UN 54th Session of the CSW, Parallel Event  Sharing of Good Practices to Achieve MDG Number 3

Tuesday, March 2, 2010, UN Church Center, New York

The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. It is the principal global policy-making body. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.

The Commission was established by ECOSOC resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946 with the aim to prepare recommendations and reports to the Council on promoting women's rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on urgent problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women's rights.

 From 1-12 March 2010, the Commission on the Status of Women undertook a fifteen-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.  

Emphasis was placed on the sharing of experiences and good practices, with a view to overcoming remaining obstacles and new challenges, including those related to the Millennium Development Goals. 

A series of parallel events provided additional opportunities for information exchange and networking.

Sharing of Good Practices to Achieve MDG Number Three: Promote gender equality and empower women

The Workshop presented good practices from grassroots efforts and experiences to achieve MDG # 3

Panelists shared their experiences in the areas of education, training, income generating activities to fight poverty, women's dignity campaign and more.

Moderator: Ms. Motoko Sugiyama VP and Director of UN Office, WFWP International Speakers: Dr. Nessie Ndive-Hill Professor, Essex County College, President/ Founder of GADIAGO, Ms. Delia C Javanasundara VP, WFWP International for Asia Region Coordinator, IRFF- Vietnam Ms. Ingrid D Lindemann Director of Education Dept of WFWP Europe and Co- Founder of European Dignity project Ms. Keiko Nozaki Vice project Director of WFWP Japan for Republic of Senegal

“I call on men around the world to lead by example: to make clear that violence against women is an act perpetrated by a coward, and that speaking up against it is a badge of honour.” Ban Ki-Moon

Dinner Meeting“The Role of NGO to achieve MDG#3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women”to Commemorate the 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra, UN Under-Secretary-General, Special Advisor on AfricaHigh Representative, UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS)

WFWP Europe is committed to the advancement of women for peace and security, in which the value of each individual is recognized. Therefore we promote activities that encourage development towards meeting MDG No.3, of Gender Equality in all fields of life.

„Dignity of Woman“ in relation to the Millennium Development Goals

Sexualised advertisement, pornography, rape, forced veiling, forced prostitution, trafficking, female genital mutilation, honour killings,

Within Europe, the sex trade has an annual turnover of billions of Euros.

A billion dollar industry conveys the message that the brutalizing, torture, enslavement, mutilation, contempt and humiliation of the female sex is equivalent to sexual pleasure.

Domestic violence is an issue many times ignored

trafficking

Prostitution

Forced childprostitutution

Sexual harrasment at work

PornographyWidow burning

Domestic violence

Sexualized advertisement

Forcedveiling

Violence towards women up to today constitutes by far the most frequent violation of human rights

Through sexualized language and advertisements, through misuse of the female body as advert-gag for the greatest variety of products, lacking equality is being reinforced

The view of woman is distorted  Women are degraded merely to the role of

sexual object

These are urgent problems in the field of the status of women requiring immediate attention.

These are urgent problems in the field of the status of women requiring immediate attention.

Building upon the remarkable framework of human rights legislation and mechanisms of the United Nations and among governments over the last 60 years to prevent conflict and promote peace and prosperity among and within nations. Knowing that human trafficking, sexual exploitation, domestic violence and all forms of abuse constitute an unacceptable violence against women and children that damages the whole fabric of the society and is irreconcilable with a culture rooted in the dignity and value of the human being.

Creating awareness of human dignityConsidering the amazing God-given

human potential in each woman this state of affairs is unforgivable

 The awareness of dignity in the human society, especially regarding the dignity of women is one of the most important prevention aspects regarding all kinds of violence against women, men and children such as trafficking, forced prostitution and domestic violence.  

Dignity dwells within each person

According to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant every person has dignity, it dwells within, independant of his abilities, social position or other characteristics like gender, race or age.

Man and woman are created in the image of God

Ethical autonomy of peopleMan’s responsibility

Ethical autonomy of peopleMan’s responsibility

For the individual Directed to the societyAll human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. ´(HRD) The control of urges through moral

strength is freedom of spirit, and the expression of this phenomenon is called Dignity. Dignity has various degrees, where she approaches grace and beauty, it is called Noble and where it borders with awe, it will be called Sovereign. The highest degree of grace is "magical", and the highest degree of dignity is Majesty.(Friedrich Schiller about Grace and Dignity-1793)

The dignity of human beings is inviolable. It is the duty of all governmental institutions, to respect and protect it.(Article 1 UD of HR)

as feature as commission

Dignity

Dignity as featureWhereas recognition of the inherent dignity

and of the equal inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,...

Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Dignity as civic participationExcerts of the Preamble

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,..

Article 7 All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of the Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination

Let us awaken human awareness fully to the original value and the original beauty of the woman!

Restoring the image of womanhood in society. 

Inspiring women to feel the beauty and value of true femininity, to discover their immanent God given dignity and to live it. 

A call to action

SeminarsTopics are :Human DignityHistory of Dignity of womenThe understanding of womanhoodThe history of women The power of femininityThe historical chance of contributing to a culture of

peace Reconciliation,Women and leadershipFeminine values as cornerstone for a peaceful world Living our dignityCulture of peaceIs Peace possible?

Signature Campaigns

•Against the rapes in Bosnia•Against sex and violence in TV•For the Dignity of Women

Booktables

Calenders, postcards, invitations, bookmarks, pens, recorded presentations , slides, presentation folders and many other materials to create awareness of the dignity of women in society

Websites

www.diewuerdederfrau

.dewww.livingdignity.eu

Cooperating with NGOsCooperating with NGOs

Alliances for Human Dignity

EU – Launching The Dignity of Women June, 8 – 10 2007 Seebenstein, AustriaEU – Launching The Dignity of Women June, 8 – 10 2007 Seebenstein, Austria

WFWP EUROPE 2008 32

WFWP Europe 2008 Conference on Dignity

Empowering Women for Peace BuildingCommemorating the Decade for Peace and Non Violence for the Children of the World Promoting Human Dignity to prevent trafficking and addiction: 60 years of the UDHR (10th Dec.1948)

to establish hotlines

to offer assistance to victims and to report trafficking

to implement international legal procedures for victims protection

the establishment of a European data base on crime, similar to the Italian model

governments to improve living conditions of especially the poor and rural populations…..

Resolution, 2008

that civil society actors and the media promote a global awareness about the realities of violence against women and children.

to address especially the Diasporas of the countries were victims of human trafficking originate

to support governmental and non-governmental organizations who work on creating awareness of potential victims, their families and local communities in the countries of origin

Paris – WFWP Europe Conference 2009

37

German French Seminar on Dignity

Straßburg, December 2007

Nicosia, Cyprus

Canada

Dignity in

Slovenia

Dignity project on International Women conferences

Women´s World Conference Madrid, Spain, 2008

“The Dignity of Women and Social Responsibility”WORLD CIVIC FORUMRole of Higher Education for Civic EnhancementMay 7, 2009 Seoul, Korea

Therefore we commit ourselves to:Seek opportunities to mediate, motivate and monitor our governments at the local, national and international level to fulfill the MDG’s, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, SC Resolution 1325 and other commitments in support of the culture of peace,Use our influence to teach the value of dignity and appreciation of diversity to our children, through words and actions, from the earliest age, especially as concerns the equal value of women and men. Raise public awareness about violence, seeking to involve men and boys in activities for the prevention of violence against women and towards the empowerment of women and girls, Take responsibility to solve cycles of enmity by building partnerships, … and commit together to goals and programs for a common peaceful future,

Promote civic participation by engaging social and government institutions to include peace and character education components in their programs- formal and non-formal education for peaceful resolution of conflicts, mediation and reconciliation- Promote paradigm changes whereby Empowerment comes through cooperation, not confrontation. Calling for a code of conduct for a responsible media,Engaging youth as co-planners and partners for the continued work towards a culture of peace and prosperity,Providing respect and appreciation for our elders that they may “Age in dignity”!

Thank you