In this section you will find the major policy resolutions adopted by IFUW since 1919, grouped by topic and by year. In 1998, IFUW began introducing action plans to accompany the resolutions. These provide concrete suggestions for steps IFUW national affiliates and members can take to implement the resolutions in their own countries.
The 30th IFUW Conference held in Mexico City on 5-9 August 2010 adopted 9 policy resolutions. These resolutions addressed the following issues: work-life balance for women between professional careers and family responsibilities, numeracy and women, financial literacy, abuse of female migrants, human trafficking, bioethics and women, climate change – greenhouse gas, cluster munitions and peacekeeping.
Recent IFUW and NFA Action reported:
- Australia: Parental Leave Best Practice Guide October 2011Action in support of IFUW Policy Resolution 2010, No. 1
On 1 January 2011, Australia introduced its first comprehensive Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Scheme. The Scheme will pay up to 18 weeks of PPL payments to eligible primary carers of children born or adopted after 1 January, subject to certain employment and income level criteria. It is structured in a way intended to enable carers, especially women, to maintain a connection with their workplace and careers. The Australian Federation of Women Graduates (AFGW) was one of the organizations heavily involved during the last years in advocating for its passage, preparing submissions and appearing at public hearings. Read More. - Canada: CFUW Advocates for Afghan Women at the Bonn Negotiating Table October 2011Action in support of IFUW Policy Resolution 2010, No.09
In December 2011 the international community will come together in Bonn, Germany for the Second Afghanistan Conference. The Conference is expected to focus on three issues: the civil aspects of the transition process transferring responsibility to the Government of Afghanistan by 2014, the long-term engagement of the international community in Afghanistan after 2014 and,the political process that should lead to a long-term stabilization of the country. It is essential that Afghan women's voices be heard in this process. The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) has sent a strong letter urging their Government to call for the presence of Afghan women at the negotiating table at the meeting in Bonn. Read More. - Canada: CFUW involved in Financial Literacy Week October 2011Action taken in support of IFUW Policy Resolution 2010, No. 3
CFUW will participate in the Financial Literacy Week, October 30 – November 5, 2011, a national awareness and engagement campaign that seeks to increase the financial literacy and math skills of Canadians through access to tools, resources and community events and celebrations. The Toronto Dominion Bank contributed funds for the campaign.
- CFUW website
- ABC Life Literacy Canada website - Australia: Girls are Still Falling Behind in Numeracy August 2011Action in support of IFUW Policy Resolution 2010, No. 2
Research by a Monash University team led by AFGW member Dr Helen Forgasz, shows that girls in Australia are still performing at much lower levels in maths, and the gap is widening as students progress through school. The project included a survey of community attitudes about studying maths at school. It shows that younger people are more likely than older people to believe that boys are better at maths than girls. Dr Forgasz says that the problem of low female achievement and participation rates in math, science and computer technology has been overlooked by goverment policy makers and that a government-funded media campaign would help reverse the trend. Read More.
