WUNRN
Asia-Pacific
States Adopt Declaration to Advance Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment
Civil
Society Organizations welcome participation, but question lack of progressive
language and effective means for implementation
20 November 2014 - The Asia-Pacific States
adopted the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Advancing Gender
Equality and Women's Empowerment today. The declaration includes the States' commitments
to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA)
and will feed into the global review process dialogue to be held in 2015 at the
59th Session on
the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW).
In a press statement civil society organizations from across the
Asia Pacific region expressed their disappointment at the regressive outcomes
document agreed to by the States. They questioned the lack of progressive
language on sexual rights and on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).
CSOs also reiterated the need for accountability and financial and political
will to ensure States' commitments under the BPfA, including ensuring that
these commitments are included in the post 2015 development agenda.
CSOs welcomed stronger language on
migration issues, women and the media, and women in conflict situations. They
also welcomed the opportunity to participate in the review process, including
through active caucuses representing women with disabilities and young women.
The Queen Mother of Bhutan, Her Majesty
Queen Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, the Executive Secretary of the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP),
Shamshad Akhtar, and the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Mr. Enele Sopoaga, closed
the ceremony of the Asian and
Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: Beijing+20
Review. The Queen, Mrs. Akhtar, and Mr. Sopoaga lit a symbolic globe
with the words "moving gender equality forward." The conference ended
when participants joined Thai singer Nadda Viyakarnand in performing "I am
Woman" by Australian singer Helen Reddy.
ESCAP - The United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific, is the regional development arm of the UN
for the Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP has 53 Member States and 9 Associate
Members,
Asia-Pacific Countries Commit to Accelerating
Action on Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment
Asia-Pacific countries today adopted a
ministerial declaration committing to accelerate action on achieving gender
equality and women’s empowerment across the region. Representing a strong and
united regional voice, leaders from more than 40 countries committed to
reinforcing their efforts to eliminate gender discrimination and inequality, as
a matter of human rights and for the development and prosperity of the region.
“We stand together today as guarantors of
the rights and opportunities which vest in every woman and every girl – as
equal, valuable and valued partners in shaping the future prosperity and
destiny of our region,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP
Executive Secretary, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar in her closing remarks.
“This action-oriented document will help
us consolidate our achievements, identify the gaps and priorities which remain,
and tackle these through stronger institutions and partnerships, with greater
financing and accountability, for gender equality and women’s empowerment in
Asia and the Pacific.”
Over 700 Ministers, policy makers and
civil society representatives from across the region came together at the
“Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment:
Beijing +20 Review”, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in cooperation with UN Women,
where they reviewed progress, remaining challenges and priorities in advancing
gender equality. Eliminating violence against women and girls, empowering women
economically, increasing women’s political participation and leadership,
addressing emerging environmental challenges and advancing peace and security
for women and girls, were just some of the issues addressed.
The Conference delegates applauded gains
in advancing the status of women and girls in Asia and the Pacific, from
progress in education and employment, to gains in health, political
representation and rights. Yet, as Asia-Pacific countries heard today as the
high-level discussions concluded in Bangkok, challenges remain, with
accelerated action needed for all women and girls to be able to fully and
freely exercise their fundamental human rights, exercising choice and taking
advantage of opportunities.
In closing remarks, Roberta Clarke,
Regional Director of UN Women Asia and the Pacific and Representative in
Thailand emphasised: “This Beijing review therefore must be connected to the
other ongoing development discourses on post 2015 and the sustainable
development goals which culminate in September 2015. It is vital that member
States and civil society remain vigilant in this process, to maintain a
far-reaching gender equality goal, as well as the targets and indicators on
gender equality across other goals, and carry forward the same messages and the
same commitments.”
Through today’s adoption of the “Asian
and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s
Empowerment”, Governments from across the region have pledged to strengthen
institutions, enhance accountability, increase resources, forge stronger
partnerships and support regional cooperation in order to advance gender
equality and women’s empowerment.
Following the Conference, Governments
will pursue strong, inclusive and mutually accountable partnerships for the
full and effective implementation of the Ministerial Declaration, alongside the
global agenda for gender equality, namely the Beijing Platform for Action.
Significantly, Governments will explore
dedicated funding mechanisms and programmes to advance gender equality and
women’s empowerment, from the local to the national levels.
The Asia-Pacific Conference was held in
advance of the historic and global commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which will take place next year in
New York. During its 59th session, the Commission on the Status of Women will
review the progress and remaining challenges in realizing gender equality and
women’s empowerment across the globe.
The 59th session of the Commission on the
Status of Women will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from
9 to 20 March 2015. Representatives of member States, UN entities and
ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the
world will attend the session.
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India – The Hindu – Press Release - http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/asiapacific-declaration-ignores-sexual-rights-of-women/article6618927.ece
ASIA-PACIFIC
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON BEIJING + 20 IGNORES SEXUAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN
November 21, 2014 - While there was unanimity in adopting the Asian and
Pacific ministerial declaration on advancing gender equality and women’s
empowerment on Thursday, a key aspect of the Beijing declaration and platform
for action adopted in 1995 on sexual rights was left out after objections by
some countries.
India too managed to replace gender discrimination due to caste with the
words ‘social origin’ and also succeeded in changing the section on women and
armed conflict to merely ‘conflict.’ Indian civil society organisations slammed
the government for refusing to acknowledge armed conflict in the country. The
government, in its review of the Beijing plus 20 report, said the stated
position is that there is no armed conflict in the country.
In the Beijing declaration and platform for action, Section 96 had said:
“The human rights of women include their right to have control over and decide
freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual
and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Equal
relationships between women and men in matters of sexual relations and
reproduction, including full respect for the integrity of the person, require
mutual respect, consent and shared responsibility for sexual behaviour and its
consequences.”
However in the declaration adopted today, sexual rights have not been acknowledged
in the section on women and health, and the reference is only to protection of
reproductive rights for all. Activists said it diluted an otherwise
comprehensive ministerial outcome.
While issues like the collective bargaining of women and trade union
representation are recognised, young women said the declaration had left out
the concerns of adolescents, and issues of cyber crime, date rape, sexual
assault in educational institutions were totally ignored, according to Nadia
Rajaram, Coordinator, of the Young Women’s Caucus.
Roberta Clarke, regional director of UN Women, said the objectives of the
conference — to assess and review the Beijing goals, recommit to the centrality
of gender equality and strengthen social institutions — were achieved. However,
there was a need to deepen political will and provide finances for gender
equality programmes in the region.