WUNRN
IRELAND - GENDER
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Ireland's
Statement at UN Security Council on Sexual Violence http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/article.asp?article=1276 |
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In line with Ireland's commitment to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, Ireland delivered a strong statement at the UN Security Council open debate on sexual violence which took place on 19 June 2008. _______________________________________________________ |
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IRELAND - IRISH AID
Department of Foreign Affairs
Direct Link to Document:
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE - IRELAND
RESPONDING
Joint Consortium of Irish Human
Rights, Humanitarian &
Development Agencies, Irish Aid and
Government Agencies.
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Gender
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"Addressing gender inequality is about implementing the
fundamental human right to equality. It is also essential to effective
poverty reduction" The Challenge Despite some progress over the past two decades, gender inequality remains a central development challenge. Women account for two thirds of the world’s poor. In developing countries, rural women are responsible for 60-80% of food production, but have limited control over land and other necessary assets. Gender inequality is exacerbated by poverty and is a key factor in its persistence. Women and girls bear the direct costs associated with this inequality and as a result, women’s experience of poverty is different to that of men – it is more severe and more prevalent. Human development cannot occur when major sections of the population are restricted, in terms of choice and opportunity, from realising their potential. The quality of life for society as a whole is adversely affected by this power differential. Gender equality must be at the heart of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. While Millennium Development Goal 3 commits the international community specifically to “Promote gender equality and empower women”, the issue impacts on the achievement of all eight Goals. Ireland’s Response Irish Aid’s White Paper recognises gender as a priority issue that cut’s across all of Irish Aid’s work. We recognise that gender equality is an integral and essential element of any poverty-reduction strategy. A range of international commitments underpin Ireland’s commitment to gender equality, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (ratified by Ireland in 1985) and the Platform for Action agreed at the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. We are translating these commitments into action through the work of Irish Aid. We do this by undertaking specific actions to improve the position and status of women. We will increase funding to women’s organisations to ensure that women’s needs and interests remain on the development and human rights agenda. With partners, we will promote women’s economic empowerment, ensure greater access to quality education for both boys and girls and support community-based health programmes that enable women’s access to reproductive and other health services. We will work against gender-based violence with all our partners internationally. In humanitarian and conflict situations, we are committed to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security which recognised the need for women to participate on equal terms with men at all levels and in all roles to promote peace and security. The impact of our actions will be greater if issues of gender equality are taken into account at the outset and if the realisation of the human rights of women informs everything we do. |
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