Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development

(APWLD)

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

Funding Partners – special projects

Global Fund for Women

Cordaid

Mamacash

Others

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

conducted campaigns Food Sovereignty /TNCs out of Agriculture!

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

North/South

Including voices of women – issues

Tsunami - research

Stop Licence to Rape!

Women Oppose War

Defend Women’s Human Rights Defenders

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.

Reference Documents

Pacific Platform for Action

MDGs

CEDAW and other international instruments

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

Progress

National Plans of Action

Statistical Data

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

Q&A