NEW! The Global Downturn: Are Women Disproportionately Affected?
The United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) just held its first Public Symposium on the effects of the global financial turmoil. One agenda item discussed whether women were disproportionately affected by the crisis. It concluded that women ARE indeed a factor in the economic crisis and that governments that do not empower women will be at an economic disadvantage not using the work force at its full potential. The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) projections for 2009 suggest that the global unemployment rate for women will rise to 7.4%. Human trafficking, child labour and gender imbalances in general will increase, impacting education for young girls. Current recovery projects unfortunately are too often based on outdated methods based on a male dominated work force.
Read the full report by Erin Liepa, IFUW Internet |
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IFUW Promotes Gender Equality at the Human Rights Councile (HRC)
IFUW presented a joint statement to the 10th Session of the HRC (March 2009) calling for the continued systematic review of gender equality and women’s rights in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and in reports to treaty bodies, notably the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Further, it asked for closer co-operation between the Human Rights Council bodies and financial institutions to exchange best practices and identify gender equality gaps. At the same session, IFUW co-organized one of five NGO parallel panels, on “Safe School Environment for the Girl Child through a Human Rights Education Perspective”. The workshop advocated that education in a safe environment is a human right for every girl.
Read more: the full Statement and information on the panel |
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NEW! Durban Review Outcome Document looks to the Future
Government delegates from more than 100 countries and 470 NGO representatives gathered in Geneva to assess progress achieved since the first World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001 in Durban, South Africa. Despite a highly inflammatory speech by the Iranian president that marred the opening and a boycott by a small number of countries, the outcome of the Durban Review provides a basis for multilateral relations and international cooperation for the future.
IFUW was one of the NGOs participating in the pre-Conference sessions that helped prepare the draft Outcome Document. It emphasizes the need for setting up effective national monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, calls for the sharing of best practices, and highlights the importance of partnerships with human rights institutions and civil groups.
In their oral statement to the Conference, IFUW‘s representatives Conchita Poncini and Arielle Wagenknecht emphasized the challenges of the intersectionality of gender with race, ethnicity, nationality, cultural and religion and highlighted the importance of education, notably human rights education, in teaching tolerance.
For more information: the Outcome Document, Conchita Poncini and Arielle Wagenknecht's full Report and IFUW's Oral Statement. |
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NEW! Combating Violence Against Girls
Catherine E. Moore, Coordinator of IFUW's UN Team in New York, represented IFUW at the International Conference on Violence Against the Girl Child in The Hague (March 2009). The conference called on all governments to take a leading role in combating violence against girls and urged multi-stakeholder partnerships between government, civil society, international organizations, media and corporate businesses to work together. Best practices were discussed with innovative ideas such as creating child help lines and safe spaces where girls can learn about their rights.
The conference “poster-child”, Nujood Mohammed Ali, illustrated perfectly the need for action. Ten years of age and aware of her rights, she went to court and filed for divorce after repeated abuse and rape by her husband. The Dutch Minister announced a grant to enable the UN to establish a database for information on Violence Against Women (VAW) including the Girl Child, and examples of best practices in tackling the problems.
Catherine E. Moore’s full report and additional information. |
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NEW! A Record High for Women in Parliament
According to the latest analysis undertaken by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a record number of women now hold seats in parliament following elections and renewals that took place in 54 countries in 2008. On average, women hold 18.3% of the seats across all chambers of parliament. This represents a 60% increase in the number of women parliamentarians since 1995. Also, for the first time, 15% of parliamentary chambers in 32 countries have reached 30% or more women members. At the other end of the spectrum, however, one quarter of all parliamentary chambers have less than 10% women members. According to IPUs publication Equality in Politics, the greatest obstacles to women’s entry into politics are prejudice and cultural perceptions about the role of women, together with a lack of financial resources. Yet, once they do become involved, women bring different views, talents and perspectives to politics.
For more information, see:
Women in Parliament in 2008 - The Year in Perspective
Equality in Politics – A Survey of Women and Men in Parliaments |
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Strengthening the Contribution of Higher Education and NGOs in Education for All (EFA)
In June 2008, the Working Group on Education for All of the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee organized a workshop in Paris to discuss how NGOs could work closer with the higher education community to acheive the six UNESCO Education For All (EFA) goals. Recent reports have stressed gaps between the goals set at the EFA World Forum 2000 in Senegal and the achieved results.
It has been recognized that the contribution of NGOs and universities is essential in achieving the goals. The workshop discussed how universities, cooperating closely with public institutions and civil society, have a
major role to play.
Many examples of cooperation exist, yet they are often rarely or poorly known. These need to
be identified and promoted to increase their chances of success, as well as, to draw lessons
from encountered difficulties and failures.
The workshop also presented examples of successful partnerships between universities and NGOs
in Latin America and Africa. Participants bore witness to concrete examples of cooperation and strategies for building stronger partnerships were discussed.
To read the full report by François Sauvage, IFUW's representative to the Working Group see: printable pdf or on-line. |
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Armenian Association Prepares Alternative CEDAW Report
The Armenian Association of Women with University Education (AAUWE) co-authored an alternative report to the 43rd Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Dscrimination Against Women (CEDAW) assessing the discrimination Armenian women and girls face in areas such as education, employment and health. For example, the report highlighted the continuing underrepresentation of women in political decisionmaking. There is only one woman minister; only two women deputy ministers out of 65; only one woman regional governor out of 10, only one deputy governer out of 17 and women hold only 8.3% of the top-level positions in local and regional administrations. The report provides a critical analysis and recommendations for action needed to remedy the current problems. For the complete report, see here.
In each of the CEDAW sessions, official reports from six to twelve countries are reviewed. Alternative reports from civil society partners or coalitions are welcome and are used in evaluating progress Governments are making toward meeting their obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. IFUW's Working Group on the Girl Child and the Working Group on Education Advocacy are currently preparing material that will assist other national federations and associations (NFAs) that would like to take part in this process. At 44th Session in New York in June 2009, Argentina, Denmark, Japan, Spain and Switzerland are the countries reporting where IFUW has NFAs. In Geneva in January 2010, Egypt, the Netherlands and Panama will report. IFUW is pleased to accredit one or two representatives to these meetings from NFAs whose countries are reporting, but no funding is available to help with travel or living expenses. |
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IFUW Statements at the 53rd Session on the Commission of the Status of Women
At the occasion of the Fifty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women (March 2009), IFUW submitted a statement on The equal participation of women and men in decision-making at all levels which can be read here.
IFUW also co-signed, together with other NGOs, statements on
The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS (Nr 19 and Nr 41); a statement on Promises Made to Girls
(Nr 22); Legislation for gender equality and the empowerment of women in care work (Nr 42) and on The equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels (Nr 43).
NEW! For more information on CSW such as press release, full draft conclusions and reports from IFUW's delegation, see http://www.ifuw.org/advocacy/csw.shtml. |
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IFUW Representatives to International Organizations: 2008 Annual Reports
IFUW's teams of representatives have been working actively throughout 2008 to ensure that the IFUW priority issues are taken into consideration in international debate. Because of IFUW's special consultative status, these representatives have an official presence at the meetings and conferences where new international conventions and agreements are drafted and adopted. There they are able to highlight members' concerns through oral and written statements, special presentations and intense discussions with individual government delegates.
To see what each center has been working on through 2008, check out the Reports Page and see here who our representatives are. |
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Trends in Women's Human Rights
In September, Ambassador Erlinda Basilio, Permanent Representative of the Phillipines to the United Nations in Geneva and Vice President of the Human Rights Council, addressed a meeting of the Geneva NGO Committee on the Status of Women. She started the discussion by confirming that, although the Women’s Rights movement has come a long way, there is still a long way to go. She also stressed that is very important to make sure that those States which have not enacted the necessary legislation to ensure women's human rights, do so.
CEDAW has identified gender violence as a Human Rights issue. Ms. Krishna Ahoojapatel, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and co-convener of the working group of Displaced Women and the Geneva NGO Status of Women Committee, also spoke, reporting that there are 200 million people on the move in migration and as refugees, of which 40-50% are women.
To read more of what was said at the meeting please see Summary from Notes submitted by Conchita Poncini, Coordinator of IFUW Representatives in Geneva, President of the Geneva NGO Committee on the Status of Women |
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Bioethics
With the progress of science and technology and with questions arising on globalization, ethical issues - in particular bioethics, concern us all. In response, UNESCO has proposed an institutional framework for collective discussion. It calls for NGOs to take part in bioethics education and information, bringing closer biomedical and environmental ethics.
Various UNESCO resources have been created, such as the GEObs data bank and programmes to assist with establishing bioethics committees. Also, different activities have been organized to facilitate civil society to participate in the implementation of bioethical education and training. Specific workshops organized at the International Conference of NGOs (Paris, December 2007) contributed to the development of an ethical code of conduct for scientists.
Some of the main questions now being considered are: How to teach/educate bioethics? Who can claim this competence? How to reconcile cultural identities and universal standards? Bioethics education for whom?
IFUW has been invited to answer these questions, and to put forward its objectives and priorities as special attention will be given to ethical questions related to basic human rights, like health and procreation (woman, mother, child), hygiene, nutrition, environment and sustainable development.
To read the full report by Eliane Didier in English and in French. |
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General Recommendation on Older Women
On 6 November 2008 a meeting was held to examine the case for a new CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) General Recommendation on Older Women focusing on "Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Older Women".
Some of the key issues raised during the meeting were:
- A General Recommendation on older women would provide a focus around which the Committee could unite. It would be a tool which would help them work efficiently and effectively on intersectional discrimination and strengthen the Committee as an institution.
- The issue of ageing is shared by both developing and developed countries. Discrimination is an issue, though in different ways, for all older women, rich and poor.
- Human rights are inalienable and all women have the right to grow old with dignity. Older women must not be viewed as victims but recognised for the contribution that they have made and continue to make to the societies in which they live, the knowledge they possess and the strengths that they have.
- Globalisation, climate change, urbanisation and migration are factors that can compound the vulnerability of many poor older women, particularly those living in rural areas.
- Older women experience intersectional discrimination in a number of areas of their lives: in the workplace, in lack of access to land ownership, in discriminatory inheritance laws and practices, in access to health services, and in elder abuse.
- Older women from minority, indigenous or other marginalised populations often disproportionately experience discrimination.
Read the full report » |
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Say No to Violence Against Women
UNIFEM's Say No to Violence Campaign, which IFUW has participated in as a partner, continues to gain support. Close to 250,000 individuals and 35 Governments have signed the online petition. UNIFEM hopes to reach 1 million names by 25 November, when all the names will be handed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a broad-based call for governments to take action to end violence against women and girls. All IFUW members are encouraged to add their names to the petition and to invite three friends to do the same.
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Manual for Gender Audit Facilitators: The ILO Participatory Gender Audit Methodology.
The International Labour Office (ILO) has published a gender audit manual to promote organizational learning at all levels on how to mainstream gender in the policies, programmes and structures of an organization. The manual has evolved from the gender methodology which the ILO itself used internally in recent years to integrate sex disaggregated data, gender analysis, gender equality objectives, indicators, conclusions and strategies for action within their programmes and projects.
The following publications are available for download from the ILO website:
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