“Now is the time to recognise the human dignity and worth of the girl child and to ensure the full enjoyment of her human rights and fundamental freedoms….” (Beijing Declaration 1995) At this fourth World Conference on Women, participating Governments also expressed their commitment – “ to advance the goals of equality, development, and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of humanity..”
That was fifteen years ago and the progress since seems to have been slow and uneven. In 2000 the 1325 resolution called for’participation in which women can contribute to decision-making and ultimately help shape societies where violence against women is not the norm.’
These two major events are unparalleled in terms of what they can do to empower women, not only to give 50% of the world’s population their due but also to make the world a better place to live. Yet the record of implementation by many countries is very disappointing. So far only 19 countries have submitted their national action plans for implementation.
This year marked the tenth anniversary of the Millenium Development Goals(MDG’S) and the Review Summit in September offered the opportunity among other things to critique the progress of governments in fulfilling the goals. It also offered women’s organisations the time to emphasise once again the centrality of gender equality and the empowerment of women in achieving the MDG’s It is accepted that ‘poverty has a woman’s face’as many Sisters working in deprived areas or with the marginalised can testify. The key to the eradication of poverty may lie in the fulfilment of women’s rights and gender justice. Societies where women are equal stand a much greater chance of achieving the MDG’s by 2015.
While I always had a concern for women and children that concern has heightened considerably since coming to the UN. In the so-called developed world we can be removed from the real and dreadful suffering, deprivation, and powerlessness of women in other parts of the Universe. Very wisely our IPA mission directives call us to be mindful of and do what we can at whatever level to address these concerns. We have a unique opportunity here to add our voices to whatever statements are made to highlight the plight of women and girls…Recent data shows that in Sub-, Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East women account for more than half the people living with HIV/AIDS, while women over all make up two thirds of the world’s 774m adult illiterates….no change over two decades! No change either in the labour market where women’s participation over the same length of time has remained at 52%. Violence of different forms,against women and girls continues to be a universal phenomenon – within and without the home. A recent survey here in the States indicates that the numbers of girls trafficked has shown a considerable increase over the last six months alone . Research from the grassroots verifies these statistics from many parts of the world.
But there is a real hope for greater progress this year with the overall theme “Access and participation of women and girls , to education, training, science and technology , including the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work” because of the increased efforts of all those who want to make a difference supported by the creation of a new entity at the UN-Un Women, with its first Executive Director, Michelle Bachelet. She spoke with real conviction and determination, as did Hilary Clinton in the Security Council two weeks ago saying that “UN Women will significantly boost UN efforts to expand opportunities for women and girls and tackle discrimination across the globe…all that is needed now to move from policy to action is determined leadership. We all know that women count for peace. But for them to count for peace, they need all of us”
Teresa Kennedy
Raising the profile of Women and Girls at the UN!
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