation in the real world saying we hear your voice. Then she asks two quesitons, are the agreed conclusions responsive enough, are they translformative enough? She answers with a resounding NO! It is in the spirit that the women of the world unite and set out for Mexico and the launch of part 1 of the Generation Equlaity Forum on Monday March 29 – 31st.

Beijing Remembered …

Friday, September 4, 2020 marked the opening of the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, China exactly 25 years ago. “The Beijing Platform for Action imagined a world where every woman and girl can exercise her freedoms and choices, and realize her rights, such as to live free from violence, to go to school, to participate in decisions and to earn equal pay for work of equal value. As a defining framework for change, the Platform for Action made comprehensive commitments under 12 critical areas of concern.” Read more

Some Good Shepherd Sisters within Asia Pacific attended that historic conference – India, Philippines and Australia. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, document issuing from the conference has informed Good Shepherd Position Papers and ministries.

Then First Lady of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered what would be considered as one of the most influential speeches in the women’s rights movement at the United Nation’s 4th World Conference on Women Plenary Session on September 5, 1995 in Beijing, China Read more

See full text

A very interesting piece on Beijing, 25 years later: Are women better off? was published in Passblue (Independent Coverage of the UN). Take a look!

In 25 years no country has achieved gender equality. During the COVID 19 pandemic, life for women has worsened with increases in violence and in many situations care of the children and home schooling falls to the mother. On Monday 31st of August the Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres held a town hall meeting together with UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. He said and I quote “At a time of growing nationalism and populism, the forces ranged against global solidarity can seem overwhelming. But if we are to meet today’s global challenges, from the climate crisis to growing inequality and the digital divide, we must join together, rejecting sexist and ageist stereotypes that prevent women – and men – from realizing our full humanity.” Read the full statement.

SEE

Linda Wong, Soroptomist International Advocacy Advisor wrote an interesting piece, giving an overview of the the Secretary Generals’ Town Hall with women. A recording of the session can be had HERE

A NEW REPORT: 17 pages ‘From Insight to Action: Gender Equality in the Wake of COVID-19’ published by UN Women in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme – UNDP highlights projections on poverty by sex and age in a post-pandemic world. The pandemic has widened gender and economic inequalities and without gender-responsive policies the crisis risks derailing hard won gains. (Page 3). COVID 19 has pummelled feminized labour sectors; (Page 6) will push million more into extreme poverty; (Page 8) gaps on basic services magnify care burdens; (Page 10) for many women and girls home is not a safe space (Page 12) and page 16 states clearly we have the tool to address the crisis. So, why is the global community not taking action?

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3rd Straw vote for UN Secretary General took place in the UN Security Council on August 29th

Once again Felix Dodd has shared the outcome of the 3rd straw vote in his blog,  You can access it HERE  See my posting of August 6, for the account of the 1st and 2nd straw vote.

Another account of the process with some background history can be had HERE from ‘What’s in Blue’ insights on the work of the UN Security Council

Head of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is strongly advocating for a women to be selected and says it is obviously frustrating that women are not scoring higher. HERE

Beijing What?

Beijing+20: WHAT?  An interactive dialogue with young people about gender equality and women’s empowerment in the post-2015 context.  Four Girl advocates of the Working Group on Girls were among the panelists – Julia, Christina, Lizze, and Lizzie.  This dialogue took place within the 2 day ECOSOC Youth Forum of June 2 and 3. Girls from YWCA, Girl Scouts USA and a girl representative from Austrian youth were also panelists. Their linking with the issues of Beijing and bring them into the post 2015 Development Agenda debate was excellent.  The event was webcast  Link to webcast

Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka invited the girls to share with her on the various themes.  You can read her address Here

Questions posed to the girls included: Julia:  Why is it important for women and girls to be part of the conversation on climate change and entrepreneurship?  How will this contribute to a different future?  Christina: Why is it important for women and girls to partner in leadership and decision making as outline in the Beijing platform.  How is this important to you and your future?  Lizzie:  Why does gender equality matter to you and your future?  What about your peers?  Anita: Why is the Beijing platform so relevant for some of the areas we need to focus on and for change for a sustainable future?

The following question were posed to he Austrian Youth delegate Johanna: What is your vision for education and how does it contributes to gender equality?   Tiffany is from the YWCA: What can we do to put an end to women’s lack of safety and violence against women?  Emily from the Girl Scouts: Why is environmental policies so important to girls and women world wide.  Is this something we need to include when looking at in the post 20 agenda?   Ameesha Girl Scouts USA: You have witnessed the discrimination of women and girls in families and you have identified it as a challenge in India.  You are a strong gender equality advocate.  What would you like us to change?  What actions can we take to make sure this happens?

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Can you use this presentation to talk about Beijing? I think it is a useful tool. How would your women and girl groups answer these questions?

There is a very interesting sharing by an 18 year old man Joe Davis talking about women’s rights from a young man’s perspective.  See move marker to 43:30

The Good Shepherd International Foundation on their Facebook page have a posting on the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum.  See

Civil Society meets with Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the new Executive Director of UN Women meets with civil society on Tuesday August 27, 2013

Yolanda speeking with Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Yolanda meeting with Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

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Yolanda Sanchez and Kimberly Moloche meet with Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in New York. Read more Civil Society meets with Ms.Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Read more “Make the Circle, Bigger, Bigger, and Bigger” By Kimberly Moloche, Intern at the GSIJPO-NY

A survey of services provided globally by Good Shepherd Sisters in 24 countries

In summary, the data presented in this paper serves to support evidence of the widespread prevalence of VAWG and illustrates practical measures that have been taken, with success to combat such violence.   Ending Violence Against Girls and Women Web Version

The United Nations agreed on a declaration to prevent and condemn violence against women and girls regardless of “any custom, tradition or religious consideration”

United Nations – Muslim and Western nations overcame deep divisions to agree on a landmark United Nations Code to combat violence against women and girls.  Continue to read

Peace March

 

 

 

 

Women, led by Yoo Soon-taek, wife of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and actresses Susan Sarandon and Monique Coleman, march outside the U.N. general assembly building to mark International Women’s Day. Photo by: Mark Garten / U.N.

Activists welcome hard-fought UN agreement on women’s rights

The Guardian has this report on the successful conclusion of CSW 57  Check out the whole article

Here is a snippet with links:  “But the agreement was hard fought and civil society groups expressed “deep concern” over attempts by some conservative member states and groups to derail the process and undermine previous agreements.”

March 8 – Happy International Women’s Day

Happy Women DayFrom the GSIJP Office in New York and  CSW 57 with my colleagues Ferew Lemma (Ethiopia) and Wanching Chen (Tiawan) we wish you ‘Happy International Women’s Day.

Ferew

Wanching The song  ‘One Woman’ was launched today at the Celebration in the United Nations with Mr Ban Ki Moon, Ms Michelle Bachelet and H.E. Mr. Gérard Araud, Permanent Representative of France to the UN.    Listen to the Song

The 2013 theme for International Women’s Day, “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”

Quoting from Ms Michelle Bachelet  ‘My message today is: We cannot move backwards, we must keep moving forward. It is what we owe to millions of women fighting for their rights around the world.

We find ourselves at a tipping point in history.

Never before have we witnessed such global momentum and mobilization by men and women, girls and boys, demanding an end to violence against women and girls. …”  Read More     ” The 57th Commission on the Status of Women must uphold, and should advance, the full human rights of women. This is what women and girls all over the world expect from us!”

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