EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN (enb@igc.apc.org) PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) WRITTEN AND EDITED BY: Peter Doran Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" Virginia Hulme Lynn Wagner A DAILY REPORT ON THE 39TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN Vol. 14 No. 7 Wednesday, April 5 1995 CSW HIGHLIGHTS 4 APRIL 1995 Delegates continued their work on the Platform for Action for the Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) during morning, afternoon and evening informal-informal sessions. The first reading of Section H (Insufficient mechanisms at all levels to promote the advancement of women) in Chapter IV (Strategic Objectives and Actions) was completed, as was a third reading of Chapter V (Institutional Arrangements). Delegates began their first full reading of Sections C (Inequalities in health status and unequal access to and inadequate health care services) and I (Lack of awareness of a commitment to internationally and nationally recognized women's human rights). "Gender" was bracketed throughout the text. INFORMAL-INFORMAL I The informal-informal group charged with completing consideration of Sections I (Lack of awareness of and commitment to internationally and nationally recognized women's human rights) and K (Lack of adequate recognition and support for women's contribution to managing natural resources and safeguarding the environment) of Chapter IV completed the first reading of Section K Monday evening. The language on consumption was reported to have caused some debate, and delegates attempted to draft text to indicate that all countries are responsible for consumption, but noted the disproportionate impact of some. The group discussed the human rights text throughout Tuesday. No final decision was taken on the section title. In paragraph 149 (universal human rights as the basis for advancement of women) the list of "all the major human rights instruments" was bracketed. Amendments introduced new references to links between the Vienna Declaration on human rights, the Platform and the right to development. Bracketed references to the Declaration on the Right to Development and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women were also introduced. A reference to the "human rights of women and girls throughout the life cycle" was replaced with the rights "of women and of the girl child." A new sentence was inserted at the end of the paragraph: "Governments must not only refrain from the violation of human rights of all women but must work actively to promote and protect these rights." The first sentence of the second paragraph was reformulated: "Recognition of the importance of the human rights of women is reflected in the fact that three-quarters of the UN member States are parties to the CEDAW." In paragraph 150 (human rights of women and reproductive rights), the first line was deleted. A new introductory paragraph was inserted, in brackets: "The WCHR and ICPD reaffirmed all aspects of the human rights of women including women's reproductive rights and the right to development." A reference to "universal" human rights was bracketed. In paragraph 151 (signatories to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), the second sentence, which referred to causes that undermine women's enjoyment of equal rights, was moved to paragraph 152. References to de jure equality and various law codes were deleted, a reference to legal systems was replaced with a reference to national administrations and a reference to judicial personnel was replaced with a reference to judicial process.The last three sentences were separated to form paragraph 151.bis. In paragraph 152 (gap between de jure and de facto rights), a reference to a lack of Governments' commitment to enforce rights was replaced with "promote and protect." References to international monitoring institutions, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, extension of the Committee's meeting time and the Optional Protocol were deleted. A reference to international "conventions and declarations" was replaced with "Human Rights instruments," and references to national law and national practice were added. The last sentence (women's awareness of their rights) was moved to paragraph 156. In paragraph 152.bis. (integration of women into the UN system), a reference to duplication was deleted, and references to the High Commissioner on Human Rights, CEDAW, the Convention on Criminal Justice and independent experts were added. The second paragraph 152.bis. (systemic nature of inequality) was bracketed. Paragraph 153 (shared responsibility) was bracketed pending the outcome of the reproductive rights section on health. Paragraphs 154 (violence against women) and 155 (women in vulnerable situations) were bracketed pending clarification of lists of forms of violence and particularly vulnerable groups of women. INFORMAL-INFORMAL II The informal-informal group charged with completing consideration of Section H (mechanisms) and the new section on the girl child completed half of its task, but it also undertook additional work. The group worked Monday evening and Tuesday morning to finish consideration of Section H and then completed a third reading of Chapter V (Institutional Arrangements) Tuesday afternoon. The group expected to conduct a second reading of Chapter VI (Financial Arrangements) during the evening, after which it was to take up the girl child section. In Strategic Objective H.3 (Generate and disseminate gender disaggregated data and information for planning and evaluation), delegates added a reference to the collection and analysis of statistics that reflect problems and questions related to men and women in society. Delegates bracketed references to making participation in the informal sector "visible" and to "quantifying and valuing" remunerated and unremunerated work. A sub-paragraph regarding time-use statistics and satellite or parallel accounts of unremunerated economic contributions was bracketed. A reference to data collection on access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services was bracketed. Governments are now called on to use gender- sensitive data in "implementation of programmes and projects" as well as in policy formulation. Paragraph 148(bis) (multilateral and bilateral donor support to capacity building to measure unremunerated work) was bracketed. In Chapter V, paragraph 187, which calls for changes in rules and procedures and the elimination of sexual harassment, is bracketed. In paragraph 190 (government responsibility for implementation), the invitation to governments to state their own commitments and to collect them in an annex to the Platform is bracketed. References to "feminist movements" remain bracketed. References to promoting women "with requisite qualifications" were deleted. In paragraph 203 (implementation), a reference to the Agenda for Peace and Agenda for Development is bracketed. A paragraph calling for a high-level post in the office of the Secretary-General is bracketed. In paragraph 207 (follow-up), a reference to "necessary resources and support" is bracketed. Paragraphs on the CSW, UNIFEM and INSTRAW are bracketed. A reference to NGO monitoring of implementation in paragraph 238 (role of NGOs) is bracketed. INFORMAL-INFORMAL III The informal-informal group charged with completing consideration of Section C (health) and the Declaration met Monday evening, when delegates decided to use the Secretariat's condensed version of the health text, rather than the full compilation text, as the working document. The group resumed Tuesday for morning, afternoon and evening negotiations on the health section. Negotiations were slow, and discussion of many definitions and concepts, including "unprotected sex," "unplanned pregnancy" and "unsafe abortion," occupied delegates' time during the morning session. Some language that cannot be settled in the working group will be sent to the Plenary. References to rights were introduced. Delegates offered different approaches for how to refer to the Cairo language. Delegates also debated the use of female mortality statistics. Discussions were expected to extend late into the night. DEFINITION OF GENDER Due to confusion and bracketed text, the Secretariat provided the following definition of gender, which is based on the discussion of the gender approach found in the 1994 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development (A/49/378): Gender refers to the relationships between women and men based on socially-defined roles that are assigned to one sex or the other. IN THE CORRIDORS Resources, implementation and follow-up are occupying much attention in the corridors in the wake of discussions on Chapters V and VI. There is disappointment with the lack of any commitment to new funding, and proposals for re- allocation of resources are regarded as modest. Interest is focusing on the prospect of a resolution calling for the creation of a voluntary fund to support a post and unit at the level of Under-Secretary-General to "make sure that the Beijing Platform is implemented in the UN system." Support for the fund, in the absence of new resources, has come from Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The S-G's Advisory Group on Beijing is supporting the idea. A number of delegations at the 39th Session of the CSW will be approached about sponsoring a resolution to support establishing the post with long-term funding. The initiative would have implications for existing structures overseeing the FWCW process, including the Division for the Advancement of Women. The Division will pay special attention to the nature and responsibilities of any new unit set up within the S-G's office. In principle, the establishment of a unifying mechanism would be welcome, in the absence of proposals for a new permanent body associated with the FWCW. The extraordinary nature of the proposed "voluntarily funded" unit operating in the S-G's office is being noted. Platform proposals for the redeployment of resources within the UN system have been met with some disappointment. The debate on the merger of INSTRAW and UNIFEM has also hindered debate on new funding. On NGO access, a number of delegations have put proposals to the Bureau for limited NGO access to the informal-informals, taking into account the lack of space. The US has suggested following the procedures adopted at UNCED. THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY INFORMAL-INFORMALS: Negotiations will continue again today in three informal groups. Delegates set midnight as their deadline for negotiations. This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (c) is written and edited by Peter Doran , Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" , Virginia Hulme and Lynn Wagner . The sustaining donors of the Bulletin are the International Institute for Sustainable Development (iisd@web.apc.org), the United Nations Environment Programme and the Pew Charitable Trusts through the Pew Global Stewardship Initiative. General support for the Bulletin during 1995 is provided by the United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland and the World Bank. Partial funding for this volume of the Bulletin has been provided by the Rockefeller Foundation. The authors can be contacted at their electronic mail addresses and by phone and fax at +1-212-888-2737. IISD can be contacted by phone at +1-204-958-7700, by fax at +1- 204-958-7710. The opinions expressed in the Earth Negotiations Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and other funders. 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