Subject: [fem-women2000 56] IWTC Women's Globalnet #129
From: lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org>
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 07:20:33 +0900
Seq: 56
From: iwtc@igc.org To: iwtc-womensglobalnet@igc.org Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 14:51:47 -0400 Subject: IWTC Women's GlobalNet #129 -- IWTC WOMEN'S GLOBALNET #129 Women's Initiatives and Activities Worldwide by Anne S. Walker September 23, 1999 UP-DATE ON UN PREPARATIONS FOR THE BEIJING PLUS FIVE REVIEW 1. Government Responses to Beijing Platform for Action (PFA) Questionnaire: As of 7 September l999, 94 Governments and two Observer States had responded to the UN's questionnaire on implementation of the PFA. Responses to the questionnaire are considered a key information component in the overall global assessment being undertaken by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW). This assessment will be submitted to the Preparatory Committee in March 2000. (See IWTC's Preview 2000 #2 for a copy of the questionnaire and more detailed information on the overall review process). Governments that have not yet prepared a national plan of action (Beijing PFA paragraph 297) for implementing recommendations in the PFA, considered one of the essential first steps in the follow-up to the 1995 UN Fourth World Conference on Women, are still encouraged to do so. As of June 1999, 112 Governments and one Observer State had prepared such plans and submitted them to DAW. A list of those countries can be found on-line at <"http://www.un.org/womenwatch/followup/national/natplans.htm> together with a useful list of summaries of national plans arranged by region/country <"http://www.un.org/womenwatch/followup/national/africsum.htm>. 2. Dates and Themes Set for Regional Meetings for Beijing Plus Five: AFRICA: ECA - Sixth African Regional Conference on Women to assess progress in the implementation of the Beijing and African Platforms for Action, 22-27 November, 1999 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia). For details, visit: <"http://www.undp.org/gender/gb/bjbullet/region__info.html#africa>. ASIA AND THE PACIFIC: ESCAP - High-level meeting to Review the Implementation of the Jakarta Declaration and Plan of Action and Regional Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 26-29 October, 1999 (Bangkok, Thailand). Themes for the working papers are: women's political empowerment, women's economic empowerment, a rights-based approach to the empowerment of women, and strategies for the empowerment of women. EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA: ECE - Expert Meeting at the intergovernmental level to review economic issues, problems and policies relating to women in the ECE countries, 19 - 21 January, 2000 (Geneva, Switzerland). Main areas of focus will be: (1) women and the economy; (2) institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women; (3) women and violence; (4)women in power and decision-making. WESTERN ASIA: ESCWA - Arab Conference on Integrated Follow-up to Global Conferences, 27 November - 1 December, 1999 (Beirut, Lebanon). LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: ECLAC - 8th Regional Conference, January/February 2000 (Lima, Peru). 3. New Publication of Particular Relevance to Beijing Plus Five Review Process: "Gender Indicators for Follow-up and Evaluation of the Regional Programme of Action for the Women of Latin America and the Caribbean, 1995-2001, and the Platform for Action" is a recent publication issued by ECLAC based on their work to produce a system of indicators that can be used to follow up and evaluate regional and international agreements pertaining to women's advancement and promotion of gender equity. The publication can be obtained by contacting: Women and Development Unit, Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Casilla 179-D, Santiago de Chile or on line at: <"http://www.eclac.cl/English/research/women/indicators/genderind.htm>. For an excellent global update of the activities of UNDP, particularly at the regional level, see the new electronic bulletin "UNDP Beijing+5". For a copy, visit: <"http://www.undp.org/gender/gb/bjbullet.html>. NGO PREPARATIONS FOR BEIJING PLUS FIVE The Beijing Plus Five Coordinating Committee Calls for Information on Alternative Country Reports: The Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO), through its Beijing Plus Five Coordinating Committee, would like to hear from groups preparing alternative reports for their country and/or region. This information is vital in determining the level of interest and action regarding national reports since these reports would serve as a basis for, and make possible, regional and global alternative reports. This idea generated considerable enthusiasm during the NGO meetings held parallel to the l999 UN Commission on the Status of Women. So far, information has been received from Japan and the Pacific. Please let us know of any other reports that are under way. Contact Women's GlobalNet at <iwtc@igc.org> or CONGO at <congongo@aol.com>. The next issue of Women's GlobalNet will focus in more detail on the plans and preparations of the NGO community for Beijing Plus Five. IWTC Women's GlobalNet is produced by: International Women's Tribune Centre 777 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 Tel: (1-212) 687-8633 Fax: (1-212) 661-2704 e-mail: <iwtc@igc.apc.org>