Subject: IWTC Women's GlobalNet #123
From: lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 05:50:51 +0900
Seq: 4
---------------- Original message follows ---------------- From: "iwtc@green.igc.org" <iwtc@igc.org> To: iwtc-womensglobalnet@igc.org Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 11:14:00 -0400 Subject: IWTC Women's GlobalNet #123 -- IWTC WOMEN'S GLOBALNET #123 Women's Initiatives and Activities Worldwide by Tina Johnson and Vicki Semler May 21, 1999 PREPARATIONS FOR THE BEIJING PLUS FIVE SPECIAL SESSION THE BEIJING PLUS FIVE REVIEW PROCESS The review process for assessing progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA) was a main agenda item when the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) met in March as the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for 'Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-First Century.' Also known as Beijing Plus Five, this UN Special Session will be held June 5-9, 2000. The PrepCom agreed that the review process would focus on: (i) best practices; (ii) obstacles encountered; (iii) vision for the future; and (iv) identification of new and emerging trends. [Note: in a draft proposal prepared by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women (UN/DAW) for the PrepCom, four issues had been suggested as cross-cutting themes (see GlobalNet #122). However, government delegates and NGOs alike argued that new and emerging issues should come from the review process itself, especially from the regional meetings, rather than being decided on before the process had begun.] It was also agreed that the review process would be undertaken on the basis of--and with full respect for--the PFA, which is not open to renegotiation. Governments that have not already done so were invited to prepare national action plans for implementing the PFA. The importance of involving NGOs in the development of these plans was underlined. BEIJING + 5 IS FOCUS OF NGO MEETINGS IN EUROPE: (a) The Karat Coalition organized a Central-Eastern European Preparatory Meeting for Beijing + 5 in Bucharest, Romania from May 15 16. Women from 12 countries discussed preparations for the review process, which included alternative national and regional reports, as well as priority and emerging women's issues. A follow-up meeting is planned for the autumn. Contact: AnA Centre, Tel/Fax: (40-1) 252-4959; E-mail: <ana@ana.sbnet.ro> (b) The WIDE-Network Women in Development Annual Conference will take place in Ede, The Netherlands, from May 28-30. Called "Linking Up: Reviews + 5 - Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing: Towards the 21st Century," it is being organized by Vrouwenberaad in cooperation with SID/WID (Society for International Development) and will provide an opportunity to share experiences and formulate strategies around the review process. The most recent issue of 'Connection', Vrouwenberaad's newsletter, focused on the theme of the conference. Contact WIDE, Tel: (32-2) 545-9070; Fax: (32-2) 512-7342; E-mail: <wide@gn.apc.org>; Web site: <www.eurosur.org/wide/>. Or Vrouwenberaad, Tel: (31-71) 5159-392; Fax: (31-71) 5175-391; E-mail: <vboswide@antenna.nl>. Website: <www.vrouwen.net/vboswide/>. (c) The first national NGO-organized conference in Germany will take place from May 27-30 in Erfurt, Thuringia, to prepare a detailed report about the implementation of the PFA in that country. The programme includes hearings and workshops on poverty, education, health, violence, migrants and the girl child. Contact Brennessel E.V. - NGO Conference, Tel: (37-361) 56-56-510; Fax: (37-361) 56-56-511; E-mail: <brennessel.erfurt@t-online.de>. GET INVOLVED IN GLOBAL DISCUSSIONS ON THE 12 CRITICAL AREAS OF CONCERN: Starting at the end of June and continuing into December, WomenWatch, the Web site of UN/DAW, UNIFEM and INSTRAW, will be hosting on-line discussion lists on the critical areas of concern in the PFA (with the exception of National Machineries, which has already been discussed). You are welcome to send your ideas and comments on the issue(s) around which you are working; the lists will be posted on <www.un.org/womenwatch/forum> . [Note: The <end-violence> list has already begun and the discussion so far has just been compiled into a book, 'Women @ Work Against Violence', which is available from Women, Ink. for $6.50 plus shipping and handling--address as IWTC; e mail <wink@womenink.org>.] STAY INFORMED ON BEIJING PLUS 5 WITH PREVIEW 2000: IWTC is preparing a series of six 24-page bulletins covering plans and preparations for the 5 year review of the PFA (five Previews and one Postview after the June 2000 Special Session). Preview #1 and #2 are already available and are free to individuals and organizations in the Global South [Note: Preview 2000 will automatically be sent to those on the IWTC mailing list]. Those living in the Global North can order the set of six for US$20, paid by US$ cheque or money order made out to IWTC, see address below. Bulk copies are also available; please contact Vanessa at IWTC (ext. 200) for cost and ordering information. 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.apc.org