voices of pacific women dr pat harrison oam, mb,bs (london)
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Voices of Pacific Women
Dr Pat Harrison OAM, MB,BS (London)
Greetings and apologies from
BPW International President Freda Mirikilis
Introduction
My backgroundWhy I am hereMaking your voices heardMy experience
BPW International• Founded 1919 in USA• Became International Federation 1930 • Founding Members
United States of AmericaItalyGreat BritainFranceAustriaItalyCanada
2012 BPW is in over 90 countries Has close ties with the United Nations through
Economic and Social CouncilWorld Health OrganisationInternational Labour
OrganisationUN Women (formally UNIFEM)UNICEFUNDPUNIDO
What does the United Nations do for Women?
Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women
Adopted by UN General Assembly 1979
Entered into force 1982
A Document outlining the Human Rights of Women
Individual Governments ratify to make it policy in their jurisdiction
Commission on Status of Women
Developed very early in the history of UN
Meets annually in New York
Government delegations and NGOs both attend
Discusses matters affecting women and develops policy for implementation by Governments
Making our Voices Heard
The United Nations sponsored a series of Conferences for women
1975 International Women’s Year 1st World Conference for Women in Mexico
1980 Mid decade conference in Copenhagen
1985 End of Decade for Women3rd World Conference in Nairobi
19954th World Conference for Women in Beijing
THE UN PROCESS
How are our voices heard?
NGO Preparatory Conference
Regional Meeting for Governments
Commission on the status of women
The Beijing Conference
The Platform for Action
12 critical areas of concern
12 Critical Areas of Concern
A Women and PovertyB Education and training of womenC Women and healthD Violence against womenE Women and armed conflictF Women and the economy
Critical Areas of Concern ( cont)
G Women in power and decision makingH Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of womenI Human rights for womenJ Women and the mediaK Women and the environmentL The girl child
The Follow Up
Commission on the Status of Women
Lobbying Governments
Updating resolutions from Beijing
Beijing plus 20
Global Compact for Women
The Universal Declaration of Human RightsThe International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at WorkThe Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentThe United Nations Convention Against Corruption
Millenium Development Goals
Year 2000
UN General Assembly Announced 8 Goals to alleviate Poverty by 2015
End Poverty and Hunger
Universal Education
Gender Equality
Child Health
Maternal Health
Combat HIV Aids
Environmental Sustainability
Global Partnership
The UN Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption:
Human RightsPrinciple 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; andPrinciple 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
LabourPrinciple 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; andPrinciple 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
EnvironmentPrinciple 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; andPrinciple 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption
Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Women’s Empowerment Principles: Equality Means Business
Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities.
The Principles are:1Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality.2Treat all women and men fairly at work — respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination.3Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers.4Promote education, training and professional development for women.
5Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women.6Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.7Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality.
How do we achieve these Principles?
Empower women by educating employers and employees Educate by direct contact with employers, both multinationals and smaller local employersUN Women in association with BPW are and will hold seminars to encourage more establishments to sign on
Internet References
Women’s Empowerment Principles can be found on the UN Global Compact Web Site
Calvert Women’s Principles
What can you do locally?
1 Lobby your government to support the Global Compact
2 Lobby Government and Business to embrace the Women’s Empowerment Principles
3 Encourage women to apply for senior positions and support them
4 Encourage women to stand for election and support them
5 Hold information sessions at schools and universities to make women aware of the issues and encourage them to be involved
6 Publicise success when employers sign up for WEPS
7 Support those companies who sign up for WEPS
Thank you
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