UNIFEM Currents - March 2009

March 2009 – In This Issue:

53rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
International Women’s Day 2009: “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls”
Say NO to Violence against Women
UNIFEM around the World
Recent Speeches & Statements
Upcoming Events
Job Vacancies

53rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

The 53rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was held on 2–13 March 2009. In accordance with its multi-year programme of work for 2007–2009, the Commission considered the following themes at its 53rd session:

Agreed Conclusions
The Commission adopted its agreed conclusions on 13 March, urging governments and the United Nations, among others, to intensify efforts to fully implement the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, mainstream gender perspectives into all legislation and programmes, and incorporate a gender-responsive budgeting process across all policy areas. On the specific issue of caregiving in the context of HIV and AIDS, the conclusions called for scaling up efforts to achieve universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support. They recognized the increased feminization of the HIV and AIDS pandemic and the need to review existing policies to ensure that they reduce women’s vulnerability to the disease. In other areas, the conclusions called on governments to incorporate the value of unpaid work within households into policies and budgets; ensure that women and men have access to maternity and paternity leave; increase access to quality public services including education and care for children and dependants; and allocate financial resources for the implementation of women’s rights instruments. Read the complete document (advance unedited version).

Draft Resolutions
On 13 March, the Commission adopted resolutions in the following areas:

Theme for the 54th Session of CSW
The Commission also adopted a multi-year programme of work for the period 2010–2014. At its 54th session in 2010, the Commission will review implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly and its contribution to shaping a gender perspective towards the full realization of the Millennium Development Goals.

UNIFEM at CSW
UNIFEM organized and co-sponsored a number of parallel events during CSW. In particular, in response to the session’s priority theme, UNIFEM along with the Permanent Mission of Estonia to the United Nations and other partners held a town hall meeting on the topic “An Action Agenda on Caregiving in the Context of HIV/AIDS.” Panellists and audience members stressed the need to formally recognize, affirm and support the role of caregivers in the context of HIV and AIDS. Specifically, they advocated for skills training; housing subsidies; income support; professionalizing and legitimizing caregiving as an occupation; reinforcement of positive masculinity in families, schools, religious institutions and the media; and income-generating projects to improve the plight of caregivers. The entire event can be viewed on UN Webcast. For more information, contact Ms. Nazneen Damji, nazneen.damji[at]unifem[dot]org, +1 212 906-6631.

International Women’s Day 2009: “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls”

UNIFEM offices in all regions commemorated International Women’s Day (IWD). In reference to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s UNiTE campaign, the theme for IWD 2009 was “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls.”

Nigeria: Pressing for Care and Support to Victims of Violence
UNIFEM initiated a town hall meeting at the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja, Nigeria, on the role of various actors in establishing and maintaining a continuous chain of care and support for victims of violence. The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajiya Turai Yar'Adua, and the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, a special guest of honour, attended the event. Other events during IWD week included radio and televisions talk shows, church services and Muslim prayers, as well as an Awareness Walk on 11 March, where hundreds of men and women took to the streets to draw attention to the negative impact of gender-based violence on women and girls in Nigeria.

Tanzania: Youth Partners Develop Action Plans
At a day-long workshop for youth in Dar es Salaam, participants discussed how young men and women can effectively address the needs of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Youth organizations participating in the event, which was co-organized by UNIFEM and the UN Information Centre, agreed to develop an action plan in line with the Say NO to Violence against Women and UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaigns. They plan to review the progress on IWD 2010.

Kyrgyzstan: Progress of the World’s Women Launched in Russian
“Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History” marked the IWD theme in Kyrgyzstan, where The Alliance of Women’s Legislative Initiatives — a body supported by the UN Gender Theme Group — organized a series of events, including the launch of the Russian version of UNIFEM’s flagship report, Progress of the World’s Women 2008/2009: Who Answers to Women?, underlining the need for improved accountability for gender equality. Another focus of the IWD activities was on maternal mortality in Kyrgyzstan, the highest in the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2007, at 110 deaths per 100,000 live births. Women’s activists raised funds through a charity sale that will help procure medical equipment and drugs for women with severe pregnancy complications.

China: Investing in Women and Girls during the Financial Crisis
The need to empower women and girls affected by the global economic crisis was emphasized at an IWD event in Beijing, organized by UNIFEM in collaboration with the United Nations Theme Group on Gender (UNTGG) and the All China Women’s Federation. In a keynote address, the Deputy Director-General of the Women’s Studies Institute of China, Ms. Liu Bohong, underscored the need to promote women’s education and training and to boost public services. She noted that the financial crisis has put a considerable strain on women, ranging from university students to migrant workers.

Timor-Leste: Awards for Promoting Gender Equality
During a panel discussion in Dili, Timor-Leste, the Acting Secretary of State for Promotion of Equality, Alfredo Pires, reiterated the government’s commitment to promote equality and justice for women. At the same event, the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste presented its IWD Awards to individuals and organizations who have contributed significantly to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. Among the recipients of the awards were the Alola Foundation, Rede Feto, the Women’s Communication Forum and the Association of Men against Violence.

Vietnam: Building on the Success of the Say NO Campaign
The Vietnam Women’s Union hosted a meeting on international cooperation for gender equality in the context of the global financial crisis. The event was planned in collaboration with UNIFEM and built on the success of the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign, for which the Vietnam Women’s Union collected close to one million signatures. In keeping with the IWD theme, "Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls," the UN Gender Programme Coordination Group (PCG) also hosted a special screening on 6 March of the award-winning Vietnamese film “The Little Heart” (Trai tim be nho), which tells the story of Mai, a young girl from Ninh Binh province who was trafficked to Ho Chi Minh City.

India: Women from All Walks of Life Come Together to Share Stories
Sponsored by UNIFEM, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Government of India and the Royal Norwegian Embassy, an event in New Delhi drew more than 600 participants. A number of UNIFEM partners showcased their work, including a dance and drummer troupe of excluded women, conveying their messages of empowerment through tribal dance and music. A survivor of violence shared her story. Attendees were also presented with pertinent publications, including the Lawyers Collective Manual on Ending Domestic Violence through Non-Violence.

Pakistan: Priorities for National Action Plan on Ending Violence
Together with the Elimination of Violence against Women Alliance, UNIFEM hosted a consultation to discuss priorities for the National Plan of Action on Violence against Women, which is being developed by the Ministry of Women Development with the support of UNIFEM. Key recommendations of the consultation include prioritizing behaviour change campaigns targeting men and enhancing women’s knowledge about their legal rights. A UNIFEM-supported documentary, Against all Odds, which highlights hidden forms of violence prevalent in Pakistan, such as dowry-related violence and acid attacks, was also launched.

Say NO to Violence against Women

Italy: Minister for Equal Opportunities Committed to Put Violence against Women onto G8 Summit Agenda
The Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities, Ms. Mara Carfagna, signed on to UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women campaign on 3 March in New York, where she attended the 53rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. During the ceremony at UNIFEM headquarters, she announced that Italy, which currently holds the presidency of the G8 forum of major industrial countries, will convene a ministerial meeting on ending violence against women prior to the 35th Summit of the G8 on 8–10 July. Minister Carfagna committed to an effort to have the issue subsequently reflected in the final Declaration of the G8 Summit.

Turkey: State Minister of Women and Family Affairs Joins Say NO Network
The Turkish State Minister of Women and Family Affairs, Ms. Nimet Çubukçu, joined the Say NO network, which now includes government ministers and heads of state from 69 countries and some 600 parliamentarians. Recognizing the pervasive extent of violence against women and the need for national and global advocacy, Minister Çubukçu wrote to UNIFEM that “I am extremely pleased to become a part of UNIFEM's Say NO to Violence against Women campaign, a global campaign giving hope to large masses by bringing the issue into global agenda and by highlighting it as a resolvable problem.”

Philippines: Say NO Campaign Launched in Quezon City
At the opening of Women’s Month celebrations in Quezon City, a drive was launched to collect one million signatures for UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women campaign. The Mayor of Quezon City, Hon. Feliciano R. Belmonte, addressed the crowd at an event in City Hall and made a strong call for a united stand against all forms of violence, especially against women and children. Quezon City was the first city in the Philippines’ National Capital Region to pass a code and institutionalize measures for the protection of women and children.

UNIFEM around the World

UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women Issues Annual Call for Proposals
The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) has launched a global annual call for proposals to support country-level efforts to end violence against women and girls. Civil society organizations, governments, and UN Country Teams in partnership with governments and civil society are invited to submit applications for a minimum of US$100,000 to a maximum of US$1 million for a duration of up to three years. The deadline for application is 17 April 2009. Read the complete story.

Global Compact and UNIFEM Address Role of Business in Empowerment of Women
UNIFEM and the United Nations Global Compact convened on 5 March a consultation on “Advancing Women in the Global Marketplace,” to explore the role of business in improving the status of women around the world. The day-long event at UN Headquarters, held just prior to IWD, brought together representatives of business, civil society, academia, labour, governments and the United Nations to develop a more coherent vision of the many ways in which business can help to empower women and advance gender equality. Participants explored how a set of Women’s Principles, developed by the investment firm Calvert in cooperation with UNIFEM, can stimulate the advancement of women, and how the principles might be further enhanced to increase their international impact and reach. Read complete story.

Consultations with Civil Society on UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign
More than 40 representatives from United Nations entities, women’s and civil society organizations, and networks working to end violence against women met on 3 March in New York with the aim of building a shared understanding of the global Framework for Action of the UN Secretary-General’s Campaign, UNiTE to End Violence against Women, and identifying opportunities to establish synergies and partnerships in implementing the campaign. The consultation was co-convened by the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI) and UNIFEM, on behalf of the UN System, and with the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL). Read the complete story.

Australia: Increased Support to UNIFEM
On IWD, 8 March, the Government of Australia announced a significant increase in its contribution to UNIFEM, as part of its commitment to advancing greater equality between men and women. The Australian contribution to UNIFEM core funds over the next four years will amount to more than US$17 million. The funding will support UNIFEM’s work in more than 100 countries to reduce women’s poverty and exclusion, end violence against women, reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS among women and girls, and strengthen women’s leadership in governance and post-conflict reconstruction. Read the complete story.

Rwanda: National Consultation on Gender-Responsive Budgeting
UNIFEM, together with the Rwandan Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, and with support from the European Commission, organized a two-day national consultation on Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Aid Effectiveness in Kigali. The objective was to look at lessons learned from budgeting processes and discuss how efforts can be coordinated to ensure that GRB principles are implemented. A GRB Programme, run by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and supported by UNIFEM, was launched in Rwanda in November 2008. Read the complete story.

South Africa: First Consultative Workshop on Safer Cities
As part of the UNIFEM Global Programme on Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women, the UNIFEM Regional Office for Southern Africa and Indian Ocean states held its first consultative workshop on safer cities in Kimberley in Northern Cape Province in South Africa. The aim of the workshop was to highlight the main threats to women’s safety in the Northern Cape and develop a road map on ending violence against women in both private and public spaces. Read the complete story.

UNIFEM Supports Leadership Programme for Indigenous Women
In order to encourage indigenous women across Latin America to take on roles that influence decision-making processes, the National Autonomous University of Mexico has launched a leadership programme in collaboration with UNIFEM, the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples and the Indigenous Intercultural University. The programme will serve as a forum where indigenous women can share their experiences, hone their analytical skills and develop their social transformation strategies. Read the complete story.

Pakistan: Engendering the Development Framework
UNIFEM and the Planning Commission of Pakistan organized a National Expert Group Meeting in Islamabad on the engendering of the ongoing formulation process of the Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) 2010–2015 for Pakistan. More than 70 participants from the public sector, civil society and international agencies attended the meeting, chaired by the Secretary of the Planning Commission. A number of policy recommendations emerged, aimed at enhancing the institutionalization of gender equality through aligning the MTDF with national and international commitments. Read the complete story.

Georgia: Situation of Conflict-Affected Women Calls for Urgent Action
UNIFEM, in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Gender Equality Issues at the Chair of the Parliament of Georgia, organized a consultation meeting on the situation of internally displaced people (IDP) and conflict-affected women in the region. In September 2008, UNIFEM conducted an analysis of the needs of IDPs and conflict-affected women, who had to flee their homes as a result of the armed conflict in Georgia in the preceding month. A report based on the analysis describes the implications of forced displacement and the special vulnerability of internally displaced and conflict-affected women to human rights abuse. Read the complete story.

Recent Speeches & Statements

Upcoming Events

Job Vacancies

About UNIFEM Currents

UNIFEM Currents is the electronic news bulletin of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). It provides up-to-date information briefs on UNIFEM initiatives, successes, events, projects and activities worldwide. It is published several times per year and delivered by e-mail. Click here to subscribe to UNIFEM Currents.

UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women's empowerment and gender equality. Placing the advancement of women's human rights at the centre of all of its efforts, UNIFEM focuses its activities on reducing feminized poverty; ending violence against women; reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls; and achieving gender equality in democratic governance in times of peace as well as war. For more information, visit www.unifem.org.