Editorial - Why did we come to the UN?

We came mainly because we have many proposals that will empower citizens and enable them to bring about positive change, but also because the UN is a place of power where important decisions are made that govern local and national policies. We are here to promote common strategies which allow us to achieve gender equality at all levels of life.

There are many possibilities for strategizing: for some it is negotiation, for others mobilisation or opposition or possibly a combination of all three. No matter the difference in strategy it would seem that what we have in common is the neccesity to establish a free flow of information. This will not only ensure that we reach better strategic positions in terms of quality and quantity, but will also provide a mechanism to ensure that the political process and areas of negotiation are transparent. Information is power.
Irene Leon WomenAction 2000

Appropriate ICTs - Can ICTs really make a difference?

We are convinced that globalization and the emerging information society will either advance the status of women in society or reinforce their marginalization. African women already network and organize actions themselves. Appropriate application of ICTs can enable women to access information and knowledge which can assist in overcoming the realities of poverty and exclusion. The 1995 United Nations World Conference on Women (UNWCW) was a major impetus for women’s advances in the use of ICTs. During the preparatory phase of the UNWCW, women were pioneers in taking up the use of email for information exchange, lobbying and campaigning. Though the Internet was a relatively new tool for women, those who gained access and learned to use it were quick to grasp its potential to facilitate the UNWCW agenda. The development of ICTs is taking place in a global context of gender inequalities. In Africa disparities exist amongst women in terms of access to education, land, credit, literacy etc. Gender intersects with many other differences and disparities which also shape women’s ICT needs and experiences such as: race, ethnicity, class, culture, age, history, sexual orientation, geographic location, disability. Poverty, war and endemic violence against women are ever present realities in the lives of many women living in Africa.

"ICTs .. bring profound changes to our communities. They influence how we know and understand the world. They change work methods and the ways in which we communicate. They affect how we access and share information. They are also an important source of power. By acquiring the equipment and skills to use them, we gain access to that power."

The Internet : Getting Connected, published by the African Gender Institute and Women’s Net
APC Africa Women

Interview - A testimony as a collage of actions

Over 500,000 women and girls from the former Soviet Union, mainly from the Russian Federation, have been forced into sexual slavery as prostitutes in over 50 receiving countries, including US. Because of the opening Eastern market, the economy continues to decline, and people became vulnerable. Dr Anele Heiges, member of the MiraMed Institute which aims to combat the growing scourge of criminal trafficking, explains the four main areas of intervention. First, the Institute has to work globally to get better laws. At the moment in Russia, Anele Heiges explains, ‘legislation is being drafted’. In other words, there is no law yet. The second major area is education. To provide the population with professional skills, many Russian volunteers, among others college students and retired people, teach. There are courses in English as a second language, computer skills and ICT networking, and art for personal expression. Thirdly, the Institute focuses on combating sex trafficking. Finally, it has set up a program of job creation, because as Anele Heiges says ‘if there is no work, they go to trafficking’.

In a program to involve the public in their work, MiraMed set up a chatroom in June and September 1999, ‘allowing people to break the silence surrounding this problem’. It revealed a real popular desire to solve the problem. ‘Testimony of tears, of joy, of gratitude…’ Some policemen became involved. Today, Anele Heiges remains optimistic. ‘With very few means, we will do big things. At the least, we are making the traffickers work more difficult’.
Joelle Palmieri, WomenAction 2000

NGO Caucus

Towards a strong network

First Francophone meeting took place on March 1^st. Almost 20 women coming from Africa, Canada and Europe, reached this initiative. The Caucus decided to create a discussion-list to network and to ask UN interpreters to translate with a feminized language such as ‘Madame, la Présidente’ (Mrs. Chairman). Next meeting, next week.

Health

Yesterday’s meeting discussed language to be included in the Outcomes Document. The caucus agreed on several proposals relating to women and HIV. The document needs to emphasize the responsibility of HIV-infected people not to spread the virus. Surveys and statistics are needed for all age groups (highlighting the 15 to 24 year-olds). In respect to stigmatization, the language needs to be more concrete ("governments have to tell their public that the HIV virus can affect everybody, independently of lifestyle"). The caucus will meet again today (1.30 pm, location to be announced) and decide on a complete first draft of language suggestions to the Outcome Document.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific Women Watch (APWW) functions as the Regional Caucus for Asia-Pacific.

It identified five key issue areas as their regional priority: women and economy; continuing human rights abuses of women; armed conflict; institutional mechanism to promote equality for women; and political participation in UN meetings.

Outcome of their Asia Pacific Regional Symposium stresses that the past few years have been particularly difficult for the region. The Outcome Document (L1/Rev.1) was considered insufficient as it fails to mention the effect of globalization in capitalist economic framework failing also to recognize the concept of inherent social responsibility and equality. The region has seen an increase in the number of women living in poverty largely caused by international influence including globalization. Complete failure of the international community to develop mechanisms for the regulation and accountability of new centers of power. The caucus also alerted that the repeated mention and emphasis on "civil society" could mean shifting of state responsibility and the equity to NGOs and the civil society.

As the countries reel under debt, there are cuts in the social sector. Safety nets are a lip service. There is reduced access to affordable quality health care; including primary health care; increased struggle for means of livelihood. Food security stands endangered. Pam Rajput said five years ago in CSW "Miss Universe wants Pepsi, Miss World wants Coca Cola. What does the poor women want? Safe drinking water! Either water is not available, or it is poisonous, mixed with toxic waste." These conditions have not changed since before Beijing. Development with a human face is yet to see the light of day. Further, in the past five years, the region has witnessed an increasing culture of violence, trafficking, the escalating commodification of women and girl children and violation of their human rights.

APWW will meet 10:30–16:00 3rd March 8th Floor Church Center for drafting and strategizing.

Read Caucus Statements at: www.womenaction.org/csw44/resources.html

Cross-cutting

Olympic Games and Afghanistan

At the initiative of the NEGAR (Association of assistance to women of Afghanistan) and of the Atlanta-Sydney Committee (fighting discrimination against women in sports), a delegation of five young men and women athletes of Afghanistan decided to go to Sydney to attend, at least symbolically, the Olympic Games of the year 2000. This project demonstrates the will to an entire people to resist destruction and the refusal of Afghan women to be buried alive.

More information: w113111@club-internet.fr

World Water Forum and Gender

The second World Water Forum will be held March 17-22 2000 in the Netherlands. This global conference of government Ministers will prepare international policy regarding this crucial issue. Gender and Water falls at the CSW under Chapter K of the Beijing Platform for Action. The International Information Centre and Archives for the Women’s Movement conducted a global e-mail based consultancy on gender and water, from October 1999 through to February 2000. This was part of an effort to ensure that women's concerns are taken into consideration. The resulting recommendations to the Ministerial Conference will be made available in Spanish, French and English at www.iiav.nl/knowhow/water.html. The Gender and Water listserv is continuing. To subscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@nic.surfnet.nl. In the message area type: Subscribe water your first name your last name.

Resources

WomenAction 2000 (NGO)
www.womenaction.org
Email: info@womenaction.org

WomenWatch (UN)
www.un.org/womenwatch
UN Division on the Status of Women (UNDAW)
www.un.org/womenwatch/daw
Email: daw@un.org