Subject: [fem-women2000 621] Onsite Report from 45th Session of the UNCSW - No. 6
From: lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org>
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 02:37:37 -0500
Seq: 621
Forwarded by lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org> ---------------- Original message follows ---------------- From: kathy clarin <kathy@isiswomen.org> To: apwomen2000@isiswomen.org Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 15:09:59 +0800 Subject: [apwomen2000] Onsite Report from 45th Session of the UNCSW - No. 6 -- Distributed by Isis International-Manila - linking women, sharing knowledge, engendering change -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Onsite Report from 45th Session of the UNCSW - No. 6 source: Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, Isis International-Manila <mavic@isiswomen.org> <fgballeza@yahoo.com> date: 03.13.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 09 March 2001 -Onsite report from the 45th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Asia-Pacific NGO Intervention 'Blocked' On 08 March, Virada Somswasdi of the Asia-Pacific Forum for Women in Law and Development (APWLD) network, a member of Asia-Pacific Caucus made an intervention on behalf of the Caucus at the Commission on the Status of Women Panel on HIV and AIDS. Before Ms. Somswasdi could finish her statement, Asit Bhattacharya, the Indian government's representative to the UN CSW, called the attention of Ms. Dubravka Simonovic, the CSW Chairperson, and moved for a point of order stating that that was the second time that an NGO had made an irrelevant intervention. Mr. Bhattacharya further asserted that NGOs should speak on the topic that was currently being discussed. After Mr. Bhattacharya's move for a point of order, Ms. Simonovic having consulted the Secretariat gave Ms. Somswasdi the opportunity to conclude her statement. When asked what could have prompted the Indian representative's move for a point of order, Ms. Somswasdi said she was not clear on where such a statement had arisen from and pointed out that she went through the required procedure of submitting her name, her organisations's name and a copy of the statement of intervention. Moreover, her statement was also focused on the topic of HIV/AIDS and was not a digression from the topic of discussion. Meanwhile, a number of other NGOs attending the 45th CSW Session expressed concern over the move to block an NGO intervention in the official panel deemed as irrelevant. Muthoni Wanyeki of FEMNET-Africa said during the NGO Briefing on 09 March that this should be a concern of all NGOs taking part in the CSW Session and not just of those from the Asia-Pacific. Other NGO representatives stressed that such move could cause a feeling of intimidation and embarrassment. To discuss the best way to address the NGOs' concern, members of the Asia-Pacific Caucus met with Leslie Wright of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN (CONGO) Committee on the CSW on 09 March. It was agreed at this meeting that Ms. Simonovik, the CSW Chairperson would be invited to the NGO briefing to clarify the procedures for NGO intervention. Prepared by Mavic Cabrera-Balleza Isis International-Manila =============================================================== APWOMEN2000 is a general announcement list created to facilitate information and resource sharing for the NGO review process in Asia and the Pacific for the Beijing Platform for Action. Send postings to <owner-apwomen2000@isiswomen.org>. APWOMEN2000 is archived at: http://www.isiswomen.org/womenet/lists/apwomen2000/archive _________________________________________________________________________ fem-Women2000@jca.apc.org for Women 2000, UN Special Session on Beijing+5 Searcheable Archive http://www.jca.apc.org/fem/news/women2000/index.shtml visit fem-net HomePage for other mailing lists http://www.jca.apc.org/fem