Report on the 56th CSW, prepared by Elisabeth Newman, Board Member, ICW

REPORT ON 56^TH COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

New York 27^th Feb – 9^TH March 2012

Priority Theme: The empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger     eradication; development and current challenges.

Review Theme: Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women

Emerging Issue: Engaging young women and men, girls and boys, to advance gender equality
 

This year’s CSW seemed to have a slightly different atmosphere than previous years. There was not the high level of frustration with registration and access to the UN North Lawn Building. Registration has been streamed lined especially for those of us who are regular attendees. The system of issuing secondary passes and special tags to side events within the UN had also been improved though we were down to one secondary pass per organisation but passes to side events were more readily available There were many more young people and first time attendees.

The opening Ceremony was held in the General Assembly. Speakers included Mdm. Michelle Bachelet with the Chair of CSW, the President of ECOSOC and representatives from various aligned groups of Member States. Speeches, focusing on the themes, highlighted the inequality suffered by women, especially rural women and girls, their needs and challenges of which rights ,empowerment and gender budgeting are high on the list.

The ICW-CIF side event was held on Monday 5^th March .Entitled “Empowerment Finance Poverty: Challenges for Rural Women” it focused on the priority and review themes. Marion Bὂker, from Germany spoke from the European perspective and Rachel James from PNG spoke from the PNG/Pacific perspective. The presentations where followed by group discussions. The event was well received and well attended attracting about 60 attendees from diverse nationalities and backgrounds. (Papers and group discussion outcomes to be circulated once available).

ICW-CIF was also a co-sponsor to five side events.
1 The Huairou Commission: “Empowering Caregivers to Build Healthy Sustainable Communities”. From an African perspective, we learnt of the hardships/difficulties face by caregivers, not only due to lack of infrastructure but also lack of support from governments. Any available funding seldom reaches the caregivers. Rachel James was to have spoken for ICW-CIF from the PNG perspective but regrettably she was unwell.

.2. The World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organisations: .One paper gave an account of the rapidly declining conditions in the rural areas. Much of the agricultural work remains hard manual labour, a legacy of the Soviet period, performed by women who also care for their household as well  own vegetable gardens to feed their families and make a little extra money selling excess crops. Only 10.9% of rural women say their health is good. One frightening statistic is the high maternal death rate during child birth. In one year, 2008-2009, it soared from 12.9% to 32.9% (UNDP 2010). Villages are dying as have few young people. The situation for rural women in the Ukraine is bleak. 

3. National Council of Women of Korea: In this side event we learnt much is done for the rural population of Korea, Taiwan as well as Japan., quite a contrast from Ukraine

4. Mata Amritanandamayi Math: This event consisted of testimonies about Wangari Maathai and her work. It gave a good over view of what this great woman did for women and girls.

5.   I was unable to attend the CoNGO Committee on Mental Health and wellbeing of rural women.

 I attended a number of other NGO  side events and some CSW programmes where all aspects affecting the lives of rural women and girls were raised. The NCW USA workshop highlighted conditions for rural farmers which have deteriorated since the financial crisis. Conditions for rural women are not good in many developed nations. The higher instance of violence against women in rural areas than urban as was illustrated in an Australian Mission event.  Early and forced marriages were the topic of the three events held by Plan International; they were also mentioned elsewhere. A Japanese Human Rights group gave a graphic account of the situation in Japan following the tsunami and nuclear accident of one year ago.  Gender budgeting was the basis of an interesting side event at the Swiss Mission which was complimented  by “The Role of Business in Empowering Women” a part of the CSW programme in the UN building. BPWI, in talking about the pay gap had a short video showing women in a super market leaving behind 17% of each item they purchased and taking 17% off the bill. Throughout the two weeks it was well illustrated that with education and training, women can be empowered to take on leadership roles and so overcome poverty but there is still a very long way to go particularly in gaining equality for rural women and girls. Peace is also fundamental.to the process.

ICW-CIF was called upon to give an oral statement. One of twelve from 100 who submitted to present an oral statement.

International Women’s Day was marked a day early by the UN. On the actual day, the NGO /CSW celebrated with a march, the first they have organised. We were all issued with yellow sashes on which we wrote slogans before marching along streets near the UN.

Sadly the end of what had been a good CSW was most disappointing. There was no agreement to the outcome document. The main stumbling blocks were sections relating to reproductive rights, also “gender. equality” was disputed; with “equality” being problematic. Of the seven resolutions the one relating to women, girls and HIV/AIDS was not adopted. The resolution relating to maternal and infant mortality was adopted but only after fairly extensive re-drafting. These moves to weaken language, especially around women’s reproductive health, are very worrying and need to be watched.  The Commission is to re-convene, as yet date unannounced, to come to a consensus on the outcome document. The UN Secretary–General has agreed in principle to a Fifth World Conference for Women, this has yet to be agreed by the General Assembly. If it becomes a reality we will need to guard our hard earned rights. We will, however, have the opportunity further advance the equal rights of women and the general well-being of society as a whole.

CSW57 Theme is to be: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

My thanks to all who participated in the CIW-CIF programme at CSW56 and assisted in making it a success

Elisabeth Newman

Board Member                                                                                                                       March 2012

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

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Oral Statement by the International Council of Women at the CSW

Oral Statement Submitted by International Council of Women

 to the 56^th Commission on the Status of Women on 5^th March 2012

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates.

The International Council of Women, an umbrella of National Councils of Women is a non-governmental organization representing millions of women from more than sixty countries.  We thank you for this opportunity to present this oral Statement.

                            

We applaud the Commission for focusing on the empowerment of rural women at this 56^th session and on the many challenges they face such as poverty and hunger eradication.

We urge the Commission to give due consideration to the recommendations from this session and use them as a basis to form a strong framework in the support of the empowerment of rural and grassroots women as agents of change.

With this in mind, ICW-CIF requests that UN WOMEN and Member States focus on the following issues:

1.     Statistics worldwide show that violence and discrimination against women and girls is higher in rural areas than urban. Therefore men and boys should also be included in training programmes.

2.     Education is a Human Right for girls and boys. In rural areas girls drop out of basic education with the result of no school, no scholarship. Available and free education is the key-stone to the empowerment of women and girls for the rest of their life.

3.     Rural women, as essential food producers, are central to a sustainable economy. Women’s land ownership and inheritance rights improve productivity and will reduce poverty and hunger. The taking over of land, so called land-grabbing by large companies, should be monitored and reported. 

4.     Financial obstacles for women, as seen in access to credit and market places, are well-documented challenges for rural women. The right to a good communication system, such as mobile phones, can upgrade the efficiency of their businesses and so reduce poverty and hunger.

5.     The effects of changing climate, rising sea levels and natural disasters will have the effect of migration of families, so called environmental refugees. Rural families, especially women and children, are the most affected because they lose their land. UN WOMEN and Member States are called upon to give full support in resettlement.

As we oversee these five issues of concern we conclude: Women are Agents of Change.

Thank you for your attention.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM RURAL WIDOWS EVENT

                  

      To: UN, International Community, Governments, and CEDAW

·        Appoint a Special Representative on Widowhood (in Conflict Zones)

·        Commission a Special Report on Widowhood in Developing/Conflict afflicted countries

·        UN Women should establish a special section to address widowhood issues in context of human rights/VAW/poverty reduction/conflict resolution and peace building

·        Adopt a UN Resolution on Widowhood

·        Acknowledge rural widows as sub-sect of women experiencing special forms of abuse that require specific  responses and remedies

·        Support widows' groups through resources for their empowerment, and fill gap in data

·        Acknowledge that abuse of rural widows of all ages is one of root causes of poverty, hunger, homelessness and GBV

·        Address the impact of rural widowhood on the girl child

·        Address widow-abuse as a major issue in combating GBV

To: Governments and UN WOMEN

·        Mainstream widowhood issues in all gender/equality/Human Rights policies and laws

·        Ensure implementation of International and modern laws to eliminate discrimination against widows take precedence over discriminatory customs and traditions

·        Criminalise discriminatory and abusive practices perpetrated against widows

·        Provide for all land registrations to be in wives’ names as well as husbands’

·        Prohibit “land grabbing” by multinationals and industry, or “gifts” of land to political allies, where such land could be available to women heads of households.

·        Support widows’ to “band together” to form their own associations so as to have:

o       a collective voice to articulate needs and describe roles

o        fill gap in data through “mapping and profiling” themselves

o        access literacy, education, training, services, justice

o        be represented in appropriate decision-making committees

o        be consulted, and contribute to strategies to implement

        To: CEDAW; BPFA; UN SCR 1325; MDGs

·        Criminalise actions that deprive widows of their inheritance, property, and land rights: such as “chasing-off” and "property-grabbing"

·        Criminalise coercion of HTPs including harmful and degrading mourning and burial rites

·        Develop special “land allocation” schemes, and registration of title  to ensure rural widows can own and cultivate land for food security

·        Develop extension services and income-generating strategies that will enable rural widows to remain in their villages

·        Devise systems to ensure widows enjoy pensions, social security and micro- credit

·        Identify economic and sexual exploitation of widows and their daughters in rural areas and as migrants to urban centers

·        Protect widows from physical, sexual, and psychological violence.

·        Address the specific needs for resettlement and rehabilitation of conflict widows in IDP and refugee camps

·        Use all means to remove stereotyping and stigma of widowhood

GENDER EQUALITY IN THE RURAL SECTOR - EVER-PRESENT CHALLENGE

GENDER EQUALITY IN THE RURAL SECTOR - EVER-PRESENT CHALLENGE

 

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day – Empower Rural Women, end poverty and hunger – highlights the need to tackle gender inequalities in the rural sector. Women living and working in rural areas are often perceived and treated as second-class citizens. Despite the low level of recognition given to their work, their socio-economic contribution to the welfare of their households and communities is immense. In this interview, ILO Gender Bureau Director Jane Hodges discusses the many facets of the plight of rural women.

Article | 02 March 2012

1. What is the situation of gender equality in the rural sector?

Some 70 per cent of the world’s poor are concentrated in rural communities. These are communities that rely on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and livestock to make a living. Within these communities, the poorest of the poor are often women and young girls who lack regular and decent employment, and who may face hunger and/or malnutrition, and poor access to health, education and productive assets. Although gender inequality varies considerably across regions and sectors, there is evidence that, globally, women benefit less from rural employment, whether in self- or wage-employment, than men do.

2. Why are women in rural areas generally poorer and face worse living conditions than men?

There are various reasons. For starters, women are disproportionately employed in low-quality jobs, including jobs in which their rights are not adequately respected and social protection is limited. Another reason related to the above is that women tend to get paid less than men (around 25 per cent less, to be more precise). That doesn’t mean they work less, on the contrary. The problem is that much of the work they do is not valued and remunerated accordingly. In fact, most rural women are unpaid family members. This not only lowers their labour income but also is likely to increase their stress and fatigue.

3. What are the causes of women’s disadvantaged position?

Gender inequalities in rural employment exist and persist because of a range of interlinked social, economic and political factors. However, there is a specific cause that outweighs all others: the invisible but powerful role of social institutions that disempower one sex above the other. These include traditions, customs and social norms that govern the intricate workings of rural societies, and which act as a constraint on women’s activities and restrict their ability to compete on an even footing with men. We’re not saying that urban-based women are not faced with poverty … but that the context of rural communities places an added strain on equal opportunities.

4. Can you give some examples of these traditions and customs?

Yes: here’s one example that will sound true to anyone who has lived and worked in isolated rural areas; the commonly held view that it is a woman’s obligation to work in the home, cooking, cleaning, and looking after children and the sick and the elderly. Here’s another: the belief that women are less able to manage assets. The idea that women have to obtain their husbands or guardians permission to leave the house. Or even social - sometimes legal - restrictions that do not allow women to have any property or inheritance rights. These practices are extremely difficult to eradicate and are detrimental to women’s capacity to develop as productive members of society; they stifle women’s economic empowerment.

5. Why does gender inequality in rural employment matter?

First and foremost, because not providing women with equal opportunities is a violation of their human rights. Second, because we will not eradicate extreme poverty (as called for by the MDGs) until we acknowledge the fact that women are disproportionately represented among the poorest of poor in rural areas. Third, and this is something that not only applies to rural areas, gender equality makes great economic sense. It is well established that educating and providing women with opportunities to take part in skilled paid employment provides benefits to their families and communities in the form of lower fertility rates, decreased child mortality, improved child health nutrition and levels of education. Finally, the fight against child labour will be almost impossible to win unless parents (mothers and fathers) can produce or earn sufficiently to ensure their family’s livelihoods.

6. Is the global economic crisis having a specific impact on women in rural employment?

The financial crisis arrived at a time when many people in developing countries were already facing hardship because of the food and fuel crises. It is hard to quantify the impact of the current crisis in terms of gender equality, but certain trends can be predicted. For example, it is plausible to anticipate that in most countries women will be expected to assume the primary responsibility for acting as safety nets of last resort and for ensuring that their families will survive. At the same time, rural women’s unpaid work burdens are likely to further intensify, especially in low-income households and especially when State-run facilities (even the few that actually reached rural areas) are cut as part of austerity measures. Also, it is possible that rural women, more than rural men, will be increasingly offered precarious employment with poor prospects and that their children’s health, as well as their own health will deteriorate. During Mexico’s 1995 crisis, for example, infant mortality rates increased most in the areas where women’s work participation increased, with girls being affected the most.

7. What is the ILO doing to promote gender equality in rural areas?

A lot! Women face inequalities in all the pillars of Decent Work: standards and rights at work, employment creation, social protection and social dialogue. That’s why for the ILO gender equality is a cross-cutting issue. The ILO has implemented a number of projects that promote gender equality in rural areas. One of them is the Cooperative Facility for Africa, which promotes cooperative development across the continent. The ILO recently organized a participatory workshop at the Cooperative College of Kenya to discuss strategies for encouraging women’s participation on co-operative boards. The ILO’s Women's Entrepreneurship Development Programme is in its third and final phase. The aim of this project is to enhance economic opportunities for women by carrying out affirmative actions in support of women starting, formalizing and growing their enterprises, and by mainstreaming gender equality issues into the ILO's work in enterprise development. In Timor-Leste, the ILO is supporting the Institute for Business Support (IADE) and the National Directorate for Rural Development (NDRD) of the Ministry of Economy and Development in boosting local economic development, enhancing government service delivery and creating quality employment in rural areas by expanding market access for MSEs, strengthening local contractors and improving the provision of business development services.