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NZFGW National Executive News November 2003 P O Box 3057, Wellington, New Zealand. www.nzfgw.org.nz National Secretary: Wendy Zemanek [email protected] A BALANCED SOCIETY From Rae Duff, National President There is no doubt that Governments have the biggest influence on whether or not we live in a ‘balanced society’. By balanced I mean a society in which all participants irrespective of their gender, age or race are treated fairly and equally and have the opportunity to grow and develop. Government Departments are responsible for administering legislation designed to ensure that everyone does get a ‘fair go’ across the wide spectrum of daily life. That is, where women receive equal pay, have the same opportunities as men in the workplace, are recognised for time spent raising children and caring for the elderly and have the opportunity to make the contribution to society of which they are capable. It is our job in co-operation with other women’s organisations to keep these issues at the forefront of our Government’s thinking and in so doing, to help to create a more balanced society. As members of the International Federation of University Women and through its consultative status with the United Nations we are also able to take an active role in international policy-making decisions that affect all women. Although we have not yet received detailed information on the NZFGW Perth Conference, I am hopeful that many of the above issues will be raised. Resolutions approved at triennial conferences add an important dimension to the implementation of the purpose, programme and mission of IFUW. They form IFUW policy and give direction for lobbying our own government. I would like to think that our team in Perth will be a strong one and that our voice will be clearly heard on issues, which are important to New Zealand women and internationally. Finally, as the festive season comes around, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a relaxing Christmas break and the love and fellowship of friends and family. National Executive We apologise to Rowena Taylor of Manawatu Branch, who was omitted from last month’s list. Rowena is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Fellowship Trust Board. National Executive would like to thank the outgoing Southern Region Executive and in particular Michaela Buckley for producing the current issue of Graduate Women and arranging its distribution. The NZFGW 26th Triennial Conference 2003 and more… from Louise Croot, IFUW Vice President [[email protected]] The theme Women Information and Power was transformed by the keynote speakers into a wealth of thought provoking challenges and useful practice. Minister Ruth Dyson’s speech showed the universality and pertinence of the theme around the world. She wisely cautioned against complacency and encouraged involvement with the action plan for Women and the Human Rights Plan in New Zealand. The Minister emphasised the Work-Life balance issue so crucial for women and men today. Young members have raised it many times and not just in NZ. The Minister seemed to describe it as the balance between paid and unpaid work. I felt this was limiting - it should be focused on the rights and responsibilities men and women have as citizens to participate in their democracy. Pay equity is part of that. 1 National Executive News Nov 03 IFUW featured on the Conference floor formally and informally. I am very proud of the way New Zealand members reflect and value their close links with IFUW. The resolutions planned for Perth were debated fruitfully. The outcomes were supportive and future orientated. The Pacific Graduate Women’s Net [PGWNet] is a valuable treasure. The IFUW dues discussion was difficult and the vote was 35 to 29 in favour of the six Swiss Francs increase planned for. It is not easy when many members are on fixed incomes and others have commitments for limited funds. The international budget is planned and carefully monitored. A sense of fairness about the share carried by full payment countries was again highlighted for me. Questions about how many National Federations and Associations [NFA’s] are receiving Bina Roy Funds and the large NFA’s sliding scale payments were also raised with me. With 74 NFA’s, support for projects and the monetary exchange are key issues to take up with the Board in February 2004 prior to the Perth Conference 4-10 August 2004. Other constitutional resolutions came in for scrutiny and showed delegates had given time and energy to thinking about the future of IFUW in the 21st century. Remits from Otago about the United Nations and its power for good were well presented and should be offered to IFUW for the Perth Conference. My thanks to Ellen and the Southern Regional National Executive for being available for discussion and support during your term of office. The Conference programme was well done. Welcome to the Middle Earth region executive. All strength to you as you lead our focused NGO into the next three years. I look forward to working with you and building the relationship with IFUW where NZ will be a key partner in global issues. Thanks to Dorothy Meyer for being generous in time and effort for IFUW. The ID Seminar programme looks splendid. I really appreciate having Dorothy to talk with about matters and find it a real blessing to have IFUW experience in NZ as the Board are all in the northern hemisphere At present I am working on an outline of possibly two sessions at Perth on The History and Mystery of IFUW. The idea is to demystify the workings of our organisation and its committees, projects and UN work, meet some of the people involved and well as relate some of its history. It is to be informal in life long learning style. If anyone would like to assist, please let me know as there are opportunities to convene a session. Look ahead to Perth. Plan to be there 4-10 August 2004. AGENTS FOR CHANGE IN NZ: WOMEN IN POLITICS AND DECISION-MAKING From Dorothy Meyer, IFUW Status of Women Committee Member The Status of Women Committee of IFUW is preparing the programme framework for the next IFUW Triennium 2004-07. A suggested overall theme is Women: Agents for Change with three core issues of Education, Diversity and Peace and The Information Society. Permeating these issues is the recognition of the rich diversity of belief, spirituality, culture and language within societies; the need to promote human security in all its aspects, and the importance of empowering women to work together and with men to create a harmonious and peaceful society. It is fortunate therefore, that through OnlineWomen, we have recently learnt of a Draft Resolution submitted by the United States to the UN Third Committee. The resolution can be read in full at www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org. OnlineWomen is a project of the Centre for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (www.capwig.org), a non-partisan, non-profit and non-governmental regional organisation dedicated to promoting equal participation of women in politics and decision-making. In essence the Resolution urges states to: Promote and protect the right of women to participate in their government at all levels on equal terms with men; Eliminate laws, regulations and practices that prevent or restrict women from participating in the political process; 2 National Executive News Nov 03 Ensure equal access to all the tools that will enable women to take part fully and equally in decision-making at all levels; Promote the goal of gender balance in all public positions; Monitor progress in the representation of women in politics; (This is relevant to NZ where the proportion of women in politics has dropped.) Identify, encourage and propose more women for decision-making positions in the UN system, as inter-governmental experts and on treaty bodies; Encourage more indigenous and other marginalised women into involvement with decision-making and politics; Ensure that there is family-work balance that will enable women’s participation. In addition, Governments, the private sector, NGOs and other civil society bodies are invited to ensure that the above steps are implemented by developing mechanisms, training programmes, support initiatives and monitoring that will result in women who are able to influence political, economic and social decisions, processes and systems The final clause of the Resolution reads: “Requests the Secretary-General, in his report to the 50th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, to include information on the participation of women in politics at all levels, bearing in mind that the 2006 Commission on the Status of Women will consider ‘Equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels’, and encourages governments to co-operate with the SecretaryGeneral by providing precise data on the political participation of women at all levels.” Dr Judy McGregor, in her address to us at the recent NZFGW Conference urged us to exercise our advocacy role more fully. There are many clauses in the detail of this resolution that provide us with an opportunity to be Agents for Change and to advocate for women in New Zealand and in the Pacific region to participate more fully in politics and decision-making. _____________________________________________________________________________ PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT From Ann Pomeroy [[email protected]] Bills before Select Committees Submission closing date Reports due Assisted Human Reproduction Bill closed 13 Feb 04 Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill closed 13 Feb 04 Care of Children Bill closed 31 Dec 03 Sex Offenders Registry Bill closed 29 Jan 04 Families Commission Bill closed 12 Nov 03 Members of Parliament (Pecuniary Interests) Bill 27 February 2004 15 Apr 2004 Public Consultation Address for submissions Submission closing date Reports due Constituency arrangements for District Health Boards under single transferable vote Ministry of Health closed Dec 2003 3 National Executive News Nov 03 Reports from Select Committees Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment. The committee’s report states that the National Cervical Screening Programme generates and requires a variety of information including that relating to the screening histories of individual women, information needed by the programme itself and information required to evaluate the programme. The bill refines the National Cervical Screening Programme and provides protections for this information. The programme moved to an ‘opt-off’ system in 1993: this means women are automatically enrolled in the programme after their first smear test and must actively choose to be removed from the programme. The bill changes the 1993 system so that women can opt off the entire programme rather than removing individual results only. While many believe the programme should be an ‘opt-on’ programme, experience shows that too few women enrolled under that system to provide the data needed for research to decrease the incidence of cervical cancer in New Zealand. The changes in the bill are intended to ensure women’s case histories are both complete and accurate. Incomplete histories pose a clinical risk to the individual woman concerned (as it may affect her clinical management) and may impede the effective evaluation of the programme and reduce the ability of the programme to meet its goal of reducing mortality from cervical cancer. The select committee made recommendations concerning access to primary care records, availability of information to screening programme evaluators, limiting extension of the bill to cervical screening only, and publication of evaluation results to provide the public with information on the effectiveness and quality of the programme. It also has recommendations on access by screening programme evaluators to records held by private specialists (in addition to hospital records), inclusion of definitions of cancer and cervical cancer in the bill, procedures for screening programme evaluators to report concerns about practitioner competence, and care of specimens. Action: read bill; lobby health select committee. http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/214bar2.PDF Sonja Davies Peace Award A fund has been established to support an award to honour the work and achievements of Sonja Davies. Its purpose is to promote women’s initiatives to advance the cause of peace. The plan is to grant an annual or biennial award to a woman or group of women who are seeking more knowledge and skills, or developing an activity, which will help to build a more peaceful world. Born on Armistice Day 1923, Sonja Davies has spent virtually her whole life striving for social justice and human rights. She has been a city councillor, Founder President of the NZ Childcare Association, a founder of the NZ Working Women’s Council, the first woman’s vice-president of the Federation of Labour, an MP and an exec member of the World Peace Council. She has actively campaigned for workers’ rights, high quality health services, excellent childcare, women’s refuges, equal pay and opportunities for women, and peace. The award is being administered by the New Horizons for Women Trust (which is a Registered Charitable Trust for tax purposes). Donations may be sent to the New Horizons for Women Trust, PO Box 12 498, Wellington. Lotteries Grant Board The restructure of the Lotteries Grant Board is expected to free up around one million dollars for distribution to communities by reducing 25 committees (95 meetings) to 17 committees (51 meetings). The new structure is to be introduced on 1 July 2004. It will be predominantly regional with 11 committees representing local communities, making social sector grants. Retention of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs The Labour Government has announced that it will retain and strengthen the Ministry of Women’s Affairs as a stand-alone ministry, following a State Service Commission review that found that without a specific women’s ministry there would not be sufficient focus on work that identifies implications and opportunities for women in the policy process. 4 National Executive News Nov 03 The SSC review noted, however, that the Ministry’s performance in terms of policy development, management systems, organisational culture and cross-government relationships needed to improve. The National Opposition has decided not to appoint a shadow spokesperson on Women’s Affairs. NZFGW National Exec is writing to the Leader of the National Opposition to seek advice on how it proposes to monitor work on identifying the implications and opportunities for women in policy development across government, without a member of its caucus dedicated to scrutinising the government’s performance in this area. Action: views of NZFGW members on this topic would be very welcome. Email asap: [email protected] Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families Victoria University recently opened this centre. It is developing a capacity for research around issues affecting NZ families and its research will be valuable in informing the development and implementation of government policy. The Centre coincides with the establishment of a Commission for Families. The inaugural director of the Centre is Family Psychologist Dr Jan Pryor. Her research focus is on the impact of the process of family change on family members, especially children. The Centre’s current research projects include Resilience in Stepfamilies, Partnerships and Parenting (experiences and expectations of 100 couples with children), and work on options for measuring youth confidence. A one day workshop is being sponsored by the McKenzie Centre and the Ministry of Social Development on 4 December at the Michael Fowler Centre. To register, email [email protected] Impact of hearing impairment on older people A useful article on this topic by Parveen Kalliath from Waikato University has been published in the Social Work Review (Autumn/Winter, 2003, pp 43-46). It discusses the impacts of hearing loss on the older person, including communication difficulties, reduced self esteem, reduced motivation and engagement, social isolation, and frustration with the use of hearing aids. The article also provides information on devices other than hearing aids that may assist those with hearing loss. ______________________________________________________________________________ CIR REPORT Mary Trounson, 13 Eastcott Grove, Churton Park, Wellington 6004 Phone 04 478 4366, Mobile 021 390 392 [email protected] From time to time requests for contributions may come in from IFUW. Material can come in at any time with short time frames for returning information. It would be great if I had a list of interested members who would be prepared to contribute or co-ordinate a contribution from members of their branch. Please send me your email address. Also while the CIR Report is contained in a hardcopy mailout to branches and available on the Internet, the National Secretary is happy to email it out to Branch CIR’s and other interested parties. If you would like to receive it by email please contact [email protected] 28th IFUW Conference – Perth, Australia, 4–10 August 2004 50 Packs have been ordered. We have recorded requests for conference packs from: Nat Exec 11, Dorothy Meyer 1, Hutt Valley 3, North Shore 6, Otago 6, Waikato 7, Wellington 6. Action. To facilitate the delivery of conference enrolment packs, if your branch is not named above, please let me know as soon as possible how many packs you require. If the numbers listed above are incorrect, let me know as soon as possible. 5 National Executive News Nov 03 Agenda. The preliminary agenda is available on the internet www.ifuw.org/circulars/circular-2003-17.pdf Copies will be sent to the Branch Secretaries or contact your National CIR. Nominations for IFUW Special Committees 2004-2007. A call has been made to nominate qualified members to serve on two IFUW Special Committees for 2004-2007: the Special Committee on Project Development and the Special Committee for the Hegg Hoffet Fund. The deadline for proposing names is 15 February 2004. For more information see www.ifuw.org/circulars/circular-2003-15.pdf Action. If you wish to be nominated or wish to nominate someone please contact National Executive by 1 February 2004. Proposed Resolutions for the 28th IFUW Conference A call has been made for resolutions, to be received by IFUW by 4 February 2004. For more information www.ifuw.org/circulars/circular-2003-14.pdf Action. If you wish to put forward resolutions, contact your National CIR by 31 December 2003. Study and Action Programme Workshops – Reminder. A day will be set aside for workshops at the Perth Conference, and each NFA is welcome to propose up to four workshops for consideration. See October CIR Newsletter for more information. Action. If you wish to propose a workshop for the Perth conference please make sure completed forms are with National Executive by 20 November 2003. Forms and more information are available from www.ifuw.org/ifuw2004/workshops/workshop-call.htm or your CIR. Action. For more information regarding conference issues contact your National CIR. From IFUW Working Paper on Capacity Building for a Civil Society Engagement in Education for All. The team of IFUW permanent representatives to UNESCO has received an invitation to participate in the drafting of a Working Paper as named above in the latter half of 2004. Contributions are requested from those engaged in activities related to Education for All and to express what is being done at local and national level. Contributions are required by 1 December 2003 to Francoise Sauvage mailto:[email protected] Action. If anyone would like to make a submission please contact your National CIR urgently. Opportunity to Discuss Right to Free Quality Education (EFA) A new email and web-based discussion forum on “Education Rights and Realities” has recently been launched by www.learningchannel.org, a global on-line education initiative of One World South Asia in partnership with www.campaignforeducation.org a coalition of civil society organisations campaigning for free and quality education. This forum focuses on the right to free, good quality education as it has been defined by successive international conventions and commitments, most recently the six Education for All (EFA) goals agreed by 155 governments at the World Education Forum in April 2000. Action. To join visit: www.dgroups.org/groups/right2education/index.cfm?op=dsp_join and submit your email address OR, Send a blank email to: [email protected] In Brief Virginia Maynard, Coordinator of the team of representatives to the UN in New York, has resigned after many years of service. Mary Purcell, Past IFUW President, is the new Co-ordinator. To receive news on a regular basis about international issues and what is happening at the United Nations join IFUW’s advocacy e-mail network. To subscribe, send an e-mail message stating your name, city and national affiliate to [email protected]. 6 National Executive News Nov 03 University Women of Singapore (UWAS) and Bulgarian Association of University Women (BAUW) are now full members of IFUW. From the Pacific – PGWNet The Inaugural meeting of the PGWNet was held May this year with the support of UNIFEM Pacific which funded air fares. The individual countries reported on their membership and projects. VAWG (Vanuatu) –scattered membership, lack of attendance at monthly meetings. An applicant received an IFUW fellowship to pursue a career in veterinary science. VAWG hopes to coordinate a triennial conference. UPNGWA (Papua New Guinea) Currently based at the University with plans to rename the association as PNGWGA. They plan to establish a provincial set up as women graduates are scattered. They hope to formalise their constitution and registration as an IFUW NFA before the Perth Conference. ATUW (Tonga) 51 members. Low meeting turnouts. Major projects include a conference and initiative which sponsors students at the USP’s Distance and Flexible Learning Support Centre in Tonga. SIGWA (Solomon Islands) 20 members. Working on a number of projects and has submitted a seminar paper for the Perth Conference. SAWG (Samoa) 40 members 10 of whom are active. SAWG is recognised as a valid non-governmental organisation in Samoa in terms of participation with government re CEDAW. SAWG is involved in many projects including English dictionary prizes for girls in form 3 at all secondary schools in Samoa (eligible for a Bina Roy grant) Its website is www.sawg.ws/ AFUW (Australia) 1100 members and are asset rich and cash poor. Resolutions from their recent conference included lifting the value of aid to be directed to women and children and refugee issues. There was a move to change the name from AFUW to AFGW, but this was defeated. NZFGW offering touring opportunities after the Perth Conference. FAWG (Fiji) Currently running a number of projects including Books for School, Girls in Science Workshop (funded by Virginia Gildersleeve Fund) and Gender Awareness Workshops for high school girls. They have joint luncheons with NGO groups such as Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fiji Women’s; Rights Movements and gave a donation to VAWG for the Grace Molisa Memorila publication. National Executive would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Beverley Turner for all the hard work she has put in over the years to bring this dream to a reality. Inailau Women's Leadership Network This Network was launched in Apia last month with Fiame Naomi as chairperson. It links into the UNIFEM Regional Women and Politics (WIP) programme and to the Ministry of Women's Affairs Samoa CEDAW partnership. It’s two goals are: Voter education so that women and girls understand political processes and how these work; and to identify and mentor women and girls who have the potential to be leaders and support this group. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban MP, the first Pacific Island woman elected to the NZ Parliament, was the key speaker. She commented on her experiences as an MP, stating that her staunchest support during her campaign and today came from NZ women's groups, particularly, but not only the Pacific Island groups. She reminded the meeting that women working together as the Women's Leadership Network can achieve everything. $11 Million Boost to Education in Solomon Islands NZAID, the NZ government’s international aid and development agency, has committed $11 million to help the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resources introduce some basic education programmes within the island nation’s strategic education plan. This is in addition to the Solomon Islands government’s contribution to education, 22 percent of the total budget. It will go 7 National Executive News Nov 03 towards primary teachers’ salaries, basic teaching materials, and updating the curriculum. The Solomon Islands is expected to receive similar funding packages for education until 2008. IWRAW Asia Pacific Internship Opportunities IWRAW Asia Pacific has an on-going internship programme that offers exposure to a range of women's human rights issues and knowledge on CEDAW and related treaty bodies. Interns will also be able to gain research, advocacy and/or organising skills and a chance to gain hands-on experience through involvement in one of our trainings. Interns are also expected to help out with day-to-day administrative work in the office and are NOT paid. Applicants are advised to seek financial support independently. Preference is given to applicants who can stay for a minimum of one month but preferably three or longer and those who have recently completed or are completing a masters degree related to human rights, social justice and/or feminism, and preferably with legal background and/or experience. To apply, send: 1. A cover letter (indicating your strengths, areas of interest, and the timing and duration of internship sought) 2. Resumé (CV) 3. Two writing samples (on feminist approaches to human rights and international law) 4. A reference letter (from your professor or current employer). Documents can be posted or sent as email attachments to: International Women's Rights Action, Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific), 2nd Floor, Block F, Anjung FELDA, Jalan Maktab 54000 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA E-mail: mailto:[email protected] From the UN UN Security Council Resolution 1325, titled "Women, Peace and Security October 31st is the anniversary of the signing of this resolution in 2001. In New York, commemoration plans include the launching of the UNIFEM Web Portal on Women, Peace and Security as well as the World Premiere of documentary Peace by Peace: Women on the Frontlines. The web portal features gender profiles of countries in conflict, issue briefs on pertinent thematic areas and information on UN gender programming in conflict zones. In the historic UN SC Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, the Security Council called for increased attention to the impact of armed conflict on women and the centrality of women's role in conflict prevention and peace-building. SC 1325 also noted a pressing need for consolidated data on women, peace and security. For the text: www.peacewomen.org/un/sc/1325.html Various coordinating committees established in the project countries of the UNIFEM Pacific Women, Peace and Security project for Melanesia, bring together women's NGOs and the Ministry of Women to collectively work on the four objective areas of the programme Just as Resolution 1325 has galvanized the United Nations system into looking more critically at its own work, and how the United Nations deal with gender perspective not only in peace-making and peacekeeping, but also in humanitarian, disarmament and reconstruction activities, UNIFEM Pacific calls upon leaders of Pacific Island countries, including leaders of regional organisations to strengthen their integration of women in areas of decision making and policy formulation in relation to current regional peace and security issues. Working-at-Home-Moms Edith Hagenaar, mom to three, wife and publisher, has written and published a book about working from home in Holland, and is now preparing an international edition. She is looking to interview wahms (work-at-home-mums) from all around the world, via email. If you would like to be interviewed, see www.slot.org/edith. Wahms featured will receive a complimentary copy. 8 National Executive News Nov 03