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