The following two key documents that will be negotiated at the March PrepCom: 1). The Draft Political Declaration and 2). The Structure of the Second Outcome Document of the Special Session on Beijing plus Five. A more completedraft of the Outcomes Document will be available January 24th, 2000 on the UNDAW website (http://www.un.org/daw). A list of other important documents appears at the end of this page.

DRAFT POLITICAL DECLARATION Beijing Plus Five: Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-First Century

We, the Governments participating in the Special Session of the General Assembly,

1. Reaffirm our commitment to the goals and objectives contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to the year 2000 as the culmination of the United Nations Decade for Women, 1976 to 1985.

2. Reaffirm our commitment to the implementation of the twelve (12) critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform for Action which are: women and poverty; education and the training of women; women and health; violence against women; women and armed conflict; women and the economy; women in power and decision making; institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women; human rights of women; women and the media; women and the environment; and the girl child; and call for the implementation of the Agreed Conclusions and resolutions on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women since the thirty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women;

3. Recognize that we have primary responsibility for the full implementation of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and all the relevant commitments for the advancement of women, and in this connection, call for continued international cooperation [G77 & China insert: including the fulfillment of internationally agreed targets for financial assistance.] [Australia, with addition by Holy See: , including through [Norway: enhanced] development cooperation and the fulfilment of commitments [US: made to ODA]. [Australia Alternative 1: including through enhanced development cooperation and by striving to achieve the fulfilment of international targets, where agreed, as soon as possible] [Australia Alternative 2: including by striving to achieve the internationally agreed target for ODA as soon as possible.] [G77&China: including striving for the fulfilment of the agreed target of 0.7% of the gross national product of developed countries for overall official development assistance as soon as possible, as well as increasing the share of funding for activities designed to implement the Platform for Action.]

4. Welcome progress made towards gender equality [US insert: including extensive ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women] [Holy See: and recognition of the equal rights and inherent human dignity of women and men and other purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women] and in this regard acknowledge the efforts at all levels of governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental, other international and regional organizations and urge continued efforts for the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

5. Recognize the role and contribution of civil society in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and encourage their participation in further implementation and assessment processes.

   5 bis: Emphasize that men must involve themselves and take joint responsibility with women for the promotion of gender equality.

   5 ter: Reaffirm the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in the process of implementation of the outcome of other major UN conferences [EU insert: and the need for integrated and coordinated follow-up.] [EU proposes to move 5 ter to become 7bis] (continued over page) (Draft Political Declaration continued from page 5)

6. Reaffirm our commitment to overcome obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies and to strengthen and safeguard a national and international enabling environment and to this end, pledge to undertake further action to ensure its full and accelerated implementation, including through the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes, and promoting women's full participation and empowerment and enhanced international cooperation for the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

7. Agree to regularly assess further implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action with a view to bringing together all parties involved in the year 2005 to assess progress and consider new initiatives, as appropriate, ten years after the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action and twenty years after the adoption of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies.

8. Pledge to ensure the realization of societies in which both women and men work together towards a world where every individual can enjoy equality, development and peace in the 21st century.

Structure of the Second Outcome Document of the Special Session on Beijing Plus Five

Section A. Introduction Reference to the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA), Agreed Conclusions of CSW, the Beijing Declaration, and to the changing environment in which PfA is being implemented

Section B. Achievements and obstacles in the implementation of the PFA To follow the 12 critical areas of concern of the Platform for Action, summary of trends in achievements and obstacles would draw from the SG's report

Section C. New challenges affecting the full implementation of the PFA Some suggestions were:
the effect on women of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, especially in Africa; ageing and its effect on women; feminization of poverty, and the new emphasis given to it in recent years; globalization and its effects on women; role of women in peace building; -building and -making; and in re-establishing peace;* trafficking in women;	political participation of women; government/NGO partnerships; role of men in gender equality; women and health - women-specific health concerns, health research and gender; advantages of information technology on women; population movements.

Section D. Actions and initiatives to overcome obstacles and to achieve the full and accelerated implementation of the PFA Some suggestions were:

women's full enjoyment of human rights; women's participation at all levels; use of dual strategy, both gender mainstreaming and women-specific/targeted action; financial crisis and its impact on women. role of men; exchange of information on best practices and lessons learned; turn rights into practice; build capacity for women's empowerment and gender equality; ensuring accountability for gender equality; participation and partnerships; ensuring gender equality in a changing world;

lack of resources; impact of globalization; inequitable world economic order; absence of durable peace; socio-cultural obstacles while respecting and taking due account of cultural diversity; mobilization of resources; capacity building; cooperation and partnership; bridge gap in the level of implementation of the PfA in developing and developed countries; promote a culture of peace: strengthen South-South cooperation.

Other Important Documents