Priority Theme Meeting
February 10, 2009
Baha’i International Board Room
Facilitator: Louise Cleary
Attendees: Amber Baker, Lois Beilin, Madeleine Brecher, Deanna Chitayat, Winifred Doherty, Victoria Edmonds, Loretta James, Catherine E. Moore, Eva Richter, Jackie Shapiro, Polly Woodard
The meeting convened at 12:09 p.m.
Commission on the Status of Women
Fifty-third session
Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.6/2009/1
Louise began facilitating the meeting by suggesting that the group go through the Secretary General’s report section by section, suggesting parts that would be helpful to highlight aspects, which CSW would endorse, and note aspects to which NGO CSW should draw attention.
I. Introduction
page 3, paragraphs 1 & 2
The group noted that the report is adequate in describing the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men except when related to HIV/AIDS care giving. The report could have been more specific and pointed regarding balance between men and women in care giving.
II. Global policy and legal frameworks
pages 3-5, paragraphs 3-13
The section does not discuss HIV/AIDS specifically until the tenth paragraph.
While it addresses girl-headed households in paragraph 11, it is not followed through to the conclusions as related to developing countries.
III. Patterns and trends in the unequal sharing of responsibilities between women and men
Pages 5-11, paragraphs 14-39
In paragraph 22, the document identifies the lower status and pay of care workers being a result of the workers being predominantly female. Would this be true if it were predominantly male? How does this relationship work: causation or correlation?
Paragraph 23 raises the issue of quality of care, which identifies the need for training.
While paragraph 25 discusses the exploitation of children, it does not make a judgment or give suggested actions to remedy this.
In paragraph 27, the point is made that men are sometimes involved in care work, but the examples are mostly from middle income developing countries, the assumptions underneath cannot be easily applied to low income countries.
Additionally, it seems that the goal is more unpaid care hours for men rather than promoting more paid hours for women. It is necessary to increase the status and compensation for care workers regardless of their gender.
Statements in paragraph 28 were raised as good examples of promoting gender equality, in this case about children. It also highlights men as role models.
Causes of unequal sharing of responsibilities
Paragraph 30 draws attention to the issues of customary law and legislation, which needs a huge amount of work in developing countries. ex. DRC
The last line of this paragraph cites “limited awareness of rights,” a phrase that should be emphasized because it is so important.
Paragraph 31 is important because of the stereotypical assumptions about men’s and women’s roles, especially to employers. How must this change? How can the assumption that men are deficient as caregivers also change? Additionally access to work for women is an issue. Without work, they end up in the care-giving role. Also women need to think of themselves in a new way, not in the box of their stereotypical gender role.
Consequences of the unequal sharing of responsibilities
Much of the data referred to are linked to labor market and economic consequences with little attention paid to political, social, physical health, or psychological consequences for women.
IV. Care-giving in the context of HIV/AIDS
pages 11-13, paragraphs 40-50
Paragraph 43 should further highlight the need for vocational training and additional supplies needed. It is also necessary to give better status to the caregivers.
The document does not communicate the urgency of the matter of providing adequate care for HIV/AIDS suffers and of the need for there to be equal sharing of this responsibility. Whole countries can’t function because of this issue. How do we move forward?
Paragraph 46 should have stronger language about older women taking on the responsibility of care-giving.
There is an issue in that men tend to take on a different set of responsibilities that are more stereotypical , an idea mentioned in paragraph 48.
V. Policy responses
pages 13-18, paragraphs 51-73
Time use surveys, mentioned several times in the report, including in paragraph 73, may not be useful tools in some cultural settings.
The whole discussion needs more emphasis on human rights.
VI. Conclusions and Recommendations
pages 19-21, paragraphs 74-78
General comments:
• Some specificity about the kinds of education and training proposed is needed e.g to break down stereotypes; in human rights; adequate training for carers in HIV/AIDS context
• Economic goals which could come from greater sharing of responsibilities could be more explicitly linked to the achievement of with MDGs
• Conclusions communicate passivity on the part of women. They are ‘acted upon’ rather than being seen as agents of change
• Need to increase the focus on strategies for change and provide examples of best practice.
Our Response
How can we pick up issues that we think are not given enough attention and focus on them at the breakout sessions and in encouraging NGOs to lobby governments on these issues?
Breakout Sessions
A lot of these issues are cross-cutting for all 8 breakout sessions.
Breakout sessions could emphasize more education to breakdown agenda stereotypes of young children and training for care givers. Additional focus could be made on human rights, enforcing rule of law where it protects women, and on care for HIV/AIDS patients.
The question of access is important. How could women access new programs? Their time spent caring for people plus transportation difficulties may impede them from accessing care and education.
How does this all work into MDGs? Could connections be made between what is being advocated in this document and the MDGs? The sections of the report that focused on economic effects could also be coordinated with the MDGs.
How can women be empowered rather than observed? Many of the actors don’t give money to empower women; it is not as attractive as other causes.
People may not have read the report before the sessions. While the UN representatives must support this document, NGOs must bring up the ways this document is lacking. This is a part of the advocacy. People who are going to be there advocating governments will have ideas to drive them.
The points made by the breakout groups will then be put into documents that people can continue to use as they lobby governments
Relevant Documents
E/CN.6/2009/4 – this document has some good examples of action points.
E/CN.6/2009/12 – has a discussion guide they will use at the round table
Oral statements can be submitted until February 27th.
Louise will choose a couple of items from the minutes and place those at the end of the minutes as the points we would most like to highlight in the breakout sessions
Facilitators of each breakout must be told what these are in a forum outside of the minutes so that they are distinct and not lost in the minutes.
Meeting adjourned at 1:04 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Amber Baker
