WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

 

To Sign Petition for 5th World Conference on Women:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-a-un-5th-world-conference-on-women.html

 

WRITTEN STATEMENT FOR ECOSOC
Geneva 4-7 July 2011

 

Submitted by the Women’s World Summit Foundation WWSF

 

Title: The need for a 5th World Conference on Women

 

The last United Nations World Conference on Women took place in Beijing 16 years ago in 1995. The Platform for Action adopted on this occasion needs a renewed push for implementation as realizations of gender equality, development and peace are still lacking.

 

Recommendation

The undersigned recommend to the 54 ECOSOC Member Governments to decide on convening a UN 5th World Conference on Women, preferably in 2015. Such a UN Conference would be the first in the 21st century and would not re-negotiate the Beijing decisions but deal primarily with new and emerging issues, i.e. food, water, financial and fuel crisis and nuclear challenges, as well as information technologies and social networks, that can bring issues and solutions into expanded global awareness, increase education, generate empowerment and unprecedented participation.

 

While there has been progress in women’s education, there is still need for equity in employment, politics and social relations. Of the world's nearly one billion illiterate adults, two-thirds are women.

 

UN Women headed by Under Secretary-General Michelle Bachelet and a UN NGO 5WCW will generate renewed global awareness of both this new super agency and the conference, raise consciousness, media-coverage and funds for both.

 

The proceedings of delegates can be transmitted via live-streaming, webcasts, smartphones and other technologies emerging by 2015, to reach every woman, man and youth throughout the world, catalyzing a societal transformation by confronting our common challenges and creating a new future.

 

Another positive result will be the empowerment of the next generation of women leaders who will get to know one another during a 5WCW, share experiences, programs, and stay connected.

 

With the MDGs coming up for review in 2015, which touch essential aspects of women’s well-being and the need for women’s empowerment for full realization, increased mobilization of women has proven the most effective and often the only reason for gains made so far. Great solidarity and international cooperation is also needed to achieve the shared objectives of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) by 2015.

 

A 5WCW will also raise concern about the world’s children and youth and for the creation of a culture of prevention of abuse and violence. Two-thirds of the 130 million children worldwide who are not in school are girls. Gender equality furthers the cause of child survival and development for all of society.

 

Women want a UN 5WCW

Once the decision to have this conference is made, the news will spread from woman to woman and the world will be better for it.

 

Indicators: An online grassroots petition has over 11’000 signatures standing behind a 5th WCW.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-a-un-5th-world-conference-on-women.html

 

Elly Pradervand, Founder/CEO

Women’s World Summit Foundation

www.woman.ch - wwsf@wwsf.ch

 

Co-Signatures (as of 21 April 2011)

Intervida International

International Alliance of Women (IAW)

Human Rights Advocates, Inc.

World Movement of Mothers (MMM)

International Council of Women (ICW)

International Public Policy Institute (IPPI)

Worldwide Organization of Women (WOW)

The Women's Intercultural Network (WIN)

Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (OSMTH)

Women’s Welfare Centre (India)

Women’s Forum (Sierra Leone)

Girls' Power Initiative (Nigeria)

Women’s UN Report Network (WUNRN) part of the Tandem Project

US Federation for Middle East Peace

African Commission on Health Promoters and Human Rights

Catholics for Choice

World Pulse