2005/03/31

March 2005 focused on women

Social Watch

Throughout March 2005 the United Nations, as well as social movements and organizations, centred their attention on women worldwide. In New York, the 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women carried out a revision of Beijing+10; in Geneva, the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolutions aimed at reducing the gender gap.

These occasions served as a framework for the presentation of reports and research produced by organizations and institutions. This is the case of "Beijing Betrayed 2005" produced by WEDO with the collaboration of Social Watch, and "To the Farthest Frontiers" produced by Karat, WIDE, Eurostep and Social Watch with UNIFEM support.

Another interesting initiative is the Programme on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights (PWESCR) concerning gender and ESCR, which was launched by HIC's Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN) and is promoted by several other networks.

A brief informative review of these activities follows:

UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

From February 28 to March 11, 2005 CSW conducted the ten-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Platform for Action (Beijing+10) and commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the First UN World Conference on Women held in Mexico in 1975. The objective of the review was to identify achievements, gaps and challenges in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action -signed by 189 governments- and the outcome documents, as well as the Beijing+5 Political Declaration adopted at the five-year review in June 2000.

Further information at:
http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/1665.html

61st session of the Commission on Human Rights

During the 61st session the Commission will adopt another resolution on "Women equal ownership of, access to and control over land and the equal rights to own property and to adequate housing". On this occasion the UN Rapporteur on the Right the Adequate Housing presented his report on Women and the right to housing, resulting from studies and regional consultations organized by civil society.

See the complete report at:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/docs/61chr/E.CN.4.2005.43.pdf

"Beijing Betrayed 2005"

On March 3 WEDO launched its report "Beijing Betrayed", WEDO's fifth global monitoring report which has been produced together with other NGOs.

This report offers a comprehensive view of women's reality in 150 countries. Social Watch social sciences research team, coordinated by Karina Batthyány, wrote the chapter on Hispanic Latin American and Caribbean countries.

"To the Farthest Frontiers"

The report To the Farthest Frontiers: "Women's Empowerment in an Expanding Europe" elaborated by Eurostep, Social Watch, WIDE and Karat was launched in New York. This report marks a crucial meeting of civil society organisations in Europe. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women's human rights, political participation and economic security.

Programme on Women's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR)

Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN) launched the PWESCR together with ESCR-Net, CLADEM (Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defence of Women Rights) and WUNRN (Women's UN Report Network), Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), International Women's Research and Action Watch -Asia Pacific (IWRAW-AP) and Creating Resources for Empowerment and Action (CREA). Programme is a new international initiative, in the area of gender and economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR). Women's realities have brought out the interconnectedness and indivisibility of all women's rights.

For more information please visit:
http://www.pwescr.org/
www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/2776.html