APWLD is an independent,
non-government, non-profit, organization. It is human rights network of
150 members:
lawyers, academics,
social scientists and
grassroots women’s organisations
from 23 countries of
the Asia Pacific region
Structure of the Organisation
Thai Association – (Women’s Studies Centre – Chiang Mai University)
Regional Council (22)Programme and Management Committee (7-9)Secretariat (11)
Regional Coordinator3 Programme OfficersAdministrative StaffVolunteers/Interns
WHR WG and 5 Task Forces (8-12)
Pacific
Melanesia – Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea (PNG), New Caledonia, Bouganville, Wallis & Futuna
Micronesia – Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru
Polynesia – Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, Tahiti, Hawaii, Easter Island
Asia Pacific Region
ASIASouthern Asia – Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, AfghanistanSouth-eastern Asia – Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, LaoEastern Asia – China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mongolia, KoreaCentral Asia – Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Network/Partners
Local and National NGOs
International and Regional NGOs
Intergovernmental Agencies
UN Agencies: UNIFEM, UNIFEM, UNDP/RRRT
DONORS
World Forum on Women
The United Nation’s Third World Forum on Women, Law and Development facilitated the formation of APWLD
Developed from the Dialogues initiated during this Forum and continued to 1986 and was registered in 1988
APWLD’s objectives:
To promote basic concepts of human rights in the region evolved through the struggles of women and men and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and other relevant international human rights instruments
To enable women in the region to use law as an instrument of change for the empowerment of women in their struggle for freedom, justice, peace, equality, security and development
Funding Partners-
1988 – The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) –
This is a field which is not only fraught with complexities but it is also a field in which results can be expected only on a very long term basis. However, investments in the development of women is very essential for it means the direct development of the human resource potential of half the nation.
(Nimalka Fernando – Regional Coordinator 1989)
Funding Partners
1988 – present -The Ford Foundation1989 –present - The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)1989 – Danchurchaid1993 – present - Hivos 1995- Government of Netherlands1997 – present - International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (ICHRDD) in Canada1999 – present - Novib oxfam and HBF
APWLD has six programmes
Women’s Human RightsViolence against
WomenWomen and
EnvironmentRural and Indigenous
WomenLabour and MigrationWomen’s Participation
in Political Processes
Strategies- Activities
Advocacy – UN/Regional/International
Capacity Building/training
Information and Communication – Media and Website
Research and Publications
Networking /movement building
World Conference against Racism (WCAR)
Incorporating women’s voices into the WCAR
WCAR adopt a gendered approach to the declaration and plan of action, identifying the inter-sectionality of gender, race and other forms of discrimination in specific sections of the outcomes document.
Include consultations with other UN Special Rapporteurs and
Representatives
UNSR on Rights to Housing and Adequate Standard of Living
UNSR on MigrantsUNSR on Extra judicial killingsUN Special Representative on Human
Rights DefendersUNSR Food, Health etc.
SUPPORTED MOVEMENTS … the participation of marginalised members in
peoples’ fora -
World Social Forum, Mumbai,
Asian Social Forum, Hyderabad,
Work in collaboration with partners/Co-organising regional and sub regional
consultations and meetings for women fisherfolk, indigenous women, peasant women, Dalits and
other marginalised groups
Trade agreements – Agreement on Agriculture
(AoA)2000 Pesticide Action Network (PAN AP) and APWLD conducted research on the impact of the AoA women in the region
WEN task force sent a member and a grassroots fisherwoman from Kelera, India to attend the World Food Summit
Food Sovereignty Campaign
One of the greatest injustices RIW face is unfair trade practices and rules on agricultural goods and services.APWLD’s focus has been in 2 main areas A) education B) campaigning against the economic policies of WTO
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
PROVIDED INFORMATION
AS A RESOURCE FOR THE NETWORK ่•Forum News (3 times a year)
•proceedings of workshops
•compilation of laws
• on critical and emerging issues such as
•Women and Globalisation•Talking about Taboos•Interlinkages between Violence against Women and Women’s Right to Adequate Housing•Dignity Denied•Empty Promises, Empty Stomachs (impacts of AOA)•Gender and Identity Based Politics•Young Women in Armed Conflict Situations•Guidelines for conducting Consultation with UNSRVAW
Publications
Women and GlobalisationTalking about TaboosInterlinkages between Violence against Women and Women’s Right to Adequate HousingDignity DeniedEmpty Promises, Empty Stomachs (impacts of AoA)Food Sovereignty training kitGender and Identity Based PoliticsYoung Women in Armed Conflict SituationsGuidelines for conducting Consultation with UNSRVAWWomen Human Rights Defenders Resource Book
Capacity Building training
and technical assistance to members –
•Feminist Legal Theory and Practice Training since 1994
•gender and politics training
• advocacy/campaigns training
Background
The Pacific Women’s Bureau was established in 1982
The advancement of women and progress towards gender equality are mutually reinforcing and require and integrated approach at regional and national levels.
Partners/network
The PWB works with Pacific Island Countries and territories governments and civil society
Media
Technical supportGender analysis
Mainstream gender in their policies, plans and programmes, and monitor and evaluate them from a gender perspective
Capacity building government national machineries
Monitors progress
10th triennial of Pacific Women/3rd Ministerial
MeetingSPC member governments
Ministers/MPs
Heads of Govt Departments and Ministries
Partners and donors
NGOs/Civil Society
The Ministers called for
Recognition of the need for urgent action to make a reality of the Pacific Platform for Action on Advancement of Women and Gender Equality and the gender mainstreaming inherent in the Pacific Plan, which centres on regional development
Cont.The need to ensure the participation of marginalised groups of women, such as young women and those with disability, in national programmes for women.The need to boost national statistics offices so they could collect better statistics on the status of women and Acknowledgement of the contributions of the women’s movement and non-government organisations and contribution to Pacific Island societies
Challenges
Capturing results of activities
Impacts
Regional/International For a – strategic engagement
Governance –
Funding – long term
-core funds
Project as opposed to Programmes