Organization of American States
Inter-American
Commission of Women
Mission
To
achieve women's full citizenship and the elimination of discrimination and
gender inequalities through incidence in public policy.
Vision
CIM
links women’s human rights with effective public policy in order to support
women’s full political, economic and social citizenship and democratic
governance through strategic inter-sectoral dialogue.
Established in 1928, the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) was the
first inter-governmental agency stablished to ensure recognition of human
rights of women. CIM is made up of 33 Principal
Delegates, one for each member state, and has become the principal forum
for debating and formulating policy on women's rights in the Americas and
gender equality.
CIM Delegates are designated by their respective governments. These
representatives meet every two years during the Assembly of
Delegates. The Assembly is CIM's highest authority and is responsible for
establishing policies and approving the Commission's plans and programs of
work. The Assembly also elects a nine-member Executive
Committee, which meets once or twice a year in order to address and resolve
more routine matters.
FUNCTIONS
OF THE CIM
- To
identify the areas in which it is necessary to step up the integral
participation of women in sustainable human development.
- To
formulate strategies aimed at transforming gender roles and the relationship
between women and men in all spheres of public and private life
- To
propose solutions and to urge governments to take appropriate measures to
remove barriers to full and equal participation by women in the civil,
political, economic, social, and cultural spheres
- To
promote the mobilization, participation and leadership of women in
the planning and implementation of public policies and programmes
- To
promote women and girls' access to education and training programmes, with
particular attention to women in marginalized groups
- To
support OAS member states in their implementation the agreements adopted
at inter-American and international conferences, during the annual OAS
General Assembly, and through inter-American and
international Conventions
- To
serve as an advisory body to the Secretariat of the Organization of
American States and its specialized agencies in all matters related to
women's rights and gender equality
- To
establish substantive collaboration with other international
organizations, civil society groups, and the academic and private sectors
in support of women's rights and gender equality in the hemisphere
- To
report to the General Assembly of the OAS on the work of the CIM, as well
as on all aspects of the status of women in the Hemisphere, on progress
made in terms of women's rights and gender equality, on specific issues of
concern, and to provide concrete recommendations related to the above.
- To
promote the adoption or adaptation of the legal measures needed to
eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.