International Women’s Day 2010 :
Watershed for Women’s Human Rights and Empowerment:
 

The first sessions’ speakers included: (above, right to left) Patrice Robineau, Special Advisor to the President of the UN Economic Commission of Europe (ECE); H.E. Muriel Berset, Head of the Delegation of Switzerland to the Human Rights Council; Conchita Poncini, President of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women ; Navanethem Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights;H.E. Marius Grinius, Ambassador of Canada to the UN; Carolyn Handschin, Executive Committee, Committee on the Status of Women and a coordinator for the event.

In her opening remarks, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay called upon participants to be creative and bold in proposing ideas that can strengthen the Human Rights Council’s work in the field. The essential questions being addressed on this day commemorating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day (35th since declared in 1975 at the UN) was how to better coordinate existing United Nations mechanisms, or assure the effectiveness of the emerging ones, for the integration of women’s rights into the human rights system.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay opened the March 8, International Women’s Day event that was organized by the CoNGO Committee on the Status of Women (NGO-CSW), with IFUW, WFWPI, WILPF, Solar Cookers and  Zonta  as lead organizers.  Nearly 80 representatives of Non Governmental Organizations,  government missions and UN agencies participated.  An annual event of the CoNGO’s Committee on the Status of Women in Geneva (NGO-CSW),

The programme was divided into two panels, subdividing the theme into two key areas:  1)  The integration of women's rights in the UN System with reference to innovative ideas, such as a better co-ordination between CEDAW and the UPR of the Human Rights Council and  2) Monitoring the effectiveness of some of the  emerging mechanisms  such, as the recently adopted UNGA resolution to set up a composite entity in the UN on women as well as implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889.

Women’s Federation for World Peace, International (WFWPI) and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) were the lead organizer, together with International Federation of University Women (IFUW) and and Zonta International (ZI) and Solar Cookers (SC). The conference coordinators were Carolyn Handschin (WFWPI) and Ilse Wermink (WILPF).

Thee session, aiming at “existing mechanisms”, was opened by the President of the NGO CSW, Conchita Poncini, who gave a brief overview of the expectations for the morning discussions. As the first panellist, the High Commissioner explained some of the tremendous advances for women over the last century, such as the reporting process established by the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) or the 1994 Declaration on the “Elimination of Violence against Women”.  

She also reminded us of recent Security Council Resolutions (SCRes) 1820, 1888 and 1889, which build on the groundbreaking SCRes 1325 in assuring women's rights to participation- as well as protection- are taken into account in post-conflict situations. General awareness about violence against women has been raised considerably due to the establishment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women in 1994 -and very recently, the by the Special Representative on “Sexual Violence in Conflict”. And although most countries have put in place national machineries in line with the steps taken at the international level, it is obvious that obstacles to the elimination of discrimination and violence against women and achieving gender equality persist.

Ms. Pillay explained that one area of least progress in the realization of the Millennium Development Goals has been Goal # 5 related to maternal health. Recent statistics show that two thirds of the world's illiterate adults are women and downward trends have deepened during the g1obal economic and social crisis. “It also remains a fact that stereotypical attitudes regarding gender roles remain deeply rooted.” She applauded the Human Rights Council (HRC) in taking up the issue of maternal mortality, as well as maintaining a strong focus on violence against women. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) holds a great potential to improve women’s rights on the ground which could be amplified through taking advantage of the  work of overlapping mechanisms, such as between the the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) , CEDAW and Special Rapporteurs.

“For example, CEDAW and the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women could serve as inspiration for the questions and recomrnendations made to States under review within the UPR process, and could be drawn on more by States during the review process”. Much more can be done by the Council to “close the gap between rhetoric and action” where women’s rights are concerned. It has many “tools” at its disposal, not least of which is the UPR. She proposed several other very practical recommendations, such as holding special sessions to take up chronic violations of women's rights, considering whether further tools may be required to address these issues and reflecting upon the ways in which the Council will interact with the emerging UN gender entity. In closing, she urged us all as international NGO’s to contribute our ideas to this process whenever and however possible “for the achievement of all human rights for all, the realization of sustainable human development, as well as the development of all societies”.

The following panelist, Ambassador Marius Grinius of Canada, referred back to the 1994 resolution of the Human Rights Commission to create a mandate for a Special Rapporteur on “Violence against Women” tabled by his nation. Although there have been significant developments in norms and standards, he noted that the gaps are in accountability and implementation. As hosts of an upcoming G-8 summit where Canada plans to initiate a major initiative to improve the health of women and children in developing countries, he asked for our assistance in assessing which institutional processes are delivering, where changes need to be made and what are the prospects for the new composite entity for women?

He applauded civil society’s contribution to the UPR process and recommended a check list to be prepared by NGO’s to serve as a tool for states to integrate women’s human rights into the review. A joint effort is needed to track UPR recommendations and to promote accountability to recommendations, such as integrating them into the work of the OHCHR and UN field presences.

The Minister and Head of Office for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs  for Switzerland, Ms. Muriel Berset began her presentation by saying that her country has not been in the forefront historically for women’s rights. But although slow in starting, Switzerland has proven to be very serious once engaged. There are currently three women in federal ministerial positions and many women parliamentarians who are very committed to translating the international commitments concerning women’s rights at the national and cantonal level.

Switzerland consults very much with civil society before during and after these legalization processes. Ms. Berset explained that interaction with NGO’s throughout the UPR hearings and leading up to the second rounds would be very important. We are trying to create a system that is capable of leading towards a common standard. This will not be possible without civil society. She also expressed her expectations for a good synergy between UPR and CEDAW under the auspices of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The final speaker of the first panel was Mr. Patrice Robineau, Senior Advisor to the Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The topic of his presentation was  the new gender architecture within the UN and its relationship with the existing entities. How will it function? He pointed to three challenges. Firstly, reform is never simple, the approach is very important. Second is the way of functioning. The third challenge is putting it into practice.

The new entity is badly needed for the sake of visibility, coherent authority and efficiency; it should produce more than the sum of the parts. The four bodies being merged are the Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues (OSAGI), UNIFEM, DAW, the research institute, INSTRAW.  In approach, on key issue, suggested Mr. Robineau is to have a wholistic, integrated, multi-stakeholder approach in terms of functions and interventions. A very un-traditional, complicated aspect of this is the idea to link the human rights approach with the policy design, socio-economic framework. He explained that in his nearly 20 years at the UN, he has always noticed a disconnect between the Human Rights (lawyers) and the UN (economists and policy analysts).

He personally felt it always important to make the extras effort to add something of a human rights approach to the policy work in poverty or in strengthening social protection schemes. He would recommend making references to CEDAW or to the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) to assist the necessary harmonizing processes. He also felt it was important to sensitive the people working in human rights field to be aware of the question of means, enforcement and implementation, aspects of policy design. Connection needs to be made between these two areas, calling for new priorities.
 
The second area, functioning, would include the need to link the analytical work to the normative work. This has been scattered too. A gender- sensitive analysis is needed that can give policy direction. Also greater attention needs to be given to capacity- building work on the ground

The third aspect, integration and implementation has always been difficult- effective and coherent coordination between the global, country and local levels. This is why it is important to translate the normative work, into the national and local programs, and why there is a need to involve the government, corporate and academic areas. Civil society participation and empowerment is so important to development and to the success of this new entity. His closing words were to express his concern that this new gender entity will be a catalyst to move gender equality to effective action toward a balanced, stable and peaceful society.

Panel 2 included:  (right to left) Carolyn Handschin, Deputy Director UN Office, WFWPI ; Joanina Karugaba, Expert, UNHCR ; Natalie Fisher-Spalton - Deputy Secretary General, World YWCA ;Krishna Ahoojapatel - VP, NGO-CSW Geneva; Annelise Ebbe, Co-President, WILPF; Stephanie Joubert, Cordaid; Bineta Diop, Executive Director, Femmes Africa Solidarité.

The second session was on “Beijing + 15: Creating New Mechanisms to Accelerate the Implementation of the Platform for Action” and will consider the effectiveness of some of the  emerging mechanisms and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security”, as well as SCR 1820, 1888 and 1889. Speakers included a technical specialist from UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and international NGO’s .

Documents

Summary of Statements

Statement by Madame Navanethem Pillay, United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights

Statement by Ambassador Marius Grinius, Canada

Statement by Madame Natalie Fisher-Spalton, Deputy Secretary General of World YWCA

Statement by Madame Annelise Ebbe, International Co-President of WILPF