Highlights from Wednesday, 15 March

Delegates met in Working Group I in the afternoon and evening to continue discussion of Section II (achievements and obstacles) and begin discussion of Section III (current challenges affecting the full implementation). Working Group I discussed paragraph 8 (achievements on women and health), paragraph 28 (new issues in PFA implementation), and paragraph 32 (women and labor migration). Working Group II convened in the morning and afternoon to continue negotiation of Section IV (actions and initiatives). Working Group II discussed, inter alia, paragraph 55 bis (macro-economic and social policies and programmes recognizing the burden of poverty and ensuring universal access to social services), paragraph 56 (d) (actions taken by governments on gender disparities in education), paragraph 56 (d) bis (elimination of gender discrimination in education), paragraph 56 (e) (closing the gender gap in primary and secondary education), In the afternoon, the General Assembly's 93rd plenary meeting adopted two resolutions on the participation and accreditation of NGOs at the Beijing +5 Special Session.
In the Corridors: *Word is in the air that agreement is close on the Draft Political Declaration, which in its current form contains two of the PrepCom's trickier issues: references to ODA and CEDAW. Delegates hope that this will be both a sign of progress, and an important statement of political will. *PrepCom Chair Rose Odera has reportedly been assigned a new diplomatic posting in Ottawa. Questions are swirling about the timing of this transfer. NGOs plan a letter politely affirming the importance of Chair Odera's leadership and continued participation in the Beijing review process. *The officially unspoken word of the week may be "intersessionals." One delegation, perhaps concerned about budgetary implications, optimistically predicted the document would be finished on time. Others remarked on the cost of returning from capitals, and expressed concern that New York-based diplomatic teams have not always brushed up on gender issues. Late April is a possibility, with extra work expected just before the Special Session as well..

Above: Working Group I Chair Kristen Mlacak, Canada

Working Group I Chair Kristen Mlacak, Canada, confers with John Klink (Holy See)

On paragraph 32 (women and labor migration), the Holy See supported the G-77/China's suggested language on: women's and girls' increased involvement in regional and international labor migration, mainly in farm labor, domestic work and the entertainment industry; exposure of migrant women to inadequate working conditions, increased health risks, trafficking, economic and sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of abuse; and the separation of migrant women from their children.

Wendy Gordon, ENB writer, speaks with Chair Mlacak