July 2006 – In This Issue:
General Assembly Holds Hearings on International Migration and Development
The UN General Assembly held informal interactive hearings on international migration and development on 12 July 2006 at UN headquarters in New York to provide an opportunity for NGOs, civil society and the private sector to offer input for the upcoming High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development to be held on 14-15 September 2006.
The hearings focused on the promotion of migrants' human rights, socio-economic policy challenges for sending and receiving counties, and the establishment of partnerships and capacity-building programmes to deal with international migration. Speakers highlighted the importance of ensuring respect and protection of the right to life, work and equitable remuneration for migrants, and of ratifying relevant international treaties and covenants.
While stressing the absolute need to highlight the positive aspects, such as boosts for receiving country labour markets and the importance of remittances, speakers cautioned against glossing over or discounting the human and social cost of migration. Speakers stressed that too much importance on remittances creates a culture of dependency, and that remittances should not be included in strategies for development aid.
Some speakers highlighted the limited attention on women and children in the migration debate. UN Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown said that "we have seen the particular challenges that women — who now form almost half the international migrant flow — face ... there is a risk that they will fall into the hands of those seeking to make a trade out of sexual exploitation."
Speakers called for greater overall attention to the root causes of migration, as well as to the reality that many migrants continue to remain on the margins of societies, both in their home countries and in their host countries, with no effective social, economic or political participation.
For more information, see:
Building Partnerships for Decent Work: Advancing the Rights of Women Migrant Workers
During the informal hearings on international migration, UNIFEM organized a panel discussion that highlighted the importance of advancing the rights of women migrant workers in the employment process and showcased how engagement and commitment of the private sector and civil society can make a significant difference.
The panel discussion was moderated by Ms. Socorro Reyes, Chief, Asia, Pacific and Arab States Section, who gave a presentation on UNIFEM’s work on international migration in Asia. The goal of UNIFEM's migration work is to empower and protect the rights of women migrant workers from a gender- and rights-based development perspective. Ms. Hania Zlotnik of the UN Population Division presented the different trends in international migration of women, with specific statistics from Asia. Mr. Rex Marlo Y. Varona of the Migrant Forum in Asia discussed points of engagement with recruitment agencies in ensuring rights-based and gender-sensitive migration practices. Mr. Victor E.R. Fernandez of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc., talked about the application of the Covenant of Ethical Conduct and Good Practices, adopted in November 2005.
The panellists' presentations are available on the UNIFEM website. For more information on UNIFEM's international migration-related work, see the Women Migrant Workers page.
» return to top
UNIFEM Around the World
Joint UN–Civil Society Partnership against Sexual Violence in Conflict and Crisis Settings
United Nations organizations and civil society groups announced a Joint Partnership to tackle sexual violence in conflict and crisis situations around the world. Focusing on country-level efforts to combat sexual violence, the Joint Partnership will reach out to military and security communities to engage them, work to strengthen prevention through rule-of-law and access to justice, and expand services for survivors in the areas of health, psycho-social support and rebuilding dignity and livelihoods. It will also develop a comprehensive evidence base for action, through violence monitoring and dissemination of data analyses. Read complete news release.
Trust Fund to End VAW Requests Grant Applications
The UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women is accepting applications for its 11th grant cycle (2006) related to one of the following areas of work: (1) implementation of existing laws, policies and plans of action to address violence against women; and (2) reducing the twin pandemics of HIV/AIDS and violence against women. Read application guidelines.
Arab States
Israeli and Palestinian Women Call on Quartet to Intervene to End the Conflict
Members of the International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC) convened an emergency meeting in Athens on 13 July 2006. Following deliberations, the meeting issued an appeal calling for an immediate end to the fighting and a return to the political process. Read the appeal.
UNIFEM's "e-Village" Initiative Offers New Opportunities for Women in Jordan
 UNIFEM officially inaugurated Jordan's "e-Village" initiative on 1 July 2006 under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah. The e-Village initiative — which has been developed in stages since 2004 in the villages of Lib and Mleih — aims to bridge the digital divide between women and men living in rural and urban areas in Jordan, through the use of information and communications technology as well as technical assistance. The e-Village consists of several centres that provide villagers, and women in particular, with opportunities to develop new skills, including the first-ever Local Community Radio Station, a Film Club, an Intel Computer Clubhouse, a Lego Robotics Lab, a Microsoft IT Academy, a Mosaic Workshop, a Printing and Packaging Centre, and a Cafe.
"Bridging the digital divide between rural and urban areas, as well as women and men, remains a priority for the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology," said H.E. Omar al Kurdi, Minister of ICT. "e-Village is a great example of how ICT can dramatically improve the quality of life by accelerating the rate of social and economic development." Read complete story.
Africa
Four Women to Stand for Presidential Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Four of the 33 presidential candidates in the DRC's elections, which are to be held on 30 July 2006, are women — the highest number ever of women in Africa running for a country's highest office. 1,311 women will run for election in the 500-seat national Assembly, out of a total of 9,531 candidates. UNIFEM and its UN partners have been working to support women's participation in the electoral process as voters, candidates, observers and monitors. In a period of two months, more than 2,000 women have been trained on organizing campaigns, developing platforms and standing for election. For more information, contact Cecile Mukarubuga, cecile.mukarubuga[at]unifem.org, or Miranda Tabifor, miranda.tabifor[at]undp.org
First Reading of Domestic Violence Bill in Zimbabwe's Parliament
The much-anticipated Zimbabwe Domestic Violence Bill sailed through its first reading in Parliament on 26 July 2006. It has now been referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee, which will review the bill in line with sections of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Once this process is completed, the Committee will recommend a second reading in which the House will have an opportunity to debate the bill. The Domestic Violence Bill includes provisions for preventing violence, including the establishment of a non-Domestic Violence Committee composed of government, NGOs, churches and traditional leaders. It also provides for a definition of domestic violence that encompasses physical, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, as well as "economic" abuse, that is, the misuse of financial assets to the detriment of the partner and other members of the family. For more information, contact unifem.zw[at]undp.org
Sudanese Women Present Concerns to UN Security Council Mission
The UN Security Council led a mission to Sudan the first week of June. With UNIFEM's assistance, women's organizations prepared and delivered two formal statements to the mission. Among their recommendations are that the Security Council urge the Government of National Unity to facilitate the work of women's organizations to provide necessary humanitarian services; to put in place mechanisms to combat violence against women; and to facilitate the voluntary return of women to their communities and protect their rights during the return process. In the past 18 months, two peace agreements have been signed in Sudan. UNIFEM has been supporting women's participation in the peace negotiations. For more information, contact Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, nyaradzai.gumbonzvanda[at]unifem.org
Bringing Sierra Leone's Laws in Line with CEDAW
In Sierra Leone, UNIFEM is partnering with the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NEWMAP) to bring the country's laws in line with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Sierra Leone ratified CEDAW in 1988, but the civil war prevented the enforcement of the Convention's principles and the changing of laws to that end.
Currently, Parliament and the Law Reform Commission are in the process of drafting bills that will address the inequities faced by women. Three bills have been drafted so far: The Domestic Violence Act would see certain acts of violence criminalized, including, among others, sexual abuse, harassment and female circumcision of a child. The Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act seeks to provide a uniform response to issues that are treated differently from one custom to another, and to capture changes in customs and traditions that afford improved rights and protection to women. The Devolution of Estates Act outlines nation-wide inheritance laws that would bring general, customary and Muslim laws under one common body.
UNIFEM's partnership with NEWMAP will provide technical support to women parliamentarians to enhance their understanding and analysis of bills and advance the implementation of CEDAW. It also aims to sensitize members of Parliament on the main findings of Sierra Leone's report on CEDAW, which was prepared with the support of UNIFEM. This initiative follows on research carried out last year under UNIFEM auspices, which examined existing legislation from a gender perspective and proposed changes that would see gender equality and women's rights enshrined as basic principles. For more information, contact Ikechukwu Attah, ikechukwu.attah[at]unifem.org
UNIFEM to Provide Assistance in Gearing Up for the 2007 Nigerian Elections
To support women's participation in the 2007 Nigerian elections, UNIFEM will assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in building its technical capacity to mainstream gender into the electoral process, and support civil society initiatives that campaign for the participation of women. UNIFEM's strategies include providing training for women candidates and engaging with the media to ensure coverage of women's participation in the elections. Currently, only 4 out of 109 senators are women; in the House of Representatives, women hold 22 of 360 seats. For more information, contact Ikechukwu Attah, ikechukwu.attah[at]unifem.org
Central and Eastern Europe/CIS
'The Story behind the Numbers': Women's Status in the Labour Market in Eastern Europe
A new UNIFEM publication, "The Story behind the Numbers" analyses trends in women's and men's labour force participation during the transition to a market-oriented economy in 18 countries in Eastern Europe. It illustrates the various ways in which women's economic security has declined and points to the data needed to fully measure the changing labour market position of women and men. Three policy measures are recommended: increasing women's access to decent paid work; allowing women and men to better balance work and family life through the use of various tax-benefit schemes; and adopting transparent job evaluation and wage setting mechanisms. Read complete news release. Download the report.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Venezuelan National Budget to Include Gender Perspective in 2007
To include a gender perspective in Venezuela’s 2007 national budget, UNIFEM, UNDP, UNFPA and the German Government's Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) have initiated a joint programme with the National Women's Institute (INAMUJER) and the Women's Development Bank (BANMUJER). The programme also includes one pilot initiative in gender-responsive budgeting at the local level.
The development of the joint programme is based on UNIFEM's efforts since 1998 to promote the institutionalization of gender-responsive budgeting through providing technical and financial assistance to governments, parliamentarians and civil society groups in the country. It follows on a commitment announced publicly by President Hugo Chavez in 2005 to incorporate a gender approach in the national budget process. For more information, contact Moni Pizani, moni.pizani[at]unifem.org.
UNIFEM and UNDP Pledge to Strengthen Inter-Agency Work on Gender in Andean Region
UNIFEM and the UN Resident Coordinator's office in Venezuela co-organized a "Sub-regional Meeting of the Andean Resident Coordinators, Gender Focal Points and Gender Working Group Coordinators" on 15-16 June 2006 in Caracas, Venezuela. The high-level meeting provided an opportunity for participants to evaluate the level of commitment of the UN system to women's rights and empowerment in the Andean region and to arrive at strategic agreements to incorporate gender issues into the work of the United Nations. The meeting concluded with the signing of the "Caracas Agreement" by the Resident Coordinators of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru, in which the signatories pledged to strengthen the participation and involvement of UN resident coordinators in addressing gender issues and to facilitate the work of the Inter-Agency Gender Working Groups and UNDP Gender Focal Points. They also pledged to create a "Minimum Gender Agenda" for the Andean region and an information-sharing mechanism to be led by UNIFEM. Read attachments (English, Spanish) for more information, or contact Sonia Ortiz Arcos, sonia.ortiz[at]unifem.org
Bolivia Earmarks Two Million BOB for Gender Equality Programmes in Cercado Municipality
In its Annual Operation Plan (POA), the Bolivian government has earmarked two million bolivianos (approximately US$250,000) for gender equality programmes in the municipality of Cercado to conduct literacy campaigns, support child care centres and address issues such as violence against women. This is a result of ongoing efforts by the Institute for the Comprehensive Training of Women (IFFI), the Women's Platform for Citizenship and Equality, and other civil society organizations to ensure that government budgets are responsive to women's needs. UNIFEM, in partnership with United Nations Volunteers (UNV), has provided support and technical assistance in the preparation of gender-responsive budgets in Bolivia since 2002. For more information, contact Raquel Coello, raquel.coello[at]unifem.org
Bolivian Women Fight for Access to Water
UNIFEM and Fundación Solón organized a meeting on "Women in Defense of Water" in La Paz, Bolivia, on 12-14 June 2006. The meeting provided a forum for women activists to share their experiences in advocating against water privatization and export during the past five years. The meeting concluded with a commitment by participants to draft a national proposal for the Constituent Assembly that would make access to water a fundamental human right not susceptible to privatization. Government officials present at the meeting committed themselves to transmitting and promoting the women's proposals in their respective fields of work. For more information, contact Sonia Ortiz, sonia.ortiz[at]unifem.org
HIV-Positive Women Meet in Ecuador
 Thirty HIV-positive women convened in Playas, Ecuador, for the "First Meeting of Ecuadorian Women Living with HIV," hosted by UNIFEM on 23–25 June 2006. The meeting provided an opportunity for women from different Ecuadorian provinces to receive training on gender issues, HIV-positive women's rights, access to medical services, and self-care. The participants also conducted a needs assessment and decided to establish a communications network to advocate for their needs and rights. For more information, contact Patricia Fernández Pacheco, patricia.fernandez-pacheco[at]unifem.org
Brazilian System of Gender-Related Information Launched
The Brazilian Special Secretariat of Policies for Women, in partnership with UNIFEM and DFID, recently developed and launched the National System of Gender-Related Information (SNIG-Br). The software gives access to a comprehensive database on Brazilian women's socio-economic status with respect to areas such as family, employment and education. Extracted from the 1991 and 2000 census databases, the system provides data, disaggregated by age, sex and ethnicity. SNIG-Br is available to the public on the Special Secretariat's website.
Asia and the Pacific
Monitoring Peace and Conflict in Solomon Islands Using Gender-Sensitive Early Warning Indicators
To incorporate a gender perspective into early warning processes in the Solomon Islands, UNIFEM trained 20 men and women in five communities to collect gender-sensitive early warning data using three primary tools: a self-monitoring template completed by project participants, a community survey of respondents across the five communities, and a national survey of "informed specialists" at the national level. Additional information was collected from the media and community meetings. Responses were disaggregated by sex to highlight differences between women’s and men’s perspectives of conflict and peace issues. The initiative was carried out in partnership with the National Peace Council (NPC), the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA), Vois Blong Mere Solomon, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace. An extension of the programme is planned in Fiji, Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. For more information, contact Elizabeth Cox, elizabeth.cox[at]unifem.org, or Laisa Bale Tuinamoala, laisa.bale-tuinamoala[at]unifem.org
Incorporating Gender into the 11th Five-Year Plan in India
UNIFEM and UNDP are working together in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Planning Commission and the Think Tank group of experts to incorporate gender concerns into India's Eleventh Five-Year Plan. Key recommendations identified in regional consultations include: ensuring property rights for women; establishing social safety nets; increasing allocations for women's health programmes and building the capacity of health workers; implementing the Domestic Violence Act and strengthening support services for victims of violence against women (VAW); setting up community care homes for HIV-positive women, survivors of VAW, and the elderly; making provisions for services benefiting women working in the informal sector and domestic service; and providing support to increase the number of women judges, doctors and teachers. The recommendations will be shared with the Planning Commission at a National Consultation as inputs into the draft Approach Paper for the Eleventh Development Plan. For more information, contact Gitanjali Singh, gitanjali.singh[at]unifem.org
South Asia Regional Consultation on Trafficking in Persons and HIV/AIDS
UNIFEM and UNDP organized a "High Level Regional Consultation on Trafficking in Persons and HIV/AIDS" in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 22-24 May 2006. The consultation provided a venue for representatives of governments, civil society organizations (CSOs) and UN agencies to dialogue on issues related to policy making and implementation of ground-level processes to address trafficking and HIV/AIDS in the region. The consultation also provided an opportunity for the presentation of the first-ever comprehensive study on trafficking in women and children (India and Nepal); the Rapid Assessment Study on Human Trafficking and HIV conducted recently in South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka); and minimum standards of care and support for victims/survivors of human trafficking and HIV. For more information, contact Archana Tamang, archana.tamang[at]unifem.org
UNIFEM Newsletters
» return to top
Other News
Millennium Development Goals Report 2006
The United Nations recently released the Millennium Development Goals Report 2006. Prepared as a collaborative effort by 25 UN agencies and international organizations, the report presents the latest and most comprehensive figures available on progress towards the achievement of the MDGs. It is available at the MDG Indicators website.
ECLAC Committee Agrees to Enhance Collection of Gender-Sensitive Statistics
The Executive Committee of the Statistical Conference of the Americas of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has agreed to increase efforts to enhance collection, processing, and dissemination of statistics with a gender perspective, taking into account the objectives set by the MDGs and the unique situation of women in the region, and to encourage the use of time use surveys, a key tool for measuring the amount of time spent by women and men in paid and unpaid work. The Committee's decision is part of the agreement of the 5th Statistical Conference of the Americas that took place in November 2005 in Mexico and was attended by representatives of member countries from Latin American and the Caribbean, inter-governmental organizations, and several UN agencies.
XVI International AIDS Conference
The International AIDS Conference, which takes place every two years, will be held 13-18 August 2006 in Toronto, Canada. This year's theme, "Time to Deliver," underscores the continued urgency of bringing effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies to communities the world over. An estimated 20,000 participants are expected, including scientists, health care providers, political, community and business leaders, journalists, government, non-governmental and intergovernmental representatives, and people living with HIV/AIDS. As in previous years, UNIFEM will participate in the conference and organize a number of panel discussions and workshops. For more information, visit the AIDS 2006 website.
Global Directory of Gender, Peace and Security Research Institutions
The United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) recently launched an online directory to provide up-to-date information on gender, peace and security research institutions. It is available on the INSTRAW website.
States Parties to CEDAW Elect 12 Experts to Serve on Monitoring Committee
In a secret ballot on 23 June 2006, 181 of 183 States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) elected 12 of the 23 experts that serve on the CEDAW Committee. The Committee monitors States' compliance with the Convention. The experts’ term of service begins 1 January 2007 for a period of four years. Read complete news release.
CEDAW Assessment Report: Albania
Few formal studies exist on women’s rights in Albania. The Women’s Legal Rights Initiative — a five-year USAID-funded project that works to strengthen and promote women’s legal rights and enhance their participation in economic, social, and political life — has now concluded an assessment of Albania’s compliance with its international commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which Albania ratified in 1994. The report is available on the USAID website.
Women's Peacebuilding in Sudan, Congo and Uganda
A new report by the International Crisis Group assesses the achievements of women in peacebuilding in Sudan, Congo (DRC) and Uganda. In all three countries, an array of women's organizations and leaders are doing remarkable work, under difficult circumstances, especially in community organizations and informal conflict resolution mechanisms. Still, women remain marginalized in formal peace processes and post-conflict governments. Read the report.
WEDO Launches MisFortune500
WEDO has launched MisFortune500, a website that challenges corporate malfeasance against women worldwide, helping them reclaim their rights to decent work, a clean and healthy environment, and access to land, water, food and quality public services. A parody of Fortune magazine's annual list of top profit-making companies, MisFortune500 profiles companies that violate women's rights, threaten communities, and destroy the environment. Visit the website.
Call for Nominations: African Women of Distinction
A new book and video documentary, "African Women of Distinction," aims to profile twenty women in Africa who embody leadership, determination, and innovation in addressing social, economic and political issues at local, national, and international levels. The deadline for nominations is 31 August 2006 — selections will be made by an international panel in September 2006. Read more.
Call for Papers: Forced Migration Review
Forced Migration Review, Issue 27 — to be published in November 2006 — will include a feature section on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond, exploring the challenges and opportunities for combating sexual violence in conflict, post-conflict, and development recovery contexts. FMR27 will be produced in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). FMR welcomes practice-oriented submissions highlighting key issues and challenges, best practices, innovative programmes and recommendations. Read more.
» return to top
|
