Welcome and acknowledgement of Tunisa's recent changes - by Roselyne Bachelot, French Minister for Solidarities and Social Cohesion.
Access to control of their bodies essential for education and independent life. Early pregnancies increase early mortality. Access to education and occupational training. Must have access to family planning - this is France's international policy. Investing more dollars through UN Women and UNICEF. Many are living in rural areas.
Girl's untapped resource for development - part of France's policy of equality.. Review of France's actions with CEDAW, which includes child care, and France's influence of the workplace - need for occupational equality plan for businesses. Hypersexualization of children - charter of media to deal with this, just announced.
Tunisa - going thru a period of reviewing laws - Courts ensures civil rights. Women most developed rights - but not sufficient. Need to revise laws - a law that women can have more than 25% of seats in national legislature. Legal age for marriage is 18. Reproductive rights - abortion and contraception is available. Average of 2 children - women's health insurance - rejected by traditional Tunisa society. Has ratified CEDAW. Women as Ministers. Still far from our objectives. Must be present in all positions of decision making - must review laws.
France - Marie-Pierre Martinet - Chair of the French Movement for Family Planning. Feminist in nature.
 |
| Taken in the room where this presentation was given |
Need for more action for rural areas - to contact services a problem in small societies. Actions in 3 countries - Cameroon, Tunisa, and France. First pregnancy - young girls - Share our experiences. Strong emphasis on new program - focus on young girls - and boys. Go to early detection centers encouraged. Women benefited from early education. Work with men and boys - Quotes - talk to leaders - to get their support - not interested in starting a feminist revolution, we are ambassadors - using popular education. Using different topics - education - an important part of making change to society. Many agreements refer to this need for young women and girls have access to family planning. Rio plus 20 for example.
Question from Canada - government - access to abortion services - enact new laws - religious right putting pressure on access to abortion. What to do - from Tunisia. Response from CEDAW Chair - we need this kind of meeting on this major issue - need to control your body - issue of young women and girls - stereotypes and culture. CEDAW - want to be empowered - there are risks of regression - see in some countries, never had so much need to have strong sense of support for women's rights. All forms of violence against women - Stronger visibility - rights of young women - 180 have signed. Public aid must support this violence, and needs of young women and girls - Fundamental and can't be separated. It's a cross issue, we must work on this issue.
Do you think Arab Spring a spring for women? Many concerned about rights of women in Tunisia Unfortunately everyone has rights - including fundamentalists. Confidence in Tunisia, because she is the Minister and this will not happen while she is the Minister.
Question from Belgium - choices for young women and girls - funding access to these services so good to see. Need to define a feminist position - appreciate presentation because gives us hope. Concerning abortion, not going backwards. With schools - have challenges with funding for family planning education. Difficulty for girls to even get to school. Costs for families. Monetary issue, need to set priorities.
Question from Iraq - Happy to attend meeting - Have good laws, and amended civil state in Kurdistan as happened in Tunisa. Law against violence - these laws are considered amongst most important laws. Proposed that regions need support. Environment in Iraq - the situation is different - Affects officials attitudes - more pressure needed so officials must respond. How to support our action. Working with NGOs, and UN. Courses for judges. Adapt our laws to international convention. Strategy last year, but need to make it official. Economic aspect, and economic ability of women very important. going thru great transition in country - Graduates, but no work - must have access to market. International agencies have to pay more attention to these aspects. Have information about CEDAW but it is wrong - ??
South Africa - part of Social Law - included with health, education - balance availability of contraceptives, and access to abortion. Issue of contraception - a right and gov't must ensure girls and young women access this right. Cervical cancer - Promote intergenerational dialogue.A lot of families with out elders - Child headed households, headed by young girls - given self defence, and girls in conflict with the law - access for girls to access sanitary pads - especially problem in rural areas. Forced marriage - to accept dowry. Traditional authorities - ensure that women part of it - because men see violence against women a traditional practice. Talked about many others from adjoining countries to SA, but protecting children born in SA.
Morocco - Listening circles - for girls - Movie to be shown on March 2nd - story of young woman who has got a PhD, and now teaching girls.
Response from CEDAW - question from Iraq - raised access to justice - can't move without the law, need action plan, and concrete results. support of all vital parts - can't move forward if still living in patriarchial system, early marriage & older traditions. Help with doing plans, very important. Move forward at own pace, Fight all forms of violence - next year's theme for CSW. Girls very first victims. Start as soon as possible, so in line with convention - help as much as possible.
Young woman who spoke - increase of STDs, very important today - re examine some of the teaching.
Ambassador - access to health - long way to go. realize all our issues are similar. Why is it taking so long?? With all the energy - struggle still going. Maybe issues still talking among women - men are absent. Men should be educated - this patriarchial society and imposing their way. We must work with men. If we can convince men, if they see their future in hands of wives, daughters, then can move forward. Need to work together. Feminism must take more modern forms. Still talking about inequalities of salaries - should not exist in modern world. Huge evolution in parts of the world - we need to ask a lot of why questions.Can't just talk to women and young girls, but talk to all of society. We have a legal apparatus - very substantial - CEDAW. Signed a convention that will help Have niches - specific helpful approaches. Importance of listening - we need to have open discussion. Education - support friends from Iraq. Helping each other.
No comments:
Post a Comment