Download Gender Equality

Gender Equality
“60 minutes to convince”
April 3 2007
Presentation by
Saniye Gülser Corat
Chief, Section for Women and Gender Equality of the
Bureau of Strategic Planning
Facts and Figures on Gender Inequalities
640 of the 960 million adults who cannot read are women.
Women provide 70% of agricultural labour, produce over 90%
of food, but are not represented in budget deliberations.
Women comprise only 10 % of the world’s economy in terms of
asset holding and own less than 1 % of the land and real estate.
16,8% women in elected parliaments; ranging from 6,8% in the
Arab States to 39,7 in the Nordic countries.
Gender-based violence on the increase. In many countries,
rape is not considered a crime, goes unpunished and continues
to be used as a tool of war.
UNESCO’s Gender Equality Policy for 2008-2013
UNESCO’s draft 34 C/4 states : “Gender Equality +”
“ 9. […] priority will be given to the pursuit of gender equality through
action in all of UNESCO’s
fi elds of competence, supported by capacity-building for gender
mainstreaming.
10. UNESCO is committed to a series of action supportive of women’s
empowerment, women’s rights and gender equality by:
• mainstreaming gender equality issues throughout the programming cycle
at all programme levels;
• building commitment, competence and capacity for gender
mainstreaming through dedicated capacity development and resources for
these purposes;
• supporting equal career opportunities of staff and appropriate working
arrangements to balance work and life; and
• progressively increasing the representation of women in decision-making
levels within the Secretariat to reach 40% by 2015.”
UNESCO’s current Gender Equality Policy
UNESCO’s Medium Term Strategy 2002-2007 (Para 32 )
“ 32. UNESCO’s program activities will be
targeted at the urgent needs of disadvantaged
and excluded groups or geographic regions. The
needs of Africa, the least developed countries,
women, and youth will be mainstreamed
throughout all programs.”
The strategy further notes that “as regards women, a
gender perspective will be integrated in policy, planning,
programming, implementation and evaluation activities in
all areas of UNESCO’s competence with a view to
promoting empowerment and achieving gender equality.”
As a result of the UN system’s commitment to
Gender Equality
2005 Millennium Summit Outcome Document (paras
12 & 59)
“12. We reaffirm that gender equality and the promotion
and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all are essential to
advance development and peace and security. […]
59. We recognize the importance of gender
mainstreaming as a tool for achieving gender equality.”
UN system’s commitment to Gender Equality
(cont’d)
Conclusions of the High Level Panel on UN Systemwide Coherence
“ Gender equality is central to sustainable development that
responds to the needs, rights, aspirations and talents of half the
world’s people.
We propose a new way forward […]:
•
•
•
We believe that a gender entity—based on the principles of
coherence and consolidation—is required to advance this key UN
agenda.
But it is also our strong belief that the commitment to gender
equality is and should remain the mandate of the entire UN system.
And finally, in our recommendations, we seek to combine greater
visibility for gender issues at the centre with enhanced results on
the ground, where the UN’s performance will be assessed.”
UN system’s commitment to Gender Equality
(cont’d)
United Nations System-wide Policy and Strategy on
Gender Mainstreaming
 Endorsed by the CEB in October 2006
 The Policy establishes conditions of successful
implementation: Accountability mechanisms ; resultsbased management ; reliable systems for monitoring,
evaluation and reporting ; human and financial resources ;
capacity-development ; greater coherence and
coordination.
 Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality
(IANWGE)Task Team on Gender Equality is developing the Systemwide Action Plan for implementation.
Gender Equality is NOT

A new word to describe an old concept:
“women’s empowerment”

About promoting women and girls at the
expense of men and boys

Focusing on men and boys only

A priority that can wait until after the fight
against poverty is won
Gender Equality IS

A development objective in itself, necessary to
achieve all other development targets, including
poverty eradication, the halt in the spread of
HIV, EFA goals..

About guaranteeing equality of opportunity,
treatment and result for women and men, girls
and boys

Good for women, girls, men and boys. No one
loses out when gender equality is being sought
Why are targeted actions in favor of women and
girls not enough?

Promoting GE is not only women’s
responsibility. Both women and men play a role
in social transformations

Changing the position of girls/women through
targeted action does not automatically lead to
changes in social institutions and attitudes

Targeted action is necessary but not sufficient
(gender unaware, gender aware, gender
transformatory)
New initiatives in the promotion of Gender Equality
Group of Women Ambassadors to
UNESCO for Gender Equality
UNESCO-SE WTA Partnership for
Gender Equality
Group of Women Ambassadors to UNESCO for
Gender Equality
In line with the fundamental objectives of UNESCO’s
policy pertaining to the promotion of gender equality and
women’s empowerment, the Group will :
Play a proactive role in sharing information on, and
promoting gender equality and women’s
empowerment issues both within the Organization
and in Member States;
Assist the Organization in strengthening its action
in the field of gender equality and women’s
empowerment.
UNESCO – SE WTA Partnership for Gender
Equality
Women don’t need charity.
Women want Education and
Opportunity
UNESCO – SE WTA Partnership for Gender
Equality (cont’d)
Building on the Iguales campaign,
the OBJECTIVE of the
Partnership is to :
Promote Women’s Leadership
in all of UNESCO’s domains,
globally and in different regions
and countries
This will be achieved through a dual approach:
I. Mobilize &
raise public
awareness
II. Build
empowering
partnerships
UNESCO – SE WTA Partnership for Gender
Equality (cont’d)
Partnership has 4 components :
1. Promoters of Gender Equality (PGE)
2. Strengthening Women’s Leadership
3. Mentoring, Fellowships & Scholarships
4. Using WTA Tour Tournaments, social events and
conferences as awareness and fundraising platforms
Partnership will adopt a phased implementation.
Visit our website:
« Gender Equality + »
www.unesco.org/women