Press conference by WOMEN’S NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

Women’s organizations were “sorely disappointed”, even outraged, that gender equality within the United Nations system had not been addressed as a central part of United Nations reform, representatives of women’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs) told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference today.

That concern had been the topic of an open letter to the Secretary-General and Member States from non-governmental organizations attending this year’s session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Samantha Cook of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom said.  At the 2005 World Summit, Governments had made a number of commitments on gender equality and United Nations reform.  That had become an issue of great concern during the Commission’s fiftieth session, which was expected to conclude on Friday, 10 March.

During the 2005 Summit, women’s groups had asked for specific commitments on gender equality, June Zeitlin, the Executive Director of the Women’s Environment and Development Organization.  Governments had also committed to gender parity at the 1995 Beijing Conference.  Instead of moving closer to women’s equal representation, the United Nations had moved in the wrong direction.  The Organization was not only stagnating -- it was going backward.  Of the 15 members of the new High-Level Panel on System Wide Coherence in areas of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment, only three were women.  The shortlist for the position of Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) contained no women at all, she added. 

In 2006, it was unacceptable that the disparity between men and women was getting worse in an institution committed to gender equality, she said.  The appointment last Friday of Mark Malloch Brown to the position of Deputy Secretary-General, a post held by a woman, best exemplified their concern.  In the letter, NGOs called on the Secretary-General to explain how he would address the issues regarding women’s concerns both in terms of appointments and the larger gender equality agenda in United Nations reform.

This year’s celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March provided an opportunity for senior leaders to affirm their commitment to gender equality, she added.  The bigger question, however, was what actions would follow the commitments made.

Charlotte Bunch, Executive Director of Women’s Global Leadership, noted that, while there had been much rhetoric on the United Nations commitment to gender equality, the issue had not made it into the United Nations reform agenda.  Non-governmental organizations were asking that formal consultations be held with women’s groups on the High-Level Panel.  The United Nations had repeatedly said that development depended on women and that women were at the centre of humanitarian crises.  Women must, therefore, be brought to the centre of discussion.

She said there was also concern in the negotiations on the new Human Rights Council that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women might be downgraded or combined with other treaty bodies.  Women-specific reporting on the treaty must be kept.

Another issue of concern was the women’s machineries within the United Nations, she said.  While there had been talk of “gender architecture”, the current configuration within the United Nations was more like a shack.  The United Nations had long advocated gender budgeting in national budgets.  The time had come to do the same with the Organization’s budget.  Putting women’s equality at the centre of the twenty-first century would require a new look at United Nations reform, from the eyes of women.

Pawadee Tonguthai of the Asia Pacific Women’s Watch said the United Nations had not acted as a role model for Governments in terms of putting women in decision-making positions.  Many of its high-level committees were notably underrepresented by women.  It was essential that the United Nations reform process reflect equal participation.  Without the United Nations as a role model, Governments would go back on their commitments.  Indeed, while women in some South-East Asian countries had reached top positions, the number of women in the legislature had dropped dramatically.

Patriarchy still remained strong in the Asia-Pacific region, she added.  While women had constitutional and legal rights, implementation of those rights was still missing.  Women’s rights, moreover, were often seen in terms of welfare.  In the letter, NGOs called on the Secretary-General and Member States to address their concerns on International Women’s Day.

What specifically were the women’s groups asking the Secretary-General to address on International Women’s Day? a correspondent asked.

Responding, Ms. Bunch said they wanted the Secretary-General to commit to adding more women in the High-Level Panel, as that body was supposed to make a substantial judgement on the work of the United Nations.  They also wanted him to find a way to strengthen the women’s machineries and ensure that the United Nations work on women be given more resources.   The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, moreover, must be seen as a key human rights treaty body and not combined with others.

Also responding, Ms. Zeitlin said the need for better resources had been sidelined during the reform process.  The Secretary-General should set a date on how he planned to proceed.  He should also tell Member States and United Nations agencies that he would not accept a list of candidates for top positions that did not include 40 to 60 per cent women.

Ms. Tonguthai suggested the Secretary-General support the appointment of a special rapporteur for the elimination of violence against women.

The Secretary-General could also appoint more women special representatives, Ms. Bunch added.  In doing so, the Secretary-General would send a message that Governments needed to take seriously their commitment to include women in the peacebuilding processes.

Responding to a question on the expected outcome of the Commission on the Status of Women, Ms. Zeitlin noted said that as the issue of reform was not on the Commission’s agenda, it would not be taking formal action in that regard.

Ms. Tonguthai said she expected this week’s negotiations to be contentious on a certain number of issues, including women’s reproductive health rights.

In its discussion on its working methods, the Commission would have the opportunity to focus on the need for implementation, Ms. Bunch said.  In the process of upgrading other bodies, it was important to ensure that the Commission’s status not be downgraded.

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For information media • not an official record