Daily report for 30 March 1995

The 13th session of the Plenary of the CSW, chaired by Ms. Patricia Licuanan(Philippines), convened Thursday morning for a report on progress and plans forcompleting the work of the 39th session of the CSW. Two draft resolutions were alsointroduced. The Drafting Group convened briefly to collect amendments to Chapter VI(Financial Arrangements). Delegates also continued examining Chapter II (GlobalFramework) and Chapter IV (Strategic Objectives and Actions, Section D. Violenceagainst women) in closed informal-informal groups.

PLENARY

Ms. Licuanan reported that the working group on NGO accreditation had informed theBureau that members had reached an impasse and were forming a sub-group to decideon extending accreditation procedures. A decision is possible Friday. Ms. Licuananalso noted the progress on the draft Platform for Action. Delegates have discussed orsubmitted written amendments on all chapters, except Chapter VI (FinancialArrangements). Two informal-informal groups are examining the texts, and havecompleted work on Chapters I (Mission Statement) and III (Critical Areas of Concern).She noted that, in Chapter IV (Strategic Objectives and Actions), work on Sections A(The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women), B (Unequal access toand inadequate educational opportunities) and D (Violence against women) has beencompleted. Work on Section C (Inequalities in health status and unequal access to andinadequate health care services) has been postponed and work on Section F (Inequalityin women"s access to and participation in the definition of economic structures andpolicies and the productive process itself) was commencing. The Chair dismissed"rumors about a possible extension" or an extra session as "totally false." She notedthat resources would not be available for work after Tuesday.

Pakistan inquired about NGO access to the informal-informals. The Chair replied thatthe process had been kept as open as possible. Work was being conducted underconstraints, however, and even some delegates had not been able to attend theinformal-informals. The US inquired about the deadline for tabling a draft resolutionon NGO accreditation.

Ms. Licuanan turned the Chair over to Ms. Natallya Drozd (Belarus), who presidedover the introduction of two draft resolutions under Agenda Item 5 (Monitoring theImplementation of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies). Peru introduced draftresolution E/CN.6/1995/L.16, "Integration of displaced women into developmentalprocesses." Namibia introduced draft resolution E/CN.6/1995/L.18, "Women workingin agriculture and rural development." Amendments were made for both resolutions.

DRAFTING GROUP

The Drafting Group, chaired by Ms. Aida Gonzalez (Mexico), convened briefly onThursday afternoon to receive written amendments on Chapter VI (FinancialArrangements) from the G-77/China and the EU. The Chair noted that a number ofdelegations had worked with the regional groups and expected to achieve aconsolidated text.

INFORMAL-INFORMALS I

The informal-informal group considering Chapter II (Global Framework) met all dayThursday and expected to continue into the night to complete the second reading. Thisgroup will take up consideration of Chapter V (Institutional Arrangements) on Friday,after which it will consider Chapter VI (Financial Arrangements).

Among the paragraphs discussed Thursday was paragraph 21 (poverty of women). Theparagraph notes that macro-economic policies, including SAPs, have not always beendesigned to account for their impacts on women and girl-children. A revised referenceto the plight of women in rural or remote areas was included. A paragraph on thefamily is to be drafted. A paragraph noting women"s contributions to the economywas added. Paragraph 22 (female-headed households) now includes references to thecauses of poverty in female-headed households. Paragraph 22(bis) (role of religion andspirituality in women"s lives) was bracketed. In paragraph 23 (dependency ratiowithin families), references to long-term social policies and women"s needs in policyplanning were bracketed. Paragraph 23(bis) (diversity and barriers) was bracketed. Inparagraph 24 (communications changes), the call for a commitment to promote humanvalues was bracketed.

INFORMAL-INFORMALS II

The informal-informal group working on Chapter IV, Section D (Violence againstwomen), met all day Thursday. By Thursday evening, the group had completedSection D and turned its attention to Section F (Inequality in women"s access to andparticipation in the definition of economic structures and policies and the productiveprocess itself).

In Section D, paragraph 93 (trafficking and prostitution) was bracketed. In paragraph94(g) (punishment of State agents committing violence against women), delegatesinserted a reference to punishment for any State agent engaging in acts of violenceagainst women. A reference to migrant workers was added to 95(a)(bis) (services formigrant women victims of gender-based violence). A new paragraph referring to thelegal status of women migrants was added. In 95(b) (community educationcampaigns), a reference to "innovative" methods of conflict resolution was added. In95(b)(bis) (role of intermediate institutions), references to family planning centers andexisting school health services were bracketed. Paragraph 95(c) (education aboutviolence and violence prevention) was bracketed. In paragraph 95(d) (publicizinginformation about violence), a reference to the media was deleted and references to therole of the media were moved to paragraph 95(a)(bis). In 95(a)(bis) (mediaresponsibility), a reference to the media"s role was deleted, and references to non-stereotyped roles of women and men, professional guidelines and awareness of themedia"s role were added.

In paragraph 96(b) (education about violence), a reference to violence against womenas a crime was added. In paragraph 96(c) (abusive relationships), references toadolescents and healing programmes were inserted. In 96(c)(ter) (women in vulnerablesituations), references to refugee, displaced and internally displaced women and todeveloping new legislation for migrant workers were added. Paragraph 97(bis) (SpecialRapporteur) was bracketed.

In paragraph 98(a) (research causes of violence) references to the social, economic,cultural and political context of violence were bracketed. In 99(a)(bis) (eliminatingtrafficking), references to forced marriages and to punishment through civil andcriminal measures were added, and a reference to commercial sex work other thanprostitution was bracketed. In 99(a)(ter) (cooperation to dismantle traffickingnetworks), a reference to national and international cooperation was bracketed.

SUMMARY OF COMPLETED TEXTS

The informal-informal groups" consideration of Chapter III (Critical Areas ofConcern) and Sections A (The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women)and B (Unequal access to and inadequate educational opportunities) of Chapter V(Strategic Objectives and Actions) has been completed and the results have beenreleased. The following are summaries of bracketed text.

CHAPTER III. CRITICAL AREAS OF CONCERN

In paragraph 34 (advancement of women and achievement of equality), a reference tothe "innate dignity and the fundamental" equality between women and men isbracketed, as are references to "human rights" and "equity." In paragraph 35 (NairobiStrategies) specific references to impediments to realization of the strategic goals, withthe exception of "ingrained prejudicial attitudes," have been bracketed. In paragraph37 (call for strategic action), a reference to the need for "full respect for religious andethical values, cultural backgrounds and philosophical convictions in conformity withall human rights and fundamental freedoms" is bracketed. A number of additions tothe critical areas for action are bracketed: violence and the girl child; women livingunder foreign occupation or alien domination; and "universal" human rights.

CHAPTER IV. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS

SECTION A. The persistent and increasing burden on women: Theintroductory paragraph (39) contains a bracketed reference to unemployment andunderemployment. Paragraph 40 (the feminization of poverty) contains a bracketedreference to cultural and social factors for family instability. Paragraph 44 (increasewomen"s productive capacity), contains a bracketed reference to "sustained economicgrowth and sustainable development."

A.1. Review, adopt and maintain macroeconomic policies and developmentstrategies that address the needs and efforts of women to overcome povertywithin the framework of sustainable development: In Paragraph 46 (actions byGovernments), brackets remain around references to: "in the context of people-centered sustainable development;" the easing of migration policies; and developingpolicies for indigenous women. In paragraph 47 (action by international financial anddevelopment institutions), references to increased resources, debt cancellation and thecreation of an enabling environment are bracketed. Paragraph 47(bis) (actions byNGOs) is entirely new and bracketed. NGOs are called on to: mobilize to improve theeffectiveness of anti-poverty programmes; organize pressure groups; develop acomprehensive national strategy for improving social services; and mobilize to protectwomen"s traditional land and property rights.

A.2. Revise laws and administrative practices to recognize women"s rights toeconomic resources and to ensure women"s access to economic resources:Additions to paragraph 48 (action by Governments) are bracketed: enact laws toprevent rural and indigenous community resources from passing to the private sector;urge ratification of ILO Convention 169; and urge adoption by ECOSOC and the GAof the draft International Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

A.3. Provide women with access to savings mechanisms and institutions andto credit: Paragraph 53 (action by international organizations) contains thebracketed options to "increase" or "provide adequate" funding for entrepreneurialactivities.

A.4. Conduct research in order to enable women to overcome poverty:The only brackets in this section are on the call to [seek to] apply methodologies forincorporating gender perspectives on all policies.

SECTION B. Unequal access to and inadequate educationalopportunities: In paragraph 56 (education as a tool), references to education"scontribution to the achievement of [sustained economic growth], and [sustainabledevelopment]...[centered on the human person] are bracketed. In paragraph 58(discrimination in girls" access to education), references to "early marriages" and to"sexual harassment" are bracketed. Paragraph 59 (gender biased curricula), referencesto the impact of "the lack of sexual and reproductive education" on women and menand to the "rights, duties and responsibilities of parents and other persons" arebracketed.

B.1. Ensure equal access to education: In paragraph 63 (action byGovernments), brackets remain around references to freedom of conscience andreligion, repeal of discriminatory laws and prioritizing women"s educational provision.

B.2. Eradicate illiteracy among women worldwide: In paragraph 64(actions by Governments, national, regional and international bodies), the target year2000 is bracketed.

B.4. Develop non-discriminatory education and training: In paragraph 66(actions by Governments and educational and academic institutions), a sub-paragraphcalling for awareness about the status, role and respective contributions of women andmen in the family and society is bracketed. Most of a sub-paragraph that calls for theremoval of legal and regulatory barriers to sexual and reproductive health is bracketed.Also bracketed are sub-paragraphs regarding: integrated education and awarenessservices related to "youth sexuality;" appropriate education for indigenous women;pluricultural education for countries with indigenous people; respect for cultural andreligious diversity in educational institutions; and the removal of barriers to schoolingof pregnant girls and young mothers.

B.5. Allocate sufficient resources for educational reforms and monitorimplementation: In paragraph 70 (action by international and intergovernmentalorganizations), sub-paragraphs calling for monitoring the closure of the gap betweenwomen and men in education and for the allocation of a minimum percentage ofassistance to women and girls" education are bracketed.

B.5 (bis) [To promote life-long learning [educational processes] for girls andwomen]: The title contains the only brackets in this section.

IN THE CORRIDORS

A breakthrough in the impasse to the accreditation issue may come Friday morningafter a bilateral meeting between two of the delegations represented on the specialaccreditation working group. Failing that, the US delegation is expected ask a CSWmember to introduce a draft resolution on the issue over the weekend.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

PLENARY: The Plenary will meet today to act on draft resolutions and toconsider rules of procedure. A report from a working group on communications is alsoexpected.

INFORMAL-INFORMALS: The informal-informal groups will continuemeeting today. Evening, night, Saturday and Sunday sessions are all possible.