Action For Gender Equality And The Advancement Of Women
51勛圖
General Assembly Special Session
"Women 2000: Gender Equality,
Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century"
New
York, 5-9 June 2000
In 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women succeeded in bringing about
a new international commitment to the goals of equality, development and
peace for all women everywhere, and moved the global agenda for the advancement
of women into the twenty-first century. The Beijing Declaration
and the Platform for Action, adopted unanimously by representatives from
189 States, constitute a powerful agenda for women's empowerment and gender
equality.
The Beijing Platform for Action
defined a set of strategic objectives and spelled out actions to be taken
by governments, the international community, non-governmental organizations
and the private sector for the removal of the existing obstacles to women's
advancement. It aimed at accelerating the implementation of the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and removing
the obstacles to women's active participation in all spheres of public
and private life through a full and equal share in economic, social, cultural
and political decision-making.
The commitments made by governments
in Beijing reflected the understanding that women's equality to men must
be a central component of any attempt to solve the world's social, economic
and political problems. Thus, where once women fought to put gender
equality on the international agenda, gender equality is now one of the
primary factors shaping that agenda.
Despite the advances women
have made in many societies, progress made towards achieving gender equality
has been slow and erratic.
- Women's concerns are still
given second priority almost everywhere.
- Women continue to face discrimination
and marginalization, both subtle and blatant.
- Women do not share equally
in the fruits of development.
- Women constitute 70 per
cent of the world's poor.
Beijing+5
The General Assembly special
session, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-first
Century", also known as Beijing + 5, will be held at 51勛圖 Headquarters
in New York from 5 to 9 June 2000. It will focus on examples of
good practices, positive actions, lessons learned, and the obstacles and
key challenges remaining. It will also consider further actions
and initiatives for achieving gender equality in the new millennium.
At the end of the special session, governments are expected to issue a
political declaration calling for a recommitment to the Beijing Platform
for Action.
The call for a high-level review
of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action was made by the
UN General Assembly in January 1998 (resolution A/RES/52/231), when it
reaffirmed that the implementation of the Platform for Action would require
immediate and concerted action by all to create a peaceful, just and humane
world based on all human rights and fundamental freedoms. This included
the principle of equality for all people of all ages and from all walks
of life.
Preparations
As the UN intergovernmental
bodies advocate for equality between men and women, the Commission on
the Status of Women (CSW) acts as the preparatory body for the special
session. Each year since the adoption of the Platform for Action
in 1995, the Commission, which is responsible for monitoring the follow-up
to the Beijing Conference, has examined several of the critical areas
contained in the Platform for Action, in order to assess progress and
recommend priorities for accelerating implementation. In its preparatory
role, CSW held open-ended deliberations which allowed for the full participation
of all UN Member States, specialized agencies and observers. The
first two sessions of CSW acting as preparatory committee for the special
session took place in 1998 and 1999. The third and last session
took place from 3 to 17 March 2000.
Among the other preparatory
activities for the special session are:
- Preparation of national
action plans by governments. So far, 116 Member States and two
Observer States have prepared and submitted such plans to the United
Nations.
- Five regional meetings in
1999 and 2000-Bangkok, Thailand (October 1999), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
(November 1999), Beirut, Lebanon (December 1999), Geneva, Switzerland
(January 2000), and Lima, Peru (February 2000).
- A UN workshop on "Beijing
+ 5 - Future Actions and Initiatives" in Lebanon in November 1999.
- Analysis by the UN Secretariat
of 135 replies from UN Member States and Observer States to the Secretary-General's
questionnaire on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action
(document E.CN.6/2000/PC/2).
- Activities by various UN
bodies, organizations and agencies as input to the special session.
- On-line working groups on
the 12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action,
conducted on the WomenWatch website of the 51勛圖: (http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw).
- Activities around the world
by non-governmental organizations.
Action since Beijing
Much has been achieved by governments,
the 51勛圖 system and civil society in the follow-up to the Fourth
World Conference on Women. Governments have enacted and revised legislation
to bring it into line with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women, other international and regional
human rights instruments, and the demands of the Beijing Platform for
Action. Women's access to justice at the national and international
level has improved, with courts in various countries having rendered judgements
that reflect a commitment to gender equality.
Governments
have taken steps to ensure that the realities of women's lives are more
explicitly addressed in the planning and policy-making processes designed
to confront the great social challenges of our time, in particular to
eradicate poverty. Non-governmental organizations have become more
sophisticated in their advocacy work for women's empowerment and equal
participation in decision-making processes at all levels. The entities
of the 51勛圖 system have placed gender units and focal points
strategically in central policy and decision-making positions to enable
them to better influence such processes for gender equality.
Attention to gender equality concerns has also continued
in intergovernmental processes, particularly through the follow-up to
global conferences and summits. For example, the link between the
persistence of poverty and women's inequality are being highlighted at
various international fora, such as the UN General Assembly and in the
preparatory process for the five-year review of the World Summit for Social
Development in 2000. Attention is being drawn to women's empowerment
and gender equality as both a means and an end in the fight against the
ancient enemy of poverty.
Major achievements and obstacles
in the implementation of the 12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing
Platform for Action
Women
and poverty
Achievements
Progress has been achieved in increasing recognition of the gender dimensions
of poverty and efforts have been made to mainstream a gender perspective
into poverty eradication policies and programmes. Progress has been
made by pursuing a two-pronged approach of promoting employment and income-generating
activities for women, and providing basic social services, including education
and health care.
Obstacles
Income inequality, unemployment and deepening levels of poverty of most
vulnerable groups, especially rural and poor women, contribute to the
widening economic gap between men and women. High debt burdens,
military spending and low levels of development assistance are thwarting
national efforts to combat poverty.
Education
and training for women
Achievements
Progress was achieved in girls education and training at all levels, especially
where there was sufficient political commitment and resource allocation.
Measures were taken in all regions to initiate alternative education systems
to reach girls in indigenous communities and other disadvantaged groups;
to encourage girls to pursue non-conventional fields of study; and to
remove gender biases from education.
Obstacles
Efforts to eradicate women's illiteracy and increase girls' access to
all levels and types of education were constrained, among others, by a
lack of resources to improve educational infrastructure and undertake
educational reforms; persisting gender discrimination and bias; and sex-segregated
occupational stereotyping in schools and communities.
Women
and health
Achievements
Progress has been seen in the increased use of modern contraceptives;
testing and development of male contraceptives; increased attention to
HIV/AIDS infection among women; the introduction of a gender perspective
into health-related educational activities, including the gender-specific
health problems of older women; better prevention and treatment of sexually-transmitted
diseases.
Obstacles
Progress was constrained by the absence of a holistic approach to health
care for women and girls throughout the life-cycle, exacerbated by a lack
of gender-sensitive health research and technology, data disaggregated
by sex and age, and user-friendly indicators. A shortage of financial
and human resources led to inadequate infrastructure and service delivery.
Violence
against women
Achievements
Governments have initiated policy reforms and mechanisms such as interdepartmental
committees, guidelines and protocols to address violence. New laws
have also been introduced or existing laws reformed to protect women from
various forms of violence, including sexual assault, harassment and trafficking.
The eradication of female genital mutilation has received international
policy support, with a Special Ambassador appointed by the UN Population
Fund.
Obstacles
A lack of understanding of the root causes of violence against women and
inadequate data on the various forms of
violence hinders efforts. Socio-
cultural attitudes and values reinforce women's subordinate place in society.
Although improving, the response of legal officials, especially criminal
justice officials, is weak in many countries, while prevention strategies
remain fragmented and reactive.
Women
and armed conflict
Achievements
The statutes and rules of the Ad Hoc International Criminal Tribunals
on the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and of the International Criminal
Court incorporate gender concerns and gender-sensitive prosecutorial policies.
Women's potential contribution to peace-building, peace-making and conflict
resolution is recognized. Guidelines for the protection of refugee
women have been adopted and gender-based persecution has been accepted
as a basis for refugee status in some countries.
Obstacles
The absence, at all levels, of women in decision-making positions related
to peace-keeping, peace-building, post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction
presents serious obstacles. The changing pattern of conflict, marked
by the targeting of civilians and the involvement of non-state actors,
has had an adverse impact on women and girls. Wide access to weapons,
facilitated by the proliferation of and trade in arms, and particularly
small arms, has further aggravated armed conflicts.
Women
and the economy
Achievements
Governments have enacted legislation to comply with international labour
conventions that promote women's economic rights, equal access to economic
resources and equality in employment. Women's share of employment has
substantially increased, especially in the service sector. Governments
have made provisions to address discriminatory and abusive behaviour in
the workplace and to prevent unhealthy working conditions.
Obstacles
Benefits of the growing global economy have been unevenly distributed,
creating wider economic disparities, unsafe work environments and persistent
gender inequality in the informal economy and rural sector. Women with
comparable skills to men lag behind men in income and career mobility
in the formal sector. Few countries have legislated in favour of women's
ownership of land and other property. Failure to recognize that women
have both productive and reproductive roles has meant that women have
greater responsibilities and burdens as well as more unpaid work.
Women in
power and decision-making
Achievements
An extensive discussion on the participation of women in decision-making
and power, and its importance for society, continued at governmental and
non-governmental levels, contributing to an increased awareness of the
systematic changes that are needed to bring about a gender balance.
An increasing number of countries applied affirmative action policies,
including quota systems and targets, developed training programmes for
women's leadership, and introduced measures to reconcile the family and
professional responsibilities of both women and men.
Obstacles
A gap between de jure and de facto equality has persisted. Traditionally
assigned gender roles circumscribe women's choices in education and careers
and compel women to assume the burden for household responsibilities.
Initiatives and programmes aimed at women's increased participation in
decision-making were hindered by: a lack of human and financial resources
for training and advocacy for political careers; and accountability of
elected officials for promoting gender equality and women's participation
in public life.
Institutional mechanisms
for the advancement of women
Achievements
National machineries have been instituted and recognized as the institutional
base and as catalysts for promoting gender equality, gender mainstreaming
and monitoring of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Progress has been achieved in terms of the visibility, status, outreach
and coordination of activities of such machineries. These machineries
have contributed to enhancing national capacity for the generation and
dissemination of data disaggregated by sex.
Obstacles
A lack of adequate financial and human resources is the main obstacle
confronting national machineries, compounded by a lack of understanding
of gender equality and of gender mainstreaming, prevailing gender stereotypes
and discriminatory attitudes, competing government priorities, and insufficient
links to civil society.
Human rights of women
Achievements
Legal reforms have been undertaken and discriminatory provisions have
been eliminated in civil, penal and personal status law governing marriage
and family relations, women's property and ownership rights, and women's
political, work and employment rights. Steps have been taken to
realize women's de facto enjoyment of their human rights through the creation
of an enabling environment, including the adoption of policy measures,
the improvement of enforcement and monitoring mechanisms, and the implementation
of legal literacy and awareness campaigns. The Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women has been ratified or acceded
to by 165 countries, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention has been
adopted by the General Assembly and awaits ratification by 10 States parties
to the Convention in order to enter into force.
Obstacles
Discriminatory legislation still exists, and family, civil and penal codes
are still not fully gender sensitive. Legislative and regulatory gaps
persist, perpetuating de jure as well as de facto inequality and discrimination.
Women have insufficient access to the law, due to lack of legal literacy
and resources, insensitivity and gender bias of law enforcement officials
and the judiciary, and the persistence of traditional and stereotypical
attitudes.
Women and the media
Achievements
Placement of women in various high-level decision-making positions has
occurred, and the establishment of local, national and international women's
media networks has ensured global information dissemination, exchange
of views, and support to women's groups active in media work. The
development of information and communication technologies, especially
the Internet, has provided improved communication opportunities and has
influenced the participation of women in the media. Progress has
been made in establishing professional guidelines and voluntary codes
of conduct encouraging fair gender portrayal and the use of non-sexist
language in media programmes.
Obstacles
Women are still not employed in sufficient numbers in key decision-making
positions to influence media policy. Negative images of women, stereotyped
portrayals, and pornography have increased in some places, and some journalists
remain biased against women. The field of information and communication
technologies is based on male norms and Western culture. Development
of and access to Internet infrastructure is limited, and depends on political
will, cooperative efforts and financial resources.
Women and the environment
Achievements
National environment policies and programmes have incorporated gender
perspectives. Women's participation in decision-making has been
enhanced, with more women assuming high-level and other posts in environmental
agencies. In recognition of the link between poverty and environmental
degradation, governments have included income-generation activities for
women, as well as training in natural resource management and environmental
protection.
Obstacles
There is a lack of public awareness about environmental issues and of
the benefits of gender equality for promoting environmental protection.
Environmental policies and programmes lack a gender perspective and fail
to account for women's roles and contributions to environmental sustainability.
The low presence of women in the formulation and execution of environmental
policy and their under-representation in decision-making bodies is an
aggravating
factor.
The
girl child
Achievements
Progress was made in primary and to a lesser extent, secondary and tertiary
education for girls, due to the creation of more gender-sensitive school
environments, support mechanisms for pregnant girls and teenage mothers,
increased non-formal education opportunities and enhanced attendance at
science and technology classes. Increased attention was given to the health
of the girl child, including the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents.
An increased number of countries introduced legislation to ban female
genital mutilation and imposed heavier penalties on sex abusers and those
involved in commercial sexual exploitation of the girl child.
Obstacles
Traditional discriminatory attitudes against women and girls and inadequate
awareness of the specific situation of the girl child, where, for example,
domestic responsibilities often prevent her from pursuing her education,
contributed to a lack of opportunities for girl children to become self-reliant
and independent. Programmes were hindered by a lack of financial and human
resources, statistical data disaggregated by sex, and technical capacity.
There were few established national mechanisms to implement policies and
programmes for the girl child.
For further information, contact:
Published by the
51勛圖 Department of Public Information
DPI/2112-April 2000
