Difference between revisions of "Women's NGOs"

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==CEDAW==
 
==CEDAW==
 
As part of the its World Plan of Action, the Mexico City Conference encouraged drafting work on the text of the  Treaty for the Rights of Women, formally named the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the most comprehensive international agreement on basic rights of women.  Often described as an international "Bill of Rights" for women, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. The treaty has been ratified by 182 nations and has become an important tool for partnerships among nations to end human rights abuses and promote the health and well-being of girls.  
 
As part of the its World Plan of Action, the Mexico City Conference encouraged drafting work on the text of the  Treaty for the Rights of Women, formally named the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the most comprehensive international agreement on basic rights of women.  Often described as an international "Bill of Rights" for women, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. The treaty has been ratified by 182 nations and has become an important tool for partnerships among nations to end human rights abuses and promote the health and well-being of girls.  
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In many countries worldwide that have ratified the treaty, women have worked with their governments in partnership to change inequitable laws: to help girls receive a primary education; to enable women to get assistance to set up small businesses; to stop sex slavery; to improve health care services; to secure the right to own or inherit property; and to protect women and girls against violence.  
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In many countries worldwide that have ratified the treaty, women have worked with their governments in partnership to change inequitable laws: to help girls receive a primary education, to enable women to get assistance to set up small businesses, to stop sex slavery, to improve health care services, to secure the right to own or inherit property, and to protect women and girls against violence.  
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The Treaty requires regular progress reports from ratifying countries but it does not impose any changes in existing laws or require new laws of countries ratifying the treaty. It lays out models for achieving equality but contains no enforcement authority. Currently, the United States is the only western country not to have ratified it.  
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The Treaty requires regular progress reports from ratifying countries but it does not impose any changes in existing laws or require new laws of countries ratifying the treaty. It lays out models for achieving equality but contains no enforcement authority. Currently, the United States is the only western country not to have ratified it.
  
 
==Global Forums==
 
==Global Forums==
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The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by consensus on 15 September 1995. The Declaration embodied the commitment of the international community to the advancement of women and to the implementation of the Platform for Action, ensuring that a gender perspective is reflected in all policies and programs at the national, regional and international levels. The Platform for Action set out measures for national and international action for the advancement of women over the five years until 2000.
 
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by consensus on 15 September 1995. The Declaration embodied the commitment of the international community to the advancement of women and to the implementation of the Platform for Action, ensuring that a gender perspective is reflected in all policies and programs at the national, regional and international levels. The Platform for Action set out measures for national and international action for the advancement of women over the five years until 2000.
  
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In June 2000, women from around the world gathered for a series of symposia to analyze the impact of globalization on women and girls, and to review the progress of the Beijing Platform for Action. Dubbed Beijing +5, the United Nations’ post-mortem drew 3,000 delegates, 7,000 NGO representatives and thousands of world press representatives to determine the effectiveness of the 1995 Beijing conference. The Beijing delegates adopted a platform signed by 189 countries -- 120 of them adopted action plans of their own -- that called for big changes in 12 areas they said were of critical importance to women, including: poverty, education and training, health, violence, armed conflict, the economy, power and decision-making, institutional mechanisms for advancement, human rights, media portrayals, the environment and "the girl child."
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In June 2000, women from around the world gathered for a series of symposia to analyze the impact of globalization on women and girls, and to review the progress of the Beijing Platform for Action. Dubbed Beijing +5, the United Nations’ post-mortem drew 3,000 delegates, 7,000 NGO representatives and thousands of world press representatives to determine the effectiveness of the 1995 Beijing conference. The Beijing delegates adopted a platform signed by 189 countries (120 of them adopted action plans of their own) that called for big changes in 12 areas they said were of critical importance to women, including: poverty, education and training, health, violence, armed conflict, the economy, power and decision-making, institutional mechanisms for advancement, human rights, media portrayals, the environment and "the girl child."
  
 
   
 
   
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  “Elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child” was the priority theme of the 51st  session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held in February and March 2007. For the first time, young women's voices were included, featuring an opening address given by a 17-year-old South African girl, who reminded attendees that discrimination and violence waged against girls continues to undermine their rights, as well as having harmful effects on societies overall.  
 
  “Elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child” was the priority theme of the 51st  session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held in February and March 2007. For the first time, young women's voices were included, featuring an opening address given by a 17-year-old South African girl, who reminded attendees that discrimination and violence waged against girls continues to undermine their rights, as well as having harmful effects on societies overall.  
  
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Over 1,000 NGO representatives participated in the Session among more than 100 member states of the United Nations, as well as representatives from UN agencies and multilateral institutions. One crucial issue that was addressed at length was the recommendation to strengthen the gender equality architecture of the U.N. The key characteristics for a women-specific entity at the U.N. include: agency autonomy, high-level leadership, universal country presence, and adequate resources. At this year's CSW, and in honor of International Women's Day, representatives from over 150 women's organizations and allies delivered an Open Letter to the Secretary-General of the U.N. and to U.N. Member States to support the proposed gender architecture at the U.N. This statement was born out of a series of discussions held in the NGO Linkage Caucus convened by the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL), the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), and the Committee on the Status of Women. The General Assembly will convene to discuss the Panel's recommendations in the coming months, and in the meantime civil society, and in particular women groups will be strategizing and organizing around next steps in the process.  
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Over 1,000 NGO representatives participated in the Session among more than 100 member states of the United Nations, as well as representatives from UN agencies and multilateral institutions. One crucial issue that was addressed at length was the recommendation to strengthen the gender equality architecture of the U.N. The key characteristics for a women-specific entity at the U.N. include: agency autonomy, high-level leadership, universal country presence, and adequate resources. At this year's CSW, and in honor of International Women's Day, representatives from over 150 women's organizations and allies delivered an Open Letter to the Secretary-General of the U.N. and to U.N. Member States to support the proposed gender architecture at the U.N. This statement was born out of a series of discussions held in the NGO Linkage Caucus convened by the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL), the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), and the Committee on the Status of Women. The General Assembly will convene to discuss the Panel's recommendations in the coming months, and in the meantime civil society, and in particular women groups will be strategizing and organizing around next steps in the process.
  
 
==Measuring the Global Gender Gap==
 
==Measuring the Global Gender Gap==
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While noting the heightened international awareness of gender issues, the authors maintain that no country has yet managed to eliminate the gender gap. Those that have succeeded best are the Nordic countries, with Sweden standing out as the most advanced in the world. These are followed by New Zealand (6); Canada (7), United Kingdom (8), Germany (9) and Australia (10), countries that have made considerable progress in removing obstacles to the full participation of women in their respective societies. France (13) is ranked ahead of the United States (17) among the 58 nations. Seven East European nations hold places among the top 25, with Latvia (11), Lithuania (12) and Estonia (15) the highest ranking in that group. Switzerland (34), Italy (45) and Greece (50) perform poorly, lower in rank than many East European group, and below Latin American nations such as Costa Rica (18), Colombia (30) and Uruguay (32). Brazil (51) and Mexico (52), India (53), Korea (54), Jordan (55), Pakistan (56), Turkey (57) and Egypt (58) occupy the lowest ranks.  
 
While noting the heightened international awareness of gender issues, the authors maintain that no country has yet managed to eliminate the gender gap. Those that have succeeded best are the Nordic countries, with Sweden standing out as the most advanced in the world. These are followed by New Zealand (6); Canada (7), United Kingdom (8), Germany (9) and Australia (10), countries that have made considerable progress in removing obstacles to the full participation of women in their respective societies. France (13) is ranked ahead of the United States (17) among the 58 nations. Seven East European nations hold places among the top 25, with Latvia (11), Lithuania (12) and Estonia (15) the highest ranking in that group. Switzerland (34), Italy (45) and Greece (50) perform poorly, lower in rank than many East European group, and below Latin American nations such as Costa Rica (18), Colombia (30) and Uruguay (32). Brazil (51) and Mexico (52), India (53), Korea (54), Jordan (55), Pakistan (56), Turkey (57) and Egypt (58) occupy the lowest ranks.  
  
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In its introduction, the study refers to the disheartening but true facts of life for women and girls in different parts of the world. For instance, in many places rape is not considered a crime, goes unpunished and continues to be used as a tool of war. Unbelievably true Even in highly developed countries, violence against women of all kinds is routine, and often condoned. Female sexual slavery and forced prostitution are still terrible “facts of life “ for the poor, often very young women. Genetic testing for defects of the unborn is used in some part of the world to determine the sex of the fetus, so that females can be aborted, while in some countries female infants are buried alive. Forced marriage and bride-burning are still prevalent in the Asian subcontinent. A pregnant woman in Africa is 180 times more likely to die of pregnancy complications than in Western Europe. Women, mostly in rural areas, represent more than two-thirds of the world’s illiterate adults. In the United States, 90 percent of AIDS cases under 20 years of age are girls. In many developed countries, where basic gender equality appears to have been achieved, the battlefront has shifted to removing the more intangible discrimination against working women. Women still only hold 15.6 percent of elected parliamentary seats globally.  
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In its introduction, the study refers to the disheartening but true facts of life for women and girls in different parts of the world. For instance, in many places rape is not considered a crime, goes unpunished and continues to be used as a tool of war. Unbelievably true even in highly developed countries, violence against women of all kinds is routine, and often condoned. Female sexual slavery and forced prostitution are still terrible “facts of life “ for the poor, often very young women. Genetic testing for defects of the unborn is used in some part of the world to determine the sex of the fetus, so that females can be aborted, while in some countries female infants are buried alive. Forced marriage and bride-burning are still prevalent in the Asian subcontinent. A pregnant woman in Africa is 180 times more likely to die of pregnancy complications than in Western Europe. Women, mostly in rural areas, represent more than two-thirds of the world’s illiterate adults. In the United States, 90 percent of AIDS cases under 20 years of age are girls. In many developed countries, where basic gender equality appears to have been achieved, the battlefront has shifted to removing the more intangible discrimination against working women. Women still only hold 15.6 percent of elected parliamentary seats globally.  
  
 
In recent years NGOs have become ever more prominent and visible in the broad arena of women’s issues and are often seen as the foremost defenders of women's causes. Governments and international organizations increasingly rely on them to implement aid programs and deliver development assistance, supporting NGOs in their capacity to address social and environmental problems with greater efficiency than government agencies. Today, thousands of internationally operating NGOs work for global progress on a diverse agenda that embraces the entirety of women’s quality of life and deliver billions of dollars of assistance annually. In many cases, NGOs have been the first to document horrendous women's rights abuses.
 
In recent years NGOs have become ever more prominent and visible in the broad arena of women’s issues and are often seen as the foremost defenders of women's causes. Governments and international organizations increasingly rely on them to implement aid programs and deliver development assistance, supporting NGOs in their capacity to address social and environmental problems with greater efficiency than government agencies. Today, thousands of internationally operating NGOs work for global progress on a diverse agenda that embraces the entirety of women’s quality of life and deliver billions of dollars of assistance annually. In many cases, NGOs have been the first to document horrendous women's rights abuses.
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In 1997, DAW, in collaboration with United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM and INSTRAW, founded WomenWatch, a central gateway to information and resources on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the United Nations system, including the United Nations Secretariat, regional commissions, funds, programs, specialized agencies and academic and research institutions. Originally created to provide Internet space for global gender equality issues and to support implementation of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, since 1997 the intergovernmental mandate has expanded and the website now also provides information on the outcomes of, as well as efforts to incorporate gender perspectives into follow-up to global conferences.  
 
In 1997, DAW, in collaboration with United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM and INSTRAW, founded WomenWatch, a central gateway to information and resources on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the United Nations system, including the United Nations Secretariat, regional commissions, funds, programs, specialized agencies and academic and research institutions. Originally created to provide Internet space for global gender equality issues and to support implementation of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, since 1997 the intergovernmental mandate has expanded and the website now also provides information on the outcomes of, as well as efforts to incorporate gender perspectives into follow-up to global conferences.  
  
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The United Nations support system also includes the U.N. Department for Health and Human Services Office for Population Affairs and the HHS Office for Women’s Health, both of which work with government agencies, non-profit organizations, consumer groups, and associations of health care professionals to address health care prevention and service delivery, research, public and health care professional education, and career advancement for women in the health professions and in scientific careers. In addition, the UNAIDS joint program on HIV/AIDS, combines the efforts and resources of 10 U.N. system organizations to the global AIDS response. Based in Geneva, it works with UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank.  
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The United Nations support system also includes the U.N. Department for Health and Human Services Office for Population Affairs and the HHS Office for Women’s Health, both of which work with government agencies, non-profit organizations, consumer groups, and associations of health care professionals to address health care prevention and service delivery, research, public and health care professional education, and career advancement for women in the health professions and in scientific careers. In addition, the UNAIDS joint program on HIV/AIDS, combines the efforts and resources of 10 U.N. system organizations to the global AIDS response. Based in Geneva, it works with UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank.
  
 
==Conclusion==
 
==Conclusion==

Latest revision as of 07:51, 5 August 2008

This article is based on an article written for the NGO Handbook by Kate Perchuk titled "Women and Civil Society."


The modern landscape of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) devoted to causes and issues critical to women is the legacy of human rights activism in times of historical crisis and is rooted in the fundamental principles of equality first articulated by philosophers in the age of Enlightenment.

Early women’s rights groups challenged the prevailing social order arguing that all individuals were born with natural rights that made them free and equal; that all inequalities that existed among citizens were the result of an inadequate educational system and an imperfect social environment and that these inequalities would be justly remedied by improved education and more egalitarian social structures.

Among these thinkers was Mary Wollstonecraft, a British author best known for her book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), which was one of the first to claim that women should have equality with men. The book was inspired by the democratic principles of the French Revolution (1789-1799). Wollstonecraft argues that the quality of women’s lives was directly related to their inferior educational opportunities.

Riding the momentum of the American Revolution, the nascent campaign for women’s rights in the U.S. was born from the passion of patriots with a mission to improve American democracy by helping to deliver on the promise of better, more egalitarian lives for all its citizens, outlined in the Declaration of Independence (adopted on July 4, 1776). A small group of educated women, known to one another through their work in the Abolitionist movement , gathered in a corner of New York State in 1848 to address “the social, civil, and religious conditions and rights of woman,” and invoked the powerful language of the seminal document to make their case. The positions articulated in their “Declaration of Sentiments” echoed the hallowed predecessor: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”


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