Voices of Pacific Women

Dr Pat Harrison OAM, MB,BS (London)

Greetings and apologies from

BPW International President Freda Mirikilis

Introduction

My backgroundWhy I am hereMaking your voices heardMy experience

BPW International• Founded 1919 in USA• Became International Federation 1930 • Founding Members

United States of AmericaItalyGreat BritainFranceAustriaItalyCanada

2012 BPW is in over 90 countries Has close ties with the United Nations through

Economic and Social CouncilWorld Health OrganisationInternational Labour

OrganisationUN Women (formally UNIFEM)UNICEFUNDPUNIDO

What does the United Nations do for Women?

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women

Adopted by UN General Assembly 1979

Entered into force 1982

A Document outlining the Human Rights of Women

Individual Governments ratify to make it policy in their jurisdiction

Commission on Status of Women

Developed very early in the history of UN

Meets annually in New York

Government delegations and NGOs both attend

Discusses matters affecting women and develops policy for implementation by Governments

Making our Voices Heard

The United Nations sponsored a series of Conferences for women

1975 International Women’s Year 1st World Conference for Women in Mexico

1980 Mid decade conference in Copenhagen

1985 End of Decade for Women3rd World Conference in Nairobi

19954th World Conference for Women in Beijing

THE UN PROCESS

How are our voices heard?

NGO Preparatory Conference

Regional Meeting for Governments

Commission on the status of women

The Beijing Conference

The Platform for Action

12 critical areas of concern

12 Critical Areas of Concern

A Women and PovertyB Education and training of womenC Women and healthD Violence against womenE Women and armed conflictF Women and the economy

Critical Areas of Concern ( cont)

G Women in power and decision makingH Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of womenI Human rights for womenJ Women and the mediaK Women and the environmentL The girl child

The Follow Up

Commission on the Status of Women

Lobbying Governments

Updating resolutions from Beijing

Beijing plus 20

Global Compact for Women

The Universal Declaration of Human RightsThe International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at WorkThe Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentThe United Nations Convention Against Corruption

Millenium Development Goals

Year 2000

UN General Assembly Announced 8 Goals to alleviate Poverty by 2015

End Poverty and Hunger

Universal Education

Gender Equality

Child Health

Maternal Health

Combat HIV Aids

Environmental Sustainability

Global Partnership

The UN Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption:

Human RightsPrinciple 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; andPrinciple 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

LabourPrinciple 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; andPrinciple 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

EnvironmentPrinciple 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; andPrinciple 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

Anti-Corruption

Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Women’s Empowerment Principles: Equality Means Business

Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities.

The Principles are:1Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality.2Treat all women and men fairly at work — respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination.3Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers.4Promote education, training and professional development for women.

5Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women.6Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.7Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality.

How do we achieve these Principles?

Empower women by educating employers and employees Educate by direct contact with employers, both multinationals and smaller local employersUN Women in association with BPW are and will hold seminars to encourage more establishments to sign on

Internet References

Women’s Empowerment Principles can be found on the UN Global Compact Web Site

Calvert Women’s Principles

What can you do locally?

1 Lobby your government to support the Global Compact

2 Lobby Government and Business to embrace the Women’s Empowerment Principles

3 Encourage women to apply for senior positions and support them

4 Encourage women to stand for election and support them

5 Hold information sessions at schools and universities to make women aware of the issues and encourage them to be involved

6 Publicise success when employers sign up for WEPS

7 Support those companies who sign up for WEPS

Thank you