Fulfilling the Promises

Final end of the day - back to the NGO Forum - and sooo glad we did. Great energy, and diversity of women who came forward and spoke. Regional caucuses had been working during the day - Canada had good representation in the prepatory work with Nayyar Javed. The final document "Call to Action" was released, and i'll get the link to it as soon as i can.

We heard from the final panel about the need for the different sectors working for peace to come together, from a human rights approach, from a security approach, a development agenda, an international framework, violence prevention - all these different domains have to be better coordinated. Women must be at the centre for Human Rights development and peace making.

Interesting presentation on the economic crises. Reviewed the past economic policy of the US the last 3 years. Growth was the only mandate. Inequality has grown. Need to use Human Rights norms and standards to analyze economic policy. Using a human rights lens. Statement that the US failed as a state to protect. The economic crises was manufactured because of the state's failure to protect. Commented on the amount of money to politicians in the U S from high risk institutions. Changed rules, and didn't keep the banks and financial institutions seperate.
Governments did nothing to stop the predatory behavior of banks.

Relationship between the MDGs and the Beijing Platform for Action - With full implementation of the PfA, we will see the implementation of the MDGs. Achievement of one, will see the achievement of the other.Need to have agreed roles of national and local level of governements, and civil society.Need for disagragated data - this was mentioned by several speakers - to move forward. To implent the MDGs, must move away from business as usual.Need small scale stragegies and local initiatives. Need to build capacity at the local level. and clear divsion of labour.

Idea - to get behind the GEAR campaign, and a new entity for women at the UN, we need to set up a Global Fund for Women - every woman put in $1. - and maybe some put in $2 for a sister that can't put in even $1.

Idea - how to mainstream men into the women's movement.

Something special - to hear Lynn Nottage, who is a playwright from Brooklyn. She did a reading from her new play "Ruined". It was so moving - many, including me, gave her a standing ovation. She spent time in the Congo, interviewing women. I wondered about getting the play done in Winnipeg - something to explore

Long Line Ups

One of the things you have to do to participate at the CSW, as an NGO observer, is to have a UN pass. You go with your initial letter of introduction, and then you wait, and wait. We've been standing for 2 and a half hours now, and the first part is over - i've got the official OK, but now i need a photo. So another line up. I doubt that we will make it to any of today's NGO Forum, which is too bad.

But, I did get to meet with the minister, and the staff from SWC - Suzanne Cooper and Nancy Jean Waugh. The Hon. Helena Guergis listened to the issues I raised, which were child care, the upcoming budget, women and HIV/AIDs (The point being that HIV/AIDs is the number one killer of women of reproductive age)- related this to access to male and female condoms; and research - such as the Centres of Excelence on Women's Health, important for the Government to make informed decisions. A numnber of NGOs were also meeting with the Minister, and we talked briefly about the issues, and we reinforced many of the points raised. CFUW, Teachers Society, and Labour were there.

NGOs that are part of the official delegation: Lorraine Kaminsky, from WECONNECT; Patrcia Vargas, from Women's Shelters; and Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, President of Native Women's Association. I did understand from the Minister by the way that there should be an announcement about support for SIS, plus a number of other departments that will be involved.

The Government delegation includes Suzanne and Nancy Jean of course, and also representatives from Manitoba, Nunuvat, the Yukon, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. There are reps too from DFAIT, HRDC, CIC and CEDA.

More later - time for my photo!!

Dr. Sima Samar

Sima Samar is the Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, and was the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Sudan. She is very highly thought of back home in Canada.

She spoke very well, as the key note speaker at the opening of the NGO Forum. Commented that Afghan women were not allowed to attend the 4th World Conference. Weren't allowed to attend the Nairobi Conference. Anything to do with reproductive rights forbidden. Comes from a country and experiences in other countries like the Sudan where women don't have rights. Women not allowed to have access to education or health care. Government does formally support the Beijing Platform for Action. Some are out of Afghanistan, like Sima. Yes, there are some girls now, 2 million, that are in schools now, but not quality education. Limited access to higher education. Many taking flights to India for health care - war lords and their families, those involved in the drug trade. Access to justice for women is taboo. Don't go to police. Need women police officers, women medical staff, teachers, judges.

Laws supportive of women should be known and applied. There were NO women at the recent London conference on Afghanistan - no one even raised it as a comment. Have to push - get women into higher positions at the UN. Concerned about reconstruction talk, with those who were violent towards women - who were oppressive, without even including women.

Culture and Religion are no excuse for not upholding women's human rights - other speakers made that statement today too.

Mary and Aridith Toodgood, my room mate, @ the NGO Forum

The first panel at the Forum had the topic of Advancing Women's Rights, 1975-2010 - What the World Conference on Women Accomplished. Jan Peterson, who is the chair of the Sectretariat of the Huairou Commission was the Moderator, had a great sense of humour which was appreciated. The 4 panelists, who all gave personal observations about the topic were varied, and interesting. All agreed we have advanced - women are no longer invitees. I appreciated hearing Gertrude Mongella, President of the Pan African Parliament. She commented on Rawanda - where the highest percentage of parliament are women - 57%. Sees many more girls now in schools. The panel spoke of the many crisis that the world has faced - women are affected. Also how the world has changed because of the computer - it doesn't know if you are a man or woman! Haven't moved much in peace though. There we must take action, or all is useless. The panel spoke of the networks that have developed - NGOs, Government partnerships. Even the preparations for Beijing, and I can attest to that - we had a wonderful network in Manitoba that started a good year before the Conference. Muriel Smith was a key to building that network, before, during and after.

Charlotte Bunch, (Founding Director and Senior Scholar, CWGL), Patricia Licuanan, President of Miriam College in the Phillipines, and there was a replacement for Virginia Vargas, from Peru. All presenters spoke of the work that has been done, and the challenges that ahead. Interesting to note all the world conferences came about because of the pressure from the women's movement. Commented about the situation in Haiti, how groups immediately came together to plan how to help the women.

NGO Forum - Day One

Yes, I got to New York, inspite of flight cancellations and major storms down east. Many didn't make it for the start of the NGO Forum this morning (Saturday).

There were 1,700 women registered for the NGO Forum! It was held at the Salvation Army, a different place then where other NGO Forums have been held. The facility was very comfortable, and there were many students as volunteers to help with the flow. The Salvation Army is providing space for many of the events during the week - all at no cost.

The opening group was a youth steel band - shown here in the photo. They were wonderful - full of energy and rhythm. Following, we had an amazing group from Southern Phillipines - reflecting the Melayu heritage. The audience were excited and enthusiastic as the welcoming remarks were made by Vivian Pender, Chair of the NGO CSW. But the best part of the day was the key note speech by Dr. Sima Samar.

Getting Ready!

Getting ready is a challenge. What to take, with only 1 bag allowed now on flights to the US. And of course there's the electronics - with cords! Paper to bring too - with copies on a memory stick.

I'm leaving Friday and have registered for the NGO Forum starting on Saturday morning with Dr. Sima Samar as the keynote speaker. There will be 2 full days of panel presentation, and discussion - Advancing Women's Rights - The State of the World's Women: Patriarchy, Violence Against Women and Girls, Women's Health and Climate Change; Voices from Around the World: Regional Priorities and Actions; Fulfilling the Promise of Gender Equality, Peace and Development: Women, Peace and Security, Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms, World Economic Crisis, Building Women's Leadership, & the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Presenters will represent many women from many countries. It will be interesting to hear about women and the world economic crises, and also progress with the MDGs.

There is major construction going on at the UN we've heard, so already we're getting reports about limiting the numbers to the sessions. They stopped taking preregistrations early. I'm not looking forward to the long line ups for registration to get the security card needed for the UN.

I have received an invitation, along with other Canadian NGOs, to meet with the Hon. Helena Guergis (Minister Status of Women) on Sunday, for 20 minutes. However, I don't know who is on the "official" delegation, representing Canada, but we will find out soon, i'm sure.

Today a report was released by FAFIA (Feminist Alliance for International Action) on Women in Canada and the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action Fifteen Years On -

More next time....

Photo of the UN

CSW - 2010

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is meeting in New York - official meetings start on Monday, March 1, til Friday, March 12 - but the NGOs (Non governmental organizations) will be meeting on the Saturday, Feb. 27, and Sunday Feb. 28 - to discuss, and hear from others the issues that are affecting their lives. The theme this year, the 54th session of the CSW, is Beijing plus 15 - yes it is 15 years since that incredible coming together in Beijing, China, and the Fourth World Conference on Women. I was there, plus many from Winnipeg, and Manitoba, and Canada - so i'm really interested in this session of the CSW. What progress has there been for women? How has Canada done? What are the new issues?

One way I thought i could share all this was to do a Blog - not sure how it will work out, but what i will try to do is to capture what I experience, possibly a few photos too, and put it all here for you to read. It will be my personal story though, not anything official. So stay tuned! - by Mary Scott