CSW55 Draft Agreed Conclusions

Draft Agreed Conclusions

UN Commission on the Status of Women

22 February - 4 March 2011

Information on progress with the Draft Agreed Conclusions can be found at:

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw55/Draft-agreed-conclusions.pdf

Negotiations on the content and wording of the draft Agreed Conclusions take place over the two-week period of the CSW session.  There must be agreement by the final day.

During daily Briefing sessions with the Canadian Government Delegation, Canadian NGOs can present their views on suggested wordings, or call for the Candian Government negotiators to work with or convince other Government negotiators to adjust various sections of the draft.

  

UNESCO Briefing with IFUW

IFUW Briefing Session at UNESCO

UNESCO Offices in New York City

25 February 2011

Gulser Corat, Director of Gender Issues at UNESCO, invited the International Federation of University Women (IFUW) delegation to UNESCO for a briefing.

IFUW has a strong team with UNESCO in Paris and wishes to strengthen its ties with UNESCO.
This is the first time that UNESCO is coming to the Commission on the Status of Women. It will do round tables with:




IFUW on advancing secondary education
Labour unions on the priority themeUNESCO would like to tie the IFUW-UNESCO High-Level Round Table to the goals of the Director-General of UNESCO.

"Your UNESCO-IFUW Round Table will be very very high-level," said Gulser.

The UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, will be arriving on Saturday. [http://www.unesco.org/en/general-conference-35th-session/] She is very keen on Gender Equality. There are two priorities at UNESCO:



Gender Equality
AfricaThe UNESCO Stategic Plan for 2008 - 2013 [UNESCO has 6-year terms] took a new turn with Gender Equality as a priority. Gulser distributed copies of the Action Plan.
N.B. UNESCO was the only UN entity to have Gender Equality as a priority at the time. There were other unique features of the UNESCO Strategic Plan:




Usually plans are for only 2 - 3 years but theirs is for 6.
It is results oriented.
It identifies specific goals plus results and indicators plus a budget for achieving the results.UNESCO did not get the budget it had requested.

In 2009 everything changed overnight. The Director-General is a feminist who is not afraid of saying so. Often when women move up they stop taling about Gender Equality because the get "smiles and negative snickers" from the men in the room and so they shy away from mentioning it.

This Director-General said that she ran on a platform of Gender Equality and intended to do organizational change, and she took it from Planning to Platform. That is symbolic and significant.

Gulser noted changes happening in her own situation:




They started to use her name instead of calling her "Miss Gender."
They started picking up the phone when she called.
They began responding to her emails.
Very importantly, they knew the importance of the high-level support that is not just lip-service.The Director-General gave directives about Gender Equality all the way to the top levels of management (Gulser's level).

UNESCO is currently planning initiatives for the last two years of the Strategic Plan (i.e. 2012 - 2013) plus for the next six-year period. The Director-General asked for Actions, Results and Budgets since those are needed for receiving funding.

There is a significant increase in positive direction in




Gender mainstreaming and programming
Budget already identified (was usually from 3 - 9% but is now at 20%)Gender Equality Methodologies:




Mainstreaming (with reference to Beijing Platform for Action) is the accepted approach by ECOSOC and other UN agencies
Specific analysis that looks at data
Very important not to make things worse for womenThe most important goal is Gender Transformative Change.
UNESCO is best placed to bring about this change because of its two mandates:




Education
Culture"With those two, you can begin to make change."

Another important feature of the UNESCO Strategic Plan:




It is not just about programme but also about the secretariat (i.e. the people who work for UNESCO).
The goal is to have parity in gender by 2015.
For the first time, there is already parity at UNESCO at the senior management level which is the very top level: 5 women and 5 men.
At UNESCO, women hold the senior positions of Assistant Director-General in Sciences, Geographic Commission, Administration, Priority of Africa and Gender Issues (the senior management position held by Gulser). Gender Equality is a priority that we take very seriously at UNESCO and on with we want to take substantive action and show impact.

UNESCO has 192 Member States.

There is a goal of building peace in the minds of all people.

We are very happy with the creation of UN Women.

We will work with UN Women to promote the UNESCO policy.

UNESCO also works for




The elimination of Violence Against Women
Peace and Security
Culture for Development - mentioned also in the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals).Gulser's job is to co-ordinate and deliver the programs and to provide technical assistance.
Developed gender mainstreaming training programmes, with basic training on-line and advanced training available in the field. (Also available in CD format). One section deals with how to advocate for gender equality.

Gulser Corat:




Born in Turkey where she received good quality university education

Went first to Belgium, and then to Canada where she did a PhD as a political economist

Taught for 24 years in Canada and also worked at CIDA

In 2004 returned to Europe to work with UNESCO

Has always done Gender Equality work "because when I asked questions they always took me to men for the answers. I thought that was not right!" So one of her teachers asked her to do a course in it and she did "Women in Developing Economies" at Carlton University.Gulser closed by saying, "Promoting Gender Equality is hard work in the UN community."

Questions/Comments from IFUW Delegation:

1. How can NGOs help? Gulser:




UN agencies are intergovernmental so first interlocutors are the representatives of the governments.

Accredited NGOs are there but the UN interaction is with governments. That's what exists at UNESCO.

NGOs have to keep pushing - e.g. GEAR was a driving force behind UN Women2. What is the role of the Commission of UNESCO? Gulser:




Modalities of work change from country to country. Tell them how CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) are being marginalized.3. I am excited about the nexus between education and culture. Gulser:




I saw book yesterday that I am going to go back and buy: The Culture of Science.

Culture permeates everything. Science and technology are not isolated but are in the context of culture.

Gender "rules" vary from country to country.

In science it is worst in engineering. I had the shock of my life when I went to Canada and found only one or two women in the Canadian university engineering programmes - and they were often foreign students. In Turkey the number of women exceeded the number of men in all disciplines. ("Maybe the Turkish men were off fighting or something!")

At UNESCO we have a different approach which is on life-long learning with a focus on having a voice.

UNESCO is responsible for global monitoring. Parity is being reached at the primary education level. The transition to secondary and at secondary levels has worsened over the last 10 years and is becoming "alarming" because of economic/financial issues, and because of the choice by parents of educating boys over girls. Gender-based violence is also an issue.

UNESCO is not a development agency. We do policy advice. We give governments and cultural institutions both policy dialogue and solutions.

About 4% of the GDP of developed countries goes to education and of that, about 89% of it is for teachers' salaries.

Huge discrepancy between money for military purposes and for education.

UNESCO is establishing private sector partnerships (e.g. with Hewlett-Packard, I-Tunes, even the Women's Tennis Association where we have Venus Williams and Billy-Jean King as spokespersons for UNESCO).

Tell us where we can find money; tell people to contact us; tell us what you want; encourage people to look at what UNESCO is doing.4. What is the specific goal of UNESCO - i.e. is it gender specifics or mainstreaming? Gulser:




We are doing both: specific gender goals and gender mainstreaming

Partnered with l-Oreal and they give science scholarships that are now available in 60 countries - both international and national scholarships.5. How can we NGOs help implement the gender transformative approach?Gulser:




We have 192 countries and some of them recognize only two genders and do not consider e.g. trans or bisexual genders.
In Southeast Asia we do a lot of work in relation to HIV/AIDs for trans and bisexuals and homosexuals.6. How local do you get at UNESCO?Gulser:




In Mexico it is a problem. We find it more noticeable in science/technology/engineering.

In Latin America there are science and tech women grads but when they graduate they go to Europe. Women do 20 - 39 hours of domestic work in addition to 30 - 50 hours of office work.

Gender transformation is necessary. We have to get hierarchy out of our heads. Men apply for any job whether they are qualified or not. Women apply only if the job says that the job is for "Miss ___!"

The Director-General is the first woman D-G ever elected. She wants to help other women reach high positions.
　


　
　

　

Briefing on UNSCR 1325



Briefing: Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW)

Church Centre of the United Nations

25 February 2011

Introductions

Janis Alton of VOW (and also a CFUW member) opened the meeting and asked all present to introduce themselves.
 [I will continue to stay in touch with two interesting young woman: Renee, who did her university research on the language of UN Security Council resolutions (and who belongs to "Geeks Without Borders") and Josephine from the Youth Committee who has been thinking about joining CFUW and is interested in bringing young women to organizations that make a difference in women's lives.]


Monday 28 February - Meeting with Deputy Ambassador Gilles Rivard at the Canadian Mission - 9:00 - 9:45 am

Sunday - late pm - Planning meeting for the Mission visit - 5:00 pm - New Tower at Millennium Hotel.

Guest Speaker: Marilou McPhedran - President of Global College, University of Winnipeg

Topic: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325

It is up to UN Secretary -General to take a look at the resolutions. The UN General Assembly did not adopt the indicators at the 10-year anniversary of UNSCR1325. They had been "watererd down" by the Member States.

Global Network - Mavic Cabrera Balleza was with the International Women's Tribunal Network which was phased out last year and the Global Network phased in.

2000 - An unprecedented approach to peace and security occured. Has set the standard never reached again for the Security Council to deal with women, peace and security.

Condoleesa Rice and Hillary Clinton were influential in bringing in subsequent resolutions related to UNSCR.

There is a letter to sign re UNSCR 1960 - prime example of the Security Council's lack of engagement with civil society incl. (I had signed the letter at an earlier workshop on Feb. 23rd.)
It was a formative and driving role of women and highly strategic way in which they took 1325 to the Security Council.

UNSCR 1325 was much broader: involved women's participation during pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict periods.

Vital role of women and if peace is to be achieved; women's leadership must be engaged.

Situates women as full participants and leaders within the whole process.

Coalition that placed UNSCR 1325 chose a very strategic time to present it. Ambassador Chowdhury was the President of the Security Council and was sympathetic and provided an open door that was previously shut.

Coalition saw need for National Action Plans on 1325.

2008 - Condoleesa Rice introduced UNSCR 1820 that addressed the elimination of rape as a weapon of war.

Put resources in place to monitor the resolutions.

(Shift for a minute to resolutions on children and armed conflict - the implementation is important because you need the resources to get into the countries to monitor the situation.)

2008 - a narrowing of the focus - gender-based violence

Named the violence

The Secretary-General followed up an named a Special Representative on rape as a weapon of war - Margot Walstrom

Change of leadership in US and in 2 weeks Hillary Clinton had both 1888 and 1889 proposed - both of which echo 1325 but focus on special gender-based violence. But the language goes back to the old Security Council resolution and loses the language for women that was relevent. Has left in the language of women as victims.

Need advocacy and resources.

Marilou thinks long and hard about what the groups headed by Cora Weiss or Mavic Cabrera Balleza have to say (e.g. on suggestions of demands in the letter to sign on 1960). She read the letter aloud.

UNSCR1889 - Looks at the key role women can play in looking at war-torn countries. Came out of the Security Council. References 1888 and 1325. Engages civil society.

It was a tipping point because after this cluster with UNSCR1888 quite focused and then UNSCR1889 broadening and referencing 1325, there is now 1960 narrowing again (Dec. 2010).

There is "an accordian effect" of opening and closing the focus.

Letter re demands concerning UNSCR 1960 - one paragraph looks at small arms.

Tension between tight focus looking at one aspect that is very necessary in asking Security Council for resources, and the the other aspect that is the broad picture such as the number of women who were actually at the peace tables, or who had positions in high places at the UN etc. Always it was under 10%.

Where are the resources going?

Liaison between Representatives on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Children in Conflict.

"Let's not subsume women only into their role as mothers. Let's also not stereotype them as being victims."

"Eternal vigilance" of CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) is important.

The reason we need to keep talking about UNSCR 1325 is the systemic nature in which the UN and other entities operate.

[Renee - "UNSCR 1325 was partly not taken on by the Security Council because it did not come from them."]

Huge shift for the Security Council to have a focus on women. They do not want to become a policy body and do not want to be hijacked by a bunch of special interest groups.

Rice and Clinton could have chosen issues other than ones on women, but they both acted quickly.

UNSCR 1820 took a status quo issue and redefined it. It is a human rights violation. It is a tool of war: command and control. It's a lot cheaper to use rape as a weapon than to buy other weapons.

Re the Canadian National Action Plan [rolled out on Oct. 5, 2010

CSOs can ask for implementation
Can ask for resources to National Action Plan
[Renee: Canada's pledge of $10 million to UN Women is only half of what Spain pledged. The Action Plan is very externally focussed and does not look as much at issues existing in Canada.]
　
　
　
　
　
　

Thinking of Our NZ Sisters

Thinking of Our NZ Sisters

Condolences are sent to our sisters from the New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women who are suffering the loss of loved ones, friends and neighbours following the devastating earthquake in Christchurch. Beverley Turner of the NZFGW told of the damage and trauma.

Our thoughts are with all of you.

CSW Events

Events at the CSW55

There are various kinds of meetings that delegates to the Commission on the Status of Women can attend.

Briefings
Briefings may be offered by the NGO CSW Committee,the Canadian Government Delegation, delegations such as the International Trade Unions, the International Federation of University Women and others.

The briefings can offer information, serve as planning sessions for those presenting events, provide discussion time on the Agreed Conclusions or feature speakers.

United Nations and Government High-Level Events
A few of the High-Level events are open to the delegates in very limited numbers. The Opening Session of the UN and the Round Tables and General Discussions where countries present 5-minute reports on their progress or lack thereof on the Priority Theme, are all "observer status only" for NGOs.

Many high-level UN Meetings are closed to CSW NGO delegates as are the negotiations by the governments on the Priority Theme.

Round table events sponsored by UN bodies or governments such as UNESCO or Missions such as Bangladesh are by prior invitation only.

Reconstruction at the UN has closed the large Conference Rooms and moved events to the smaller rooms in the North Lawn Building. Secondary security passes to that Building are limited to one or two per organization with further restrictions that attempt to balance the number of passes given to each UN Region. Sometimes no tickets are available.

Parallel Events
A wide variety of events running parallel to the high-level meeting are offered at off-site locations including the Church Centre of the UN and the Salvation Army. These events are offered on the Priority Theme, the Review Theme and the Emerging Theme. They offer delegates an opportunity for questions, interactions and comments.

Caucus Meetings
These meetings deal with a topic such as GEAR (Gender Equality Architecture Reform) or Climate Change, and usually are held on two or three occasions over the two week CSW session.

Special Events
An optional NGO Consultation Day is held for a fee for the orientation of delegates before the Opening CSW Session. Various other events are offered either free with prior registration (e.g. the UN Women: Way Forward all-day Saturday session) or for a pre-paid amount (e.g.  a special luncheon).

This year each accredited organization received one invitation to the Launch of UN Women, with prior RSVP required.

Bachelet Speech at Launch of UN Women

UN WOMEN LAUNCH - SPEECH BY DIRECTOR MICHELLE BACHELET

Speech delivered by Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet during the UN Women Launch Celebration held in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters on 24 February 2011.

Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues, Honoured Guests.

Welcome. It is a joy and honour for me to announce the official launch of UN Women. It took four years of hard work to realize the dream of millions of women and girls, to have a global "champion" at the UN who can lead the efforts to translate their hopes of a better world into reality. And it has taken four months of hard work to shape that dream into a functioning UN organization.

I am very grateful to our Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General — and to all of you whose dedication and commitment have brought us to this moment.

The decision to establish UN Women reflects global concern with the slow pace of change. It is no longer acceptable to live in a world where young girls are taken out of school and forced into early marriage, where women’s employment opportunities are limited, and where the threat of gender-based violence is a daily reality — at home, in the street, at school and at work.

The neglect of women’s rights means the social and economic potential of half the population is underused. In order to tap this potential, we must open up spaces for women in political leadership, in science and technology, as trade and peace negotiators, and as heads of corporations.

As the Secretary-General said, supporting faster progress for women is not only morally right; it makes good political and economic sense.

This holds true whether we are talking about countries or companies. The World Economic Forum, which tracks performance on gender equality measures in 134 countries, reports a clear correlation between progress in gender and GDP per capita.

And a recent study found that Fortune 500 companies with the highest number of women on their boards were 53-percent more profitable than those with the fewest women board members.

Where women have access to secondary education, good jobs, land and other assets, national growth and stability are enhanced, and we see lower maternal mortality, improved child nutrition, greater food security and less risk of HIV and AIDS.

My own experience has taught me that there is no limit to what women can do — from those who support their families in the hardest of circumstances to those who become ministers of gender affairs, health, finance, foreign affairs — or heads of state. If we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, we must do even better in tapping into women’s strength, women’s industry, and women’s wisdom.

This is not an issue confined to any one group of countries or societies. It is a universal issue. We must convince all political actors — including ministers of finance and trade as well as health and education — that we are not only talking about rights, we are talking about social vitality, political stability, and economic growth.

UN Women alone cannot do what needs to be done. We will not replace the good work done by others; rather, we will harness the full capacity and comparative advantage of each, so that there is even greater impact and faster progress. We should all be doing more, not less.
In addition to our role of mobilizing, coordinating and leveraging the efforts of others, UN Women will focus on five areas:

1) Expanding women’s voice, leadership and participation;
2) Ending violence against women;
3) Strengthening women’s full participation in conflict resolution and peace processes;
4) Enhancing women’s economic empowerment; and
5) Ensuring gender priorities are reflected in national plans and budgets, including capacity to support CEDAW reporting.

I am determined that UN Women will offer a new dynamic to the global dialogue on gender equality, and bring new energy, drawing on multiple talents, and bringing together men and women from different countries and communities in a shared endeavour.

[French]
Je suis déterminée à ce que l’ONU Femmes apporte une dynamique nouvelle au dialogue global sur l’égalité des sexes, avec une énergie renouvelée. En utilisant de nombreux talents, ONU Femmes parviendra à rassembler les hommes et femmes afin de réaliser notre vision d’un monde plus égalitaire.

[Spanish]
ONU Mujeres ofrecerá una nueva dinámica para el diálogo mundial sobre la igualdad de género y traerá nueva energía a partir de múltiples talentos, reuniendo a hombres y mujeres de diferentes países y comunidades en un esfuerzo conjunto.

So tonight I invite you to celebrate with me. I hope that one day we will look back and see 2011 as a turning point, the beginning of a new era of gender equality and a better world for all.http://www.unwomen.org/2011/02/un-women-launch-remarks-by-usg-michelle-bachelet/

Launch of UN Women

Launch of UN Women

UN Headquarters, New York City

24 February 2011

Tickets to the official and historic launch of UN Women are a prized commodity, by invitation so that as many women's organizations as possible can be assured of having a representative present.

Elevators take us to the fourth floor and a final security check allows us into the UN General Assembly Hall where I am lucky to get a front row centre seat albeit in the balcony. Although far from the podium, the view of the Hall and proceedings is ideal.

Before me is the golden backdrop with the circular UN logo taking place of prominence above the stage that is ready for the dignitaries. Flanking the central backdrop are two large screens portraying a slide show of women from around the world, presiding over their work and activities - in travel agencies, high tech hospitals, fields, market stalls, displaced persons camps, street demonstrations, homes with children, tailoring shops, labs, and classrooms.

The programme guide lists the dignitaries who will participate, and an accompanying brochure outlines the UN Women message:

Hopes are High
Challenges are Manifold
Bold Action is Essential
Results are Achievable
We Are Ready!

At 6:20 pm music begins, and then at 6:30 a security guard gives us evacuation instructions - should such action be necessary!

News anchor Connie Chung gives the opening remarks, before a film is shown of historic moments in the quest for women's equality.

Speakers:

H.E. Mr. Joseph Deiss - President of the General Assembly

Need global partnership where both men and women have a voice.
UN must take a leading role in advancing the gender equality agenda.
 UN Women will have the highest position in the UN.

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon - Secretary-General of the United Nations

Thanks the governments who acted with a vision, and "our partners in the NGO community."

Pays honour to Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, as head of UN Women.

"Tonight is a time to celebrate and remember. We did it for the girls who cannot go to school simply because they are girls. We did it for the women who deserve a voice in the boardrooms of nations. We want to change traditions and change mindsets. Women are the ones who can help their countries out of poverty. The UN is investing in women because it is probably one of the smartest things we can ever do.

I will do everything I can to support UN Women with every ounce of my commitment and my time. I will try to raise money too! (Applause from audience) We will stop violence and listen to women and girls and make this happen."

Ms. Michelle Bachelet - Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

Thanks all for their commitment, hard work and dedication.

Women's Rights are Human Rights! There is a clear co-relation between women's equality and progress including economic advantage. There is no limit to what women can do.

She lists high positions, and asks - Why not for women! We are talking about rights, we are also talking about political and economic advantage.

We need to eliminate violence against women, and the gamut of empowerment for women. Bring men and women together for this empowerment.

Tonight will begin a new era of gender equality and women's rights, because women's rights are human rights.

Ms. Bandana Rana - President, Saathi NGO Nepal

From Nepal and representing GEAR, Ms. Rana speaks of the conflict in Nepal and the emergence from it with the National Action Plan of Nepal on UNSCR 1325, launched at CSW55
GEAR gathered a million signatures supportive of and advocating for the creation of a new Gender Entity. UN Women can be the the answer to the dreams of millions around the world for women's equality.

H.E Ms. U Joy Ogwu - Permanent Representative to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President UN Women Executive Board

Critical mass of women in government yields attention to women's issues. Yet in many societies, few women hold public office. They are excellent negotiators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers.

"Can anyone work fast on one foot? No!" Women are needed. Women must feel empowered and respected to be effective. Empowerment begins at home and in the classroom.

All women in positions of leadership are duty-bound to advance the rights of women. UN Women represents the force for change, in the political, economic and rights areas.

H.R.H. Princess Cristina of Spain - President, Institute for Global Health of Barcelona

Building women's health is essential as are all of the Millennium Development Goals. I have no doubt that under the leadership of Michelle Bachelet Un Women will develop a strategy to make this happen. We need to do better and I am confident that we can do better. We need to translate the issue of women's and children's health to the national and regional levels. We deserve our human rights to be upheld and respected.

Mr. Ted Turner - Founder, UN Foundation

Congratulates the UN for taking the historic step of creating UN Women and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his vision in appointing Michelle Bachelet as its head. Girl Up is helping adolescent girls around the world. We are eager to help Ms. Bachelet in her work.

Ms. Victoria Justice - Girl Up Ambassador 

via video

Ms. Nicole Kidman - Academy-Award Winner and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador

Via satellite - with message to eliminate Violence Against Women

As Goodwill Ambassador she has recently been in Haiti.

Ms. Geena Davis - Academy-Award Winner and Founder, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in the Media

"The first role I ever play was as a man. Because of my height, I played the father! Gender stereotypes remain in entertainment with no progress in the past two decades. There is one female role for every three male roles. Media images are powerful in shaping views and in sending messages to girls and to boys. Girls need to take up space equal to their numbers. If they see it, they can be it. Improving media is only one small part in helping to empower women and achieving gender equality."

Shakira - Multi-Award Winning Entertainer

(via video)

I am convinced that UN Women and my friend, President Michelle Bachelet, will make a difference around the world.

Ms. Rakhi Sahi - Former Commander, all-female Formed Police Unit, UN Mission in Liberia

The fine work by the peacekeepers was appreciated by the local community. It was an all-women police force and one that I am proud to lead in Liberia. This unit was the first to arrive and the last to leave. We reduced the crime rate and addressed one of the most widespread crimes: rape. Women were more comfortable talking about it to female police officers. We counselled boys from age eight about sexual violence. The unit taught: stop rape and stop violence against women. I am proud to be a UN Woman.

Grand Finale "One Woman" - composed for UN Women