UN-INSTRAW News - E-Newsletter - February 2009 E-mail


Current UN-INSTRAW work/activities
 

Conference on women’s political participation in Latin America

Representatives from local, national and regional institutions of 13 Latin American countries, as well as researchers and members of NGOs, attended the UN-INSTRAW conference “Women, Local Power and Democracy: Reflections and Perspectives” in Santo Domingo. The objective of the conference was to present and disseminate the main results and challenges of the institute’s project on “Strengthening Governance with a Gender Perspective and the Political Participation of Women at the Local Level in Latin America.” The participants contributed with a critical reflexive analysis of the project’s main objectives and with presentations on the important aspects of women’s growing participation in local governments. Other relevant issues discussed at the conference were the decentralization of local governments in Latin America, results and initiatives to strengthen capacities of target groups and institutions, the provision of technical assistance to local women’s networks for the promotion of women’s political participation with a gender perspective, and the importance of developing tools to assist women in improving the activities of local women occupying political posts. The event was held at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) on 13 February 2009.
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A year of “firsts” for UN-INSTRAW

During the period covered by the UN-INSTRAW Annual Report 2007-2008, a series of significant achievements have been made, such as projects initiated in Africa on women’s political participation and women, peace and security. Also, the amount of core and extra-budgetary funding supporting the institute’s operations has been higher than in previous years. The progress achieved by UN-INSTRAW during the last reporting period is notable despite the worldwide instability threatening women at all levels. In facing the current unstable situation, the institute will continue actively pursuing its research work and activities in line with its conceptual framework focused on applied research, knowledge management and capacity-building. The report also highlights the importance of the collaboration that UN-INSTRAW receives from committed women and men who have contributed to its achievements during the last few years.
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Coordination and Research Assistant

UN-INSTRAW seeks a Coordination and Research Assistant for its Project “Building Networks: Latin American Women in the Global Care Chains,” funded by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID). The consultant will be based in Madrid, Spain, for a period of 8 months, with a possible extension of the contractual period. The deadline for the submission of applications is 10 March 2009 and the consultant will be required to start work by 15 March 2009.
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Global Gender News


Declaration of Women’s Assembly at World Social Forum in Brazil

The declaration made by the Women’s Assembly at the World Social Forum highlighted the negative consequences that women face as a result of the present financial crisis and the overall deterioration, not only in economic aspects, but in social areas as well. The declaration focuses on the lack of viability of the present global system, referring to a needed change in the production and consumption model and emphasizing that women, as main contributors to the present economic system, should have a greater participation in labour, with corresponding higher benefits. The declaration condemned the spread of violence, not only against women, but of other crimes against humanity, demanding an urgent and profound change in issues related to equality and to the respect for women’s human rights. The Women’s Assembly reaffirmed their commitment to the construction of the feminist movement in order to strengthen the efforts made to achieve a higher level of organization and collaboration between social movements. The 2009 World Social Forum was held in Bélem do Para, Brazil, from 27 January to 1 February 2009.
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Manifesto of the working woman on International Women’s Day

The 8th of March is celebrated in different manners and different areas worldwide as International Women’s Day. Hachette-Filipacchi-Spain, which publishes “Elle” Magazine, will be presenting a manifesto in honor of the working woman. The manifesto “Respect My Image, Judge Me for My Work,” aims at promoting gender equality at all levels of society, highlighting the vulnerability of the professional woman, who is more exposed to criticism than men in the same position. The manifesto stresses that the inclusion of women in posts that require public visibility has taken a major step and that laws that favor parity represent great advancement on women’s behalf. However, there are attitudes that maintain women distant from enjoying a real and effective equality. The manifesto calls for the promotion of an egalitarian society, one that avoids negative sexist attitudes, particularly in the public sphere and in the media.
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Gender equality at the European Union

The European Union (EU) has published information on its efforts during the last 30 years to achieve gender equality at social, economic and political levels. Various campaigns have helped towards improving working conditions and eliminating discrimination and violence. The EU has used legislative means as well as assistance from public and private institutions to combat the pay gap, condemning violence against women, reducing trafficking and forced prostitution, and promoting gender equality.
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Philippines--Magna Carta Bill for Women’s Rights

The so called Magna Carta of Women in Philippines is expected to be approved before International Women’s Day. In August 2008 the House of Representatives passed House Bill 4273 proposing the Magna Carta of Women bestowing on women: “a) all rights recognized under international instruments ratified by the Philippines; b) right to be protected from violence; c) right to participate and represent in all spheres of society; and d) right to equal treatment before the law”. In early February 2009, the Philippine Senate ratified the Bill. This measure aims at defending Filipino women, facilitating their access to healthcare and other basic human rights.
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Pink pants against gender violence

A group of women in Bangalore (India) suffered attacks from an organization of men who consider it “unacceptable” for women to have drinks in bars, and several women were injured in the attack. The population joined hands in condemning the attack and a group of women calling themselves “Consortium of pub-going women,” unwilling to ignore the attack, in a humorous and original action decided to collect pink pants to send to their aggressors. The action has gained thousands of supporters on Facebook and in the blogosphere. The women chose the pink pants because it’s a “frivolous” color and because they considered them similar to the khaki shorts that “look like feminine trousers” which is used by the group of men responsible for the attack.
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