From isis at isiswomen.org Mon Jul 26 04:44:13 2010 From: isis at isiswomen.org (Isis International) Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:44:13 +0800 Subject: [we!] July 2010: Creation of UN Gender Entity sparks celebrations and cautious optimism among women Message-ID: <4C4D58ED.406@isiswomen.org> MOVEMENTS WITHIN Creation of UN Gender Entity sparks celebrations and cautious optimism among women by Anna M. Dinglasan Women keep watchful eye on new Philippine President on Reproductive Health Issues by Anna M. Dinglasan INTERMOVEMENTS Recognising Women's Strength and Challenges in Building Cultures of Peace: An Agenda of Peace and Development Actors by Marion Cabrera COMMUNITY AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA AMARC Deplores Murder of Community Radio Worker ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Applications: Isis Activist School on Engendering Climate Justisce DAWN Training Institute *MOVEMENTS WITHIN* *Creation of UN Gender Entity sparks celebrations and cautious optimism among women *by Anna M. Dinglasan, Isis International All over the world , women have cause for celebrations as the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on July 2, 2010 creating the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. UN Women, as it is now named, is the result of years of negotiations between member states, and advocacy by the global women's movement. It is also part of the UN reform agenda that aims to bring together resources and mandates for greater impact and efficiency. More specifically, it is the response to challenges faced by the UN in its efforts to promote gender equality globally, including inadequate funding and the absence of a single driver recognised to direct all UN activities on gender equality issues. It consolidates the efforts of four UN bodies that focus exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment-- Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI), and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The consolidation of these four bodies will, according to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, "significantly boost efforts to promote gender equality, expand opportunity and tackle discrimination around the globe." UN Women is envisioned to be effective machinery to support intergovernmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women in the formulation of policies, global standards and norms; help member states to implement these standards by providing suitable technical and financial support to countries that request it; forge effective partnerships with civil society; and help the UN system to be accountable for its own commitments on gender equality. Yet while this is a celebrated milestone, women's rights advocates remain at the edge of their seats. Charlotte Bunch, former director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University and founding member of the Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) campaign said, "We have high expectations for this new agency to be a solid foundation for advancing the human rights of women as central to global policy efforts to reduce poverty and move toward greater realisation of peace and democracy in the world. The coalition of women's groups and other social justice, human rights and development organisations that played a pivotal role in this effort will now turn its focus towards ensuring that the new body has the human and financial resources necessary to succeed." For Gigi Francisco, General Coordinator of Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) which has also been one of the global networks in the GEAR campaign, she is "cautiously optimistic," as she brings to light some issues that are likely to pose challenges for UN Women. "Much remains to be seen. True, we are celebrating something that we [women's organisations] have worked hard for through more than two years. We went through enormous discussions to reach unities on lobbying around the new gender entity. It wasn't easy but it has been a positive process," she said during an interview with Isis International. According to Francisco, while UN Women can provide an opportunity for the UN to interlink previous initiatives and efforts on women's rights and gender quality both at the the policy and operational levels, this systematisation and streamlining also presents new challenges and risks. "In the past, there was no central body that consolidated the different efforts of the UN in a holistic and integrated plan. While this posed a challenge, it also created various opportunities. Now, a UN Women consolidates all initiatives by the various UN bodies and interlinks all efforts both at the normative framework and operational levels. This is good for systematisation and organisation but it also means that we lose the diversity and variety of opportunities that were once accessible to a large range of women's organisations." Funding remains to be a stark reality. As GEAR envisions UN Women to operate with stable and predictable resources aimed at 1 billion dollars in the next few years, and while member states have already recognised that a minimum investment of 500 million dollars is needed for operations, available funding will largely depend of the voluntary contributions made by governments. To this end, UN Women, according to Francisco, will have "to generate respect and political support from within the UN system and among its member states to gain the financial support in needs to function effectively." Aside from funding, there is also the issue of governance of UN Women. GEAR has repeatedly said that it seeks "strong leadership at the top with an Undersecretary General who combines a global vision with gender equality expertise on the ground." Like many women, the GEAR campaign is optimistic that UN Women will bring greater representation from the global south. However as Francisco pointed out, while greater representation from the global south in the governance structure of UN Women is promising, it is also very important to be reminded that not all governments of the G-77 are supportive of women's rights. "While we [at DAWN] are happy that the governance board will be reflective of the proportional share of developing countries in the UN General Assembly, we are also conscious that there may need to be a stronger lobbying and advocacy effort on our part to make sure that governments that will sit in the governing body will have women's rights and gender equality in their agenda and the interests of the women's movement in their mandate," she said. Though the creation of UN Women will certainly strengthen efforts towards gender quality, it does not mean there is less work. On the contrary, it merely underlines how much work there still needs to be done. "This is only the beginning. We must continue to ensure that we are building a United Nations that really works for all women on the ground," according to Rachel Harris of Women's Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO) which has also active in the GEAR campaign. Truly, "Implementation requires active engagement of all stakeholders to get the entity up and running successfully," Harris said. UN Women is definitely a reason to be happy and excited, yet also---as Gigi Francisco put it---"cautiously optimistic. References Interview with Gigi Francisco, General Coordinator of DAWN UN Women Born: Civil Society Celebrates Creation of Gender Equality Entity After Four Years of Advocacy, Press Statement by the Gender Equality Architecture Reform Campaign, 30 June 2010 UN creates new structure for empowerment of women, UN Press Release, 2 July 2010 *Women keep watchful eye on new Philippine President on Reproductive Health Issues *by Anna Dinglasan, Isis International Barely a month as the new president of the Philippines, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino Jr. already has women's organisations, both locally and internationally based, keeping a watchful on him. Aquino has been cornered about his views and plans on reproductive health, which has remained one of the most controversial issues in the country. The Philippines is a largely Catholic with the church having substantial influence in politics. The Catholic church has also been instrumental during the 1986 People Power Revolution against Ferdinand Marcos which helped install Corazon C. Aquino, the younger Aquino's mother, as the first woman president of the country. Given this context, it is not surprising that the new administration has remained to have quite a vague stand on issues of reproductive health and rights. Aquino's platform on reproductive rights is focused on population control and poverty alleviation as opposed to approaching it as integral to women's human rights. He emphasised "responsible parenthood," as the main agenda for reproductive health, saying that the government does not have the right to dictate to parents how many children they should have and neither does the state have the right to tell them about how to plan their families. Aquino advocates the need for an aggressive programme that would constantly remind parents of their responsibility to the children they conceive, as well as providing them with support in terms of education, housing, health concerns and food. He said the main task of government is to make options available to all. He said he wants all Filipinos to be educated about the different methods of family planning and for them to be free to choose whatever method they prefer. Promising as it sounds, women's organisations and women's rights advocates in the Philippines challenges the new administration by demanding that it takes reproductive health and rights as more than issue of population control. In a statement released by the Women's Global Network on Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) in late June, women's organisations urge the new administration to "seize the opportunity to respect the rights of all Filipino women to reproductive and sexual health, as guaranteed under national and international law," emphasising the need to make comprehensive reproductive and sexual health services universally accessible and available throughout the country. The statement also calls on the Aquino government to take "concrete steps to meet the sexual and reproductive health rights obligations outlined in the the country's 1987 constitution and the international commitments it has made at the United Nations". It also calls on the new government to reform national laws pertaining to reproductive and health rights as well as to work towards the passage of a comprehensive reproductive health bill. WGNRR says that it hopes Aquino's platform takes into account the need to support the advancement of the health, well-being, and equitable distribution of wealth and power within and between families and communities. This includes addressing the needs of prospective and current parents who identify as indigenous peoples, an ethnic minority, urban poor, landless peasants, differently-abled or an inmate in prison. Further, the network believes this agenda should include the provision of a full, comprehensive range of contraceptive and other reproductive health services that are publicly available, universally accessible, and provided on a non-judgemental, non-discriminatory and voluntary basis. Integral to this is the provision of gender sensitive, empowering and non-discriminatory comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights education programmes to all, especially the youth. References: WGNRR statement released on 29 June 2010. Interview with Ms. Tanya Roberts-Davis of the Women's Global Network on Reproductive Rights http://www.ucanews.com/2010/02/01/aquino-denies-back-down-on-birth-control-bill http://noynoy.ph/blog/tag/rh-bill/ *INTERMOVEMENTS * *Recognising Women's Strength and Challenges in Building Cultures of Peace: An Agenda of Peace and Development Actors *by Marion Cabrera, Isis International A woman's belongings and life in a sack; a day care teacher taking pride in how she has contributed to building a culture of peace by shaping the values of children under her care; a young leader's aspirations and dreams amidst a situation of conflict-- these are but snippets of some stories shared by the women who participated in workshop conducted by Isis International and Balay Rehabilitation Center called Crafting Messages for Women and Peacebuilding: Workshop on Feminist Development Communications last May 24-29 in La Anclar, Davao City, Philippines. This five-day workshop is part of a two-year project on Cultural Politics of Conflict, Peace (CPCP) and the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325: Strategising and Capacity Building for Philippines and Indonesia. The project has two phases, the first one involving a feminist action research that seeks to identify concrete ways women are able to participate in different areas of peacebuilding using cultural politics as a framework. The second phase is on capacity building in gender, peace, and development communications which aims to strengthen grassroots women leaders' skills in peacebuilding. The workshop was designed to provide a venue for grassroots women to develop and enhance their knowledge on how to effectively communicate their experiences in armed conflict situations and their crucial role in peacebuilding. Practitioners of integrated theatre arts and communications for development were invited to facilitate sessions for the five-day interactive workshop. Through their expertise and guidance, participants were given a chance to craft their stories using different forms of communication tools such as vignettes, monologues, dance, radio plugs and posters---all of which are found to be effective means in reaching out to other women in the communities. At the workshop, participants shared that such training and capacity building opportunities are very empowering, saying that participating has allowed them to gain confidence and to take pride in what they do. In particular, Fely, a farmer and community leader said that, "At first I was very reluctant. I thought I could not do [the workshop activities]. I did not know how. But as I was accomplishing the tasks, I realized that there are a lot of things I can do-- things I thought I was not capable of accomplishing." Capping the workshop was a multi-stakeholder dialogue on Development Communications for Holistic and Sustainable Peace held on May 29 also in La Anclar in Davao City, which was attended by 24 participants from local government, non-governmental organizations working on women and peace, as well as media partners from Davao and the neighboring provinces of General Santos, North Cotabato and Kidapawan. During the dialogue Isis shared their learning journey with the women of Pikit and the importance of how interventions in peace and development need to be grounded in the lived-realities of women from the global south. Maureen Pagaduan, head researcher and consultant of the two year project shared that recognizing women's strength and resilience would not only be an instrumental framework for understanding the experience of peace and conflict but may also be a rich source of knowledge that can be tapped for a more innovative approach to peace and development interventions. The dialogue also showcased a multimedia presentation of the peace messages crafted by the workshop participants as well as a presentation of a one-year communication and advocacy plan, they likewise developed. Alicia, a local government worker, community volunteer and peace advocate who was among the presenters shared her thoughts on the role of women in the implementation of UNSCR 1325, "Let us, women, participate and work toward the implementation of policies that address our concerns. We have many policies in place that need implementation. There are very few of us, women, who know about [the UNSCR 1325]. What about those in the farthest and smallest localities? When will they know about these policies? These are the policies that we all should start working together to implement." The presentation and brief sharing from the participants was followed by a dynamic discussion of experiences as well as expression of commitments from various actors involved in peace and development ensued. Maugan Mosaid, of the Municipality of Pikit talked about his municipality's gender mainstreaming experience through local policy development and the creation of more concrete programmes for women. He committed to developing a programme on "Food for Peace," as a response to calls for government to pay attention to the immediate need for livelihood programmes for women. This will be patterned after the Municipal Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) "Food for Work Programme," where members of the community perform work for their area's rehabilitation and reconstruction in exchange for food. Mosaid also said he would bring together the other officials of Pikit to collaborate with other local governments on programmes and projects that can be adapted and implemented in his municipality. Moreover, local village leader, Mr. Omar Ungqui of Dalangaoen, committed to the call of gender inclusion by promising to have at least two women as part of the Village Council of Dalangaoen. The sharing and commitments achieved in the workshop and at the multi-stakeholder dialogue comes very timely as states and other actors prepare for the 10th year celebration of UNSCR 1325. They serve as a resounding reminder of how The sharing and commitments achieved in the workshop and at the multi-stakeholder dialogue comes very timely as states and other actors prepare for the 10th year celebration of UNSCR 1325. They serve as a resounding reminder of how The sharing and commitments achieved in the workshop and at the multi-stakeholder dialogue comes very timely as states and other actors prepare for the 10th year celebration of UNSCR 1325. They serve as a resounding reminder of how The sharing and commitments achieved in the workshop and at the multi-stakeholder dialogue comes very timely as states and other actors prepare for the 10th year celebration of UNSCR 1325. They serve as a resounding reminder of how women's participation in all areas of peacebuilding is a concern not only of women but of various stakeholders in peace and development work cutting across the local, national and international levels. *COMMUNITY AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA * *AMARC Deplores Murder of Community Radio Worker * The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC expresses deep shock and anger at the murder of Devi Prasad Dhital (Hemraj)Chairman of Community Radio Tulsipur on 22^nd July 2010. According to initial reports, Dhital was shot at Urahari, about 12 kilometers from Tulsipur in western Nepal on Thursday around 8:45 p.m. Dhital, a resident of Tulsipur bazaar was riding a motorcycle on his way back from the Fulbari VDC. He succumbed to chest injuries at the Rapti Zone Hospital, later in the night. His pillion rider sustained minor injuries. The assailants are absconding and the motive behind the attack is still unknown. Police sources have informed that investigation is underway. "Hemraj's murder has shocked the entire community broadcasting sector of Nepal and we deplore such heinous criminal act," said Raghu Mainali, Vice President for South Asia in the AMARC Asia Pacific regional board. "I call upon the concerned authorities and the local police administration to not to leave any stone unturned to ensure that the absconding criminals are brought to justice. Media persons are increasingly under attack from criminal groups and any negligence in investigation will only encourage such elements," he further said. Dhital was 45 and is survived by his wife, two daughters aged 7 and 9, a younger brother, and parents. AMARC expresses heartfelt condolences to Hemraj's family as well as to Radio Tulsipur at this time of great sorrow and loss. About AMARC: AMARC is an international non-governmental organization serving the community radio movement in over 110 countries, and advocating for the right to communicate at the international, national, local and neighborhood levels. AMARC has an International Secretariat in Montreal. It has regional sections in Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific and offices in Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Brussels, and Kathmandu. For more information, please contact* *Suman Basnet,Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, suman_basnet at asiapacific.amarc.org or visit www.asiapacific.amarc.org * ANNOUNCEMENTS* *CALL FOR APPLICATIONS (deadline 22 July 2010) Isis International Activist School on Engendering Climate Justice: The Southeast Asia Experience* Date: August 7-9, 2010 Venue: Isis International, 3 Marunong Street, Barangay Central, Diliman, Quezon City Isis International believes that at the core of effective advocacy is holistic communications strategies. As such, Isis has worked to engage its partners and networks to look into the theory and practice of feminist development communications for effective advocacy work through the Isis International Activist School. The Isis International Activist School is part of the organisation's efforts to systematise capacity building on gender and development communications for activists, feminists, and development practitioners on a variety of issues such as peace, human rights, migration, and LGBT advocacy. It was launched last April 2010 with an interactive dialogue with the theme: Development Communications for Migrant Rights: The China and Philippines Experience," this was attended by participants from mainland China, Hong Kong and the Philippines. After the successful launch of this capacity building programme, Isis is once again inviting grassroots leaders and activists, from the Southeast Asia to participate in the Isis International Activist School on Engendering Climate Justice: The Southeast Asia Experience. The Urgency of Engendering Climate Justice Climate change is a reality that is faced by people and countries in a variety of ways. Some of its effects have been the increasing numbers and intensity of typhoons and the long seasons of drought that have challenged food production, sanitation and have caused increasing - health problems. In these contexts we are presented with two faces of women's reality. On the one hand, women are indeed the most affected because of long-standing issues of gender; yet on the other, they are also active agents in addressing immediate and strategic solutions to climate justice. But how much of this consciousness actually permeate into the current discussions and production of knowledge on climate justice? This question will be explored in the three-day interactive workshop which has been structured into three basic components: . Climate Change Impacts and Movements on the Ground. This session surfaces the voices and experiences of women on how they are affected by climate change in their everyday life, and their responses and practices to address its impact in their families and communities. This session will likewise emphasise the importance for women to identify support systems and mechanisms that they need in order to address climate change at the practical and strategic level. . Engendering Climate Justice. This session aims to maximise interaction with climate justice practitioners who aim for the inclusion of women's voices and perspectives in achieving climate justice. It will cover topics on current discussions at the national, regional and international level, as well as alternative frameworks that help participants understand the roots of and solutions to climate change from a perspective based on inclusion, responsibility and accountability. . Crafting Communication Plans for ECJ. This session culminates the workshop with practical skills training on advocacy and development communications that will help the participants create a communications plan that carries the women's messages to various development actors and stakeholders invested in climate justice. This session also aims to provide the participants a venue to speak of their experiences and needs while asserting their recognition as an important stakeholder in the process of achieving climate justice. Who can participate? Grassroots women leaders working in the area of environment, development, food security, and climate change, who come from Southeast Asia. What are the required language skills? The workshop will be conducted in English. Handouts and reading materials that will be distributed will also be in English. However, fluency in English is not a requirement because peer translation may be facilitated for you. Participants who can speak English will be asked to translate for their co-participants. Who can apply for scholarships? Full scholarship that covers travel expenses and board and lodging for the duration of the workshop are limited to participants representing grassroots organisations coming from Southeast Asia only. Participants coming from other regions of Asia may also participate but will be asked to cover their own travel expenses. Should the organisation you belong to have the financial resources to shoulder the full cost of the workshop, you are encouraged to so. This is to ensure that more women are able to participate. What is expected of the participants? Selected participants will be expected to attend the all of the sessions and give their full and active participation aside from this the following is also expected of them: . Share their knowledge skills and experiences . Contribute to a conducive atmosphere for learning and exchange . Implement the communications plan and share the outcomes of these during the monitoring . Share their learning after the workshop through echo-sessions with their organisations and networks . Take part in the evaluation sessions during the workshop . Participate in post workshop evaluation six months after the workshop When is the Application Deadline? All applications must be submitted by 22 July 2010. Successful applicants will be informed of their acceptance between July 25 to 27, 2010. For more information on the Isis Activist School please contact the Governance, Communications and Democracy Programme: Marion Cabrera, Programme Coordinator Email: marion at isiswomen.org Tel. No: 63 2 9281956 local 109 Erika Rosario, Programme Associate Email: erika at isiswomen.org Tel. No: 63 2 9281956 local 114 *DAWN Training Institute (4th edition): Call for Applications* Dear friends, We are pleased to announce that the fourth global DAWN Training Institute (DTI) will take place from 10 to 28 October, 2011 in South East Asia. The main objectives of this three-week training course are to prepare young feminist activists from Southern countries for the challenges entailed in working for gender justice in the present global geopolitical and economic context; to build their capacity in understanding linkages between different issues and advocacy agendas, particularly those concerned with gender justice in its multiple and inter-linked dimensions -- economic, political, ecological, social and personal; and, to strengthen feminist analysis and advocacy work in some complex areas at global and regional levels. For those interested in applying to this DTI, please read carefully the attached call for applications which provides more detailed information. Applications can be made online via www.dawnnet.org. Alternatively, the application form may also be downloaded from the DAWN website to be sent back to dti2011 at dawnnet.org when completed. *The deadline for applications is September 15, 2010* Your help in disseminating this call among potential candidates will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks for your kind cooperation. Warm Regards, Zo Randriamaro Training Coordinator On behalf of DAWN Executive Committee -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: