Subject: [fem-women2000 138] IWTC Women's GlobalNet #134
From: lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org>
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 20:49:16 +0900
Seq: 138
---------------- Original message follows ---------------- From: iwtc <iwtc@igc.org> To: iwtc-womensglobalnet@igc.topica.com Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 14:07:12 -0800 Subject: Women's Globalnet #134 -- IWTC Women's GlobalNet #134 Activities and Initiatives of Women Worldwide By Anne S. Walker and Vicki Semler December 14, 1999 SIX MAJOR AREAS OF CONSTRAINT AND SIX GLOBAL CHANGE TRENDS EMERGE AS CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION How far have we come and what are the obstacles inhibiting process? How can we use this Beijing +5 review process to accelerate progress on the implementation of the Platform for Action? These are just some of the questions sparking discussion among governments and NGOs alike. "NGOs for Women 2000", a grouping of non governmental organizations preparing for the UN General Assembly Special Session for Beijing Plus Five recently held a panel entitled "Beijing +5: Setting Targets" at UN Headquarters in New York on November 22, 1999. The following information has been excerpted from these presentations. For more information about "NGOs for Women 2000", contact Sudha Acharya, Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) Focal Point for Beijing + 5 at <sacharya@netzero.net> or <congongo@aol.com>. 1. A draft analysis of responses received from 123 governments to the Beijing +5 questionnaire prepared by the UN Division for the Advancement for Women (DAW) identifies six major areas of constraint to implementation of the Platform for Action and six trends of global change. The major obstacles are (1) discriminatory attitudes; (2) economic change/instability; (3) conflict and displacement (due to natural as well as manmade disasters); (4) lack of data and monitoring mechanisms; (5) resource allocation; and (6) backlash. The following 6 trends of global change were noted: (1) population movements and displacement of people; (2) changes in the world of work; (3) political identity; (4) shifting boundaries of conflict; (5) the challenge of new information and communication technologies (ICTs); and (6) global governance and the role of the UN. Dr Yakin Ertuk, Director of the UN Division for the Advancement of Women (UN/DAW), presented this draft report at the "Setting Targets" roundtable and announced that the total draft report will soon be available on the UN's Womenwatch web site at <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/ >. This report will be discussed at the second PrepCom for the Special Session, February 28 to March 17, 2000. 2. Are targets and benchmarks a useful tool to put in place at the Beijing +5 Special Session, June 5 to 9, 2000? Will they serve as useful "prompts" in the search for a means to accelerate the process of implementation of the Platform for Action? A useful overview of benchmarks and targets was provided by Patricia Flor, Chairperson of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, who noted six functions of targets if they are to be useful. Targets should: (1) make progress visible and measurable; (2) allow monitoring of trends to see if progress is being made; (3) translate idealistic, goals into realistic stages or efforts; (5) help determine responsibility for achieving targets; and (6) allow progress to be rewarded by general recognition. It was also noted that targets should also possess certain characteristics if they are to be useful. They must be based on measurable, available data and statistics that are publicly accessible; be supported by the regular publication of trends and changes vis a vis the targets and benchmarks; be complemented with a monitoring mechanism and; be developed so as to impart a sense of ownership by the major players who are involved in structuring the targets and who are also accountable for the results, including the rewards. IWTC Women's GlobalNet is produced by: International Women's Tribune Centre 777 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 Tel: (1-212) 687-8633 Fax: (1-212) 661-2704 E-mail: iwtc@igc.org You can subscribe to this list at any time by sending a blank message to iwtc-womensglobalnet-subscribe@igc.topica.com You can unsubscribe to this list at any time by sending a blank message to iwtc-womensglobalnet-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com SPECIAL NOTE: If you are interested in "cutting-edge" books on women and development, subscribe to Women, Ink.'s Booklink by sending a blank message to wink-booklink-subscribe@igc.topica.com Women, Ink. is a project of the International Women's Tribune Centre (IWTC)