Women in Development Europe (WIDE)

Women in Development Europe (WIDE)
Beijing+5 – Lobbying paper

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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLATFORM FOR ACTION

of Beijing (PfA)in the fields of development co-operation and international economic and human rights policies

This lobbying paper is meant as a tool for monitoring the implementation of the Platform for Action in the fields of development co-operation and international economic and human rights policies. It outlines strategic policies which must be/should have been followed at the national and bilateral level, but also at the international and multilateral level, within the framework of the European Union, the WTO, the United Nations, the International Financial Institutions and the OECD. You can use this tool to lobby your government to support changes at these levels, and to adopt the specific measures identified in it.

This document focuses on the achievement of the economic and social human rights of women, an objective which WIDE has supported from the beginning. This focus is in particular reflected in the areas of critical concern of the Bejing Platform for Action A Eradication of Female Poverty, F Economic Empowerment of Women, D Combating Violence against Women, E Support for Women in Armed Conflicts, H Development of Institutions on the Advancement of Women (which also affects women’s access to power and decision-making), I Women’s Human Rights, K Women and Ecological Sustainability. In accordance with WIDE’s mandate, emphasis is given in this lobbying document to ways and means of enabling women in countries of the South to empower themselves, both from both a national and international perspective, but of course many recommendations also apply to women and gender-relations in other parts of the world.

As the Beijing+ 5 Process evolves, WIDE recalls that the commitment to the human rights of women and to relevant human rights instruments should be a guiding principle of all political and economic initiatives at all levels. The ECE Regional Meeting held in January 2000 in Geneva in preparation for the Beijing+5 Review of the PfA emphasised this commitment in the preamble to its final document.

WIDE also emphasises the paramount importance of extending the review process beyond the year 2000 and of convening a 5^th World Women’s Conference in 2005, an idea which was also supported very strongly by nGOs at the Geneva meeting and at the PrepCom of the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2000.

Critical Areas of Concern	Enactment in the PfA	Steps to be taken
		Country Level	European Union	World Trade Organisation	United Nations	International Financial Institutions	OECD/DAC
Eradication of Female Poverty Economic Empowerment of Women	Strategic Objectives A + F
		Adhere to international, above all UN, *Conventions and Agreements on Human Rights,* with a particular commitment to the safeguarding of the economic, social and cultural rights of women Integrate *gender-mainstreaming* into programmes of poverty eradication, development assistance, trade, economic and financial policies including debt rescheduling Integrate a comprehensive and clear gender-oriented perspective into all phases of the cycle of development co-operation *projects and programmes* Develop binding *gender-specific criteria* for the approval of development co-operation projects and programmes Support projects and strategies which counteract the negative effects of *Structural Adjustment Programmes* on women, in particular in Southern countries Promote *fields of activity* which are of special importance for poor and indigenous women in Southern countries, in particular relating to access to clean and healthy water, food production and nutrition, reproductive rights, education and training, transport, energy, etc. Support the establishment and maintenance of *public services* in the above mentioned fields Support the inclusion and enforcement of the *economic rights* of women in national and international legal systems Prioritise the advancement of *"strategic" capacities* of women i.e. the ability to act as independent and key agents of economic development, support their access to economic decision making Support women, in particular poor women in the South, regarding their *access* to services, training, infrastructure, marketing possibilities, information, (adapted) technologies, basic economics (simple book-keeping etc.) and economic literacy Strengthen women’s activities in *small-scale and micro-industries, support women as economic entrepreneurs and promote women’s economic networks* Facilitate the access of women to *saving programmes* and credit institutions Promote the compatibility of *professional and familial tasks* of men and women, establish a more just division of labour between the sexes Strengthen the economic capacities of particularly *"vulnerable" women, e.g. rural and indigenous women, migrant women, very young and elderly women, disabled women, women as heads of households, etc. Promote research* on women and economic development Promote and support women and gender-oriented NGOs in countries of the South which are dedicated to the advancement of the economic empowerment of women	Adhere to international, above all UN, *Conventions and* *Agreements on Human Rights, with a particular commitment to the safeguarding of the economic, social and cultural rights of women Guarantee coherence* between different policies and strategies of the European Union, above all between economic and trade policies and development co-operation Promote the *principal commitment* to gender-justice as basic objective of all institutions and organs of the European Union (European Council, COREPER I and COREPER II, Council of Development Ministers, GD I and GD VIII of the European Commission, European Parliament and respective committees) Implement the *Gender Resolution* (December 1995) and the *Gender Regulation* (December 1998) of the European Union on the integration of gender issues into development policies Ensure adequate *funding* of such policies Support adequate gender-competent *staffing* within respective organs of the European Union and in partner countries Establish and strengthen gender *focal points, support gender-specific research and planning methods Realise the integration of a gender-oriented perspective into all phases of the project/programme cycle* within the framework of the development co-operation of the European Union(See also section H) Emphasise a distinct orientation towards the *economic empowerment* and participation of women in partner and co-operation countries within development activities Enforce the general and universal integration of a clear and comprehensive gender perspective into all parts of the *new agreement* of the European Union with the ACP countries ("Lomé V"), including the chapter on trade Integrate a comprehensive gender perspective into all *economic and trade policies , agreements and institutions* of the European Union, in particular within the framework the article 133-committee (Treaty of Amsterdam) Elaborate and apply *indicators* on "Gender and Trade"	Adhere to international, above all UN, *Conventions and Agreements on Human Rights, with a particular commitment to the safeguarding of the economic, social and cultural rights of women. Make the commitment to the realisation of women’s economic and social human rights (as part of human rights in general) an official objective* of the WTO Implement the *aim* enshrined in the preamble to the agreement establishing WTO, namely to raise standards of living, ensure full employment and steadily growing income, in accordance with the objectives of sustainable development and the protection and preservation of the environment Restructure procedures and measures of the WTO from a *comprehensive gender perspective* and take gender issues into consideration at all levels Review, Repair and Reform existing Uruguay Round agreements from a gender, human rights and sustainable development perspective before entering into negotiations on new issues (Hands Off any new "Millennium Rounds"!) Perform *positive measures* in the interest of poor women in all fields regulated by the WTO, particularly relating to manufacturing, to trade in goods and services, to agriculture, and trade related property rights and to trade related investment measures	Urge member-countries to implement international, above all UN, *Conventions and Agreements on Human Rights, with a particular commitment to the safeguarding of the economic, social and cultural rights of women Support the work of all organs and organisations within the UN Family dedicated to "gender mainstreaming" Promote the expansion* of gender-oriented development co-operation projects and programmes carried out by the UN In this context promote the *"strategic" gender programmes* and on activities which promote the economic empowerment of women and their access to economic resources and to economic decision-making Support efforts to revitalise *Codes of Conduct* for TNCs and take gender issues into consideration while supporting such initiatives	Adhere to international, above all UN, *Conventions and* *Agreements on Human Rights, with a particular commitment to the safeguarding of the economic, social and cultural rights of women Make the attainment of women’s economic rights and poverty eradication a declared target of the IFIs* Support programmes dedicated to the *economic empowerment of women* in rural regions of the global South Prevent and counteract possible negative effects of policies and programmes on poor strata of societies in Southern Countries, in particular on rural and indigenous women and actively *assist* those women in their struggle for economic survival and sustainable development Prioritise reforms of *Structural Adjustment Programmes, taking into consideration the needs of poor women in disadvantaged regions Implement the HIPC-Initiative* and other programmes to relieve the debt burden of poor Southern countries, paying attention to the development needs of poor women, who have particularly suffered from the "debt crisis" by developing special measures, e.g. "counter-value funds"	Strengthen the *gender-specific orientation* of the development co-operation efforts of OECD/DAC members, giving priority to enhancing the economic, social and cultural empowerment of women Implement the "*DAC-Guidelines* for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Development Cooperation" (1998) Expand *research* on gender-specific statistical methods, on "gender and poverty", "gender and debt", "gender and liberalisation" etc.
Combating Violence against Women	Strategic Objective D
		Emphatically support measures against *trafficking in women* by systematic training of police officers and by awareness-raising programmes to influence public opinion Support and fund NGOs which are committed to these issues (in Northern countries and in countries of the South) Protect women who have become victims of trafficking by granting them shelter, police protection, and, in the long run, asylum and access to vocational training and employment Lobby your government (if it has not done so up to now) to ratify and implement the "UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (1949) Assist NGO projects in the countries of the South committed to the prevention of *violence in family and society* Support projects and programmes to combat *genital mutilation* of girls in countries of the South and within migrant societies in the North Acknowledge threat of genital mutilation as a reason for granting asylum to afflicted persons • Lobby your government to ratify (if it has not done so up to now) and implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and mobilise for abstaining from or to withdraw all reservations to this Convention Lobby your government to ratify as rapidly as possible the *Optional Protocol to CEDAW* and support the extension of the mandate of the *Special Rapporteur* on Violence Against Women	Continue existing activities an programmes against *trafficking in women, including training of police-officers and awareness raising in member and Eastern transformation countries (STOP programme) Support protection of victims of trafficking in women in member countries and fund NGOs in Southern countries trying to combat root causes of trafficking and sex tourism Encourage member countries as well as partner and co-operation countries who have not done so up to now to ratify and implement the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others" (1949) Assist official and NGO projects in countries of the South committed to the prevention of violence in family and society* Support projects and programmes to combat *genital mutilation* of girls in countries of the South and within migrant societies in the North Create understanding in member countries to grant asylum to persons threatened by genital mutilation Encourage partner and co-operation countries in the South to ratify and implement the UN "Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others" (1949) Encourage member countries as well as future members and co-operation countries in the South to ratify as rapidly as possible the *Optional Protocol to CEDAW* and support the extension of the mandate of the *Special Rapporteur* on Violence Against Women	Include the commitment to the safeguarding of human rights – with an emphasis on the human rights of women and on the eradication of violence against women – into the Agreement of the WTO (through an amendment)	Disseminate information on causes, effects and counter-measures against *trafficking in women* Mobilise member countries who have not done so up to now to ratify and implement the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others" (1949) Fund and support strategies, projects and programmes in countries of the South committed to the prevention of violence in family and society, in particular promote NGOs in this field Support projects and programmes to combat genital mutilation of girls and young women in countries of the South and in migrant societies in the North Encourage member countries to ratify the *Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women* (CEDAW) without any reservations and to withdraw any former reservations in this context Encourage member countries to ratify as rapidly as possible the *Optional Protocol* to CEDAW and to support the extension of the mandate of the *Special Rapporteur* on Violence Against Women Strengthen the competence of the *Committee* on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)	Grant *credits* for research, awareness-raising, information, training and advocacy on issues of trafficking in women, prevention of violence against women, genital mutilation etc.	Mobilise member and partner countries to commit themselves to research, awareness-raising, information, training and advocacy on issues of trafficking in women, prevention of violence against women, female genital mutilation etc.
Support for women as victims of armed conflict	Strategic Objective E
		Support initiatives to open access to women in decision-making positions in international high level *peace initiatives, in external missions, in international organs on conflict resolution, peace mediation etc. Support the participation of women in international missions on peace-keeping and peace-building Establish or increase the gender-perspective in your country’s activities of refugee assistance and disaster relief* Ratify as rapidly as possible the Statute on the establishment on an *International Criminal Court* Acknowledge rape and other forms of sexual violence as a reason for the granting of asylum	Plead for the *rapid ratification* of the statute on the establishment of an International Criminal Court and for the opening of the access of women committed to gender issues to decision-making positions within this institution Elaborate strategies on conflict prevention and conflict resolution as a *new* area of priority of the European Union and establish a clear an comprehensive gender-perspective within this new field Support projects to assist women in regions afflicted by war or the aftermath of armed conflicts Create understanding among member and partner states for the recognition of rape and other forms of sexual violence as a reason for the attainment of asylum	---	Mobilise member states to rapidly ratify the statute on the establishment of an *International Criminal Court* Push for the rapid elaboration of an agreement of the UN on co-operation with the International Criminal Court Increase the contribution to *UNHCR* and *UNRWA, with an emphasis on gender-oriented projects Support the gender-oriented implementation and interpretation of the United Nations Convention of Refugees (1951) Increase the emphasis within the work of UNIFEM* on women and armed conflict	Grant *credits* for research, awareness-raising, information, training and advocacy on issues of gender-oriented conflict prevention and conflict resolution, on the situation of women in armed conflict etc.	*Mobilise* member and partner countries to commit themselves to research, awareness-raising, information, training and advocacy on issues of gender-oriented conflict prevention and conflict resolution, on the situation of women in armed conflict etc.
Development of Institutions on the Advancement of Women	Strategic Objective H
		Elaborate *gender-oriented laws* on development co-operation Issue *binding position papers* on gender and development co-operation, including sectoral and regional papers Encourage the adoption of binding gender programmes by executing development agencies, NGOs etc Elaborate and support binding gender-specific criteria for the approval of development projects and programmes Open access of gender-competent *women to key-positions* within the development co-operation administration, within partner organisations and in development projects and programmes "in the field" Establish and/or increase *gender-oriented focal points* (desks, consultants etc.) in various departments of development co-operation Introduce regular, obligatory *gender-trainings* for officials in development co-operation departments and/or ministries and in related fields of the public sector (finance, economy, trade, labour, environment etc) Actively *support NGOs* dedicated to practical development work in Southern countries and to information and awareness raising activities on gender oriented development issues in the North Increase contributions to *UNIFEM, INSTRAW and DAW*	Implement the *Gender Resolution* (1995) and the *Gender Regulation* (1998) Increase staffing of the *Gender Desks* in GD I and GD VIII Increase the *budget line* on gender-mainstreaming within development co-operation (at least to pre-1998 levels!) Intensify and extend *gender-trainings* within EU development co-operation institutions Establish *gender-trainings* in EU trade related institutions Develop and use *gender-disaggregated data, elaborate gender-specific statistical methods to evaluate and assess projects and programmes from a gender-perspective Support gender-oriented NGOs* from Southern countries, in particular from the ACP-region and increase the capacity of women to participate in decisions on the development of their countries.	Facilitate the appointment of a substantial number of women committed to gender issues at *high level positions* within the WTO Make *gender impact assessments* an integral part of WTO policies; use gender-disaggregated data throughout ; elaborate and apply gender and trade indicators; establish regular gender trainings in all bodies of the WTO Integrate a consistent and comprehensive gender analysis into all reports of the *Trade Policy Review Board* Facilitate access and accreditation of (gender-oriented) *NGOs* to all bodies of the WTO, including committees, working-groups etc, increase the flow of information and create transparency within the organisation	Strengthen institutional mechanisms within the UN Family to integrate a comprehensive *gender perspective* into economic and social programmes of the organisation Increase *research* on gender issues, in particular on the effects of liberalisation and globalisation on women in Southern and Eastern transformation countries Mobilise members to increase their contributions to *UNIFEM, INSTRAW and DAW* Develop and revise the Resolution 1296 (XLIV), which regulates co-operation between the UN and NGOs, toward more openness and stress the importance of active participation of gender-oriented NGOs	Increase access of gender-competent women to *key positions* in the IFIs Actively involve gender-oriented NGOs from Southern countries into *advisory boards* and *inspection panels* and increase their participation in the planning of *Country Assistance Strategies* Open Access of a maximum of gender-oriented NGOs to *annual meetings* of the IFIs and facilitate their active participation Ensure *transparency* of all operations of the IFIs and increase information on the consequences of IFI’s policies on women and gender relations Extend and intensify *gender trainings* within the IFIs and make participation for all officials obligatory	Actively support the DAC working group on "*gender equality*"
Enforce the Human Rights of Women	Strategic Objective I
		Appeal for improved enforcement, control and implementation of all existing human rights instruments, in particular those having a special impact on the human rights of women Lobby for the ratification (if your country has not done so up to now) and implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) without any reservations and for the withdrawal of all reservations to this Convention Urge rapid ratification of the *Optional Protocol to CEDAW* (1999) Support the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of violence against women Emphasise the importance of safeguarding and implementation of women’s economic and social rights Make clear that *women’s reproductive human rights* are inviolable Extend the number of *projects and programmes* dedicated to the strengthening of women’s human rights within the development co-operation of your country Analyse the human rights situation of women in countries of the South Increase *research, awareness raising activities and information on women and human rights in countries of the South Promote NGOs* and women experts in this field	Implement the *human rights* directive of the European Union with a clear emphasis of the safeguarding of the human rights of women and of gender justice Insist on the *universal ratification of CEDAW* without reservations by cooperation countries in the South and by future members and mobilize for the withdrawal of former reservations Urge member countries, future members and cooperation countries in the South to ratify the *Optional Protocol to CEDAW* Increase the number of EU *development projects and programmes* dedicated to the safeguarding of the human rights of women Give priority to the protection to the *reproductive rights of women* Emphasize the context between women’s *economic human rights* and the trade and economic policies of the European Union Support and fund women and *gender-oriented NGOs* in particular from the south, which are active in this field	Abide to existing conventions on human rights, in particular by the UN and ILO Include a commitment to human rights into the Agreement on the Establishment of the WTO (by an amendment), with a clear emphasis on the human rights of women	Urge the implementation of *conventions* and *agreements* as well as of *important declarations* on the human rights of women by member states Urge *universal ratification of CEDAW* – without reservations – by member states and underscore the importance of the withdrawal of former reservations Support the rapid ratification of the *Optional Protocol to CEDAW* by member states Increase the number of projects and programmes on women’s human rights within the scope of *UNDP, UNIFEM and INSTRAW* Extend *research*, information and awareness raising activities on these issues	Grant *credits* on research, information, training, advocacy and awareness raising activities on these issues	*Mobilize* member and partner countries towards enhanced awareness of these issues
Support Women’s Contribution to Ecological Sustainablility	Strategic Objective K
		Integrate a consistent and comprehensive *gender perspective* into projects and programmes of sustainable development and environment protection Support *NGOs* active in this field Promote *research, information and awareness raising activities on these issues Express solidarity* for the respective concerns of women in Southern countries, support these concerns at international conferences and meetings, make sure that they are reflected in *international conventions and agreements*	Acknowledge the safeguarding of ecological sustainability as one of the *principal targets* of the European Union, with a distinct emphasis on the strengthening of women’s capacities in this context Emphatically promote *women as key actors* within the framework of environmental and sustainable development policies, in particular in countries of the South Increase gender-oriented ecological and *sustainable* *development projects* and programmes within the development co-operation of the European Union Support *NGOs and women experts* active in these fields	*Take into consideration* the needs and capacities of women – in particular of rural and indigenous women – in the framework of all planning activities, negotiations and decision of the WTO. Special emphasis should be given to issues related to future negotiations and decision on women’s Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights	Increase the scope and the volume of *gender-oriented environmental projects* and programmes within the scope of United Nations development assistance, in particular within UNDP and UNIFEM Extend *research, information and awareness raising activities on these issues, actively involving women from rural regions and from indigenous societies Support the concerns of women from rural regions and from indigenous societies at international conferences and meetings, make sure that they are reflected in international conventions and agreements*	Make the attainment and preservation of ecological sustainability a *basic aim* of the IFIs Prioritise support for *women and NGOs* – in particular from rural regions and indigenous societies – who are involved in projects and programmes to protect the environment and to secure ecological sustainability Promote the "*strategic" needs, interests and capacities of women in this context, i.e. abilities to participate in decision-making* etc. Highlight the role of women as crucial agents and as *efficient managers* of sustainable development Support and fund *research*, awareness-raising and information on these issues	• Create understanding for the importance of the *relationship* between "ecological sustainability" and "gender equality"

Compiled by Brita Neuhold / WIDE Austria

January 2000