EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN ( 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. 4 Friday, 31 March 1995 CSW HIGHLIGHTS THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 1995 The 13th session of the Plenary of the CSW, chaired by Ms. Patricia Licuanan (Philippines), convened Thursday morning for a report on progress and plans for completing the work of the 39th session of the CSW. Two draft resolutions were also introduced. The Drafting Group convened briefly to collect amendments to Chapter VI (Financial Arrangements). Delegates also continued examining Chapter II (Global Framework) and Chapter IV (Strategic Objectives and Actions, Section D. Violence against women) in closed informal- informal groups. PLENARY Ms. Licuanan reported that the working group on NGO accreditation had informed the Bureau that members had reached an impasse and were forming a sub-group to decide on extending accreditation procedures. A decision is possible Friday. Ms. Licuanan also noted the progress on the draft Platform for Action. Delegates have discussed or submitted written amendments on all chapters, except Chapter VI (Financial Arrangements). Two informal-informal groups are examining the texts, and have completed work on Chapters I (Mission Statement) and III (Critical Areas of Concern). She noted that, in Chapter IV (Strategic Objectives and Actions), work on Sections A (The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women), B (Unequal access to and inadequate educational opportunities) and D (Violence against women) has been completed. Work on Section C (Inequalities in health status and unequal access to and inadequate health care services) has been postponed and work on Section F (Inequality in women's access to and participation in the definition of economic structures and policies and the productive process itself) was commencing. The Chair dismissed "rumors about a possible extension" or an extra session as "totally false." She noted that resources would not be available for work after Tuesday. Pakistan inquired about NGO access to the informal- informals. The Chair replied that the process had been kept as open as possible. Work was being conducted under constraints, however, and even some delegates had not been able to attend the informal-informals. The US inquired about the deadline for tabling a draft resolution on NGO accreditation. Ms. Licuanan turned the Chair over to Ms. Natallya Drozd (Belarus), who presided over the introduction of two draft resolutions under Agenda Item 5 (Monitoring the Implementation of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies). Peru introduced draft resolution E/CN.6/1995/L.16, "Integration of displaced women into developmental processes." Namibia introduced draft resolution E/CN.6/1995/L.18, "Women working in agriculture and rural development." Amendments were made for both resolutions. DRAFTING GROUP The Drafting Group, chaired by Ms. Aida Gonzalez (Mexico), convened briefly on Thursday afternoon to receive written amendments on Chapter VI (Financial Arrangements) from the G-77/China and the EU. The Chair noted that a number of delegations had worked with the regional groups and expected to achieve a consolidated text. INFORMAL-INFORMALS I The informal-informal group considering Chapter II (Global Framework) met all day Thursday and expected to continue into the night to complete the second reading. This group will take up consideration of Chapter V (Institutional Arrangements) on Friday, after which it will consider Chapter VI (Financial Arrangements). Among the paragraphs discussed Thursday was paragraph 21 (poverty of women). The paragraph notes that macro-economic policies, including SAPs, have not always been designed to account for their impacts on women and girl-children. A revised reference to the plight of women in rural or remote areas was included. A paragraph on the family is to be drafted. A paragraph noting women's contributions to the economy was added. Paragraph 22 (female-headed households) now includes references to the causes of poverty in female- headed households. Paragraph 22(bis) (role of religion and spirituality in women's lives) was bracketed. In paragraph 23 (dependency ratio within families), references to long- term social policies and women's needs in policy planning were bracketed. Paragraph 23(bis) (diversity and barriers) was bracketed. In paragraph 24 (communications changes), the call for a commitment to promote human values was bracketed. INFORMAL-INFORMALS II The informal-informal group working on Chapter IV, Section D (Violence against women), met all day Thursday. By Thursday evening, the group had completed Section D and turned its attention to Section F (Inequality in women's access to and participation in the definition of economic structures and policies and the productive process itself). In Section D, paragraph 93 (trafficking and prostitution) was bracketed. In paragraph 94(g) (punishment of State agents committing violence against women), delegates inserted a reference to punishment for any State agent engaging in acts of violence against women. A reference to migrant workers was added to 95(a)(bis) (services for migrant women victims of gender-based violence). A new paragraph referring to the legal status of women migrants was added. In 95(b) (community education campaigns), a reference to "innovative" methods of conflict resolution was added. In 95(b)(bis) (role of intermediate institutions), references to family planning centers and existing school health services were bracketed. Paragraph 95(c) (education about violence and violence prevention) was bracketed. In paragraph 95(d) (publicizing information about violence), a reference to the media was deleted and references to the role of the media were moved to paragraph 95(a)(bis). In 95(a)(bis) (media responsibility), a reference to the media's role was deleted, and references to non-stereotyped roles of women and men, professional guidelines and awareness of the media's role were added. In paragraph 96(b) (education about violence), a reference to violence against women as a crime was added. In paragraph 96(c) (abusive relationships), references to adolescents and healing programmes were inserted. In 96(c)(ter) (women in vulnerable situations), references to refugee, displaced and internally displaced women and to developing new legislation for migrant workers were added. Paragraph 97(bis) (Special Rapporteur) was bracketed. In paragraph 98(a) (research causes of violence) references to the social, economic, cultural and political context of violence were bracketed. In 99(a)(bis) (eliminating trafficking), references to forced marriages and to punishment through civil and criminal measures were added, and a reference to commercial sex work other than prostitution was bracketed. In 99(a)(ter) (cooperation to dismantle trafficking networks), a reference to national and international cooperation was bracketed. SUMMARY OF COMPLETED TEXTS The informal-informal groups' consideration of Chapter III (Critical Areas of Concern) and Sections A (The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women) and B (Unequal access to and inadequate educational opportunities) of Chapter V (Strategic Objectives and Actions) has been completed and the results have been released. The following are summaries of bracketed text. CHAPTER III. CRITICAL AREAS OF CONCERN In paragraph 34 (advancement of women and achievement of equality), a reference to the "innate dignity and the fundamental" equality between women and men is bracketed, as are references to "human rights" and "equity." In paragraph 35 (Nairobi Strategies) specific references to impediments to realization of the strategic goals, with the exception of "ingrained prejudicial attitudes," have been bracketed. In paragraph 37 (call for strategic action), a reference to the need for "full respect for religious and ethical values, cultural backgrounds and philosophical convictions in conformity with all human rights and fundamental freedoms" is bracketed. A number of additions to the critical areas for action are bracketed: violence and the girl child; women living under foreign occupation or alien domination; and "universal" human rights. CHAPTER IV. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS SECTION A. The persistent and increasing burden on women: The introductory paragraph (39) contains a bracketed reference to unemployment and underemployment. Paragraph 40 (the feminization of poverty) contains a bracketed reference to cultural and social factors for family instability. Paragraph 44 (increase women's productive capacity), contains a bracketed reference to "sustained economic growth and sustainable development." A.1. Review, adopt and maintain macroeconomic policies and development strategies that address the needs and efforts of women to overcome poverty within the framework of sustainable development: In Paragraph 46 (actions by Governments), brackets remain around references to: "in the context of people-centered sustainable development;" the easing of migration policies; and developing policies for indigenous women. In paragraph 47 (action by international financial and development institutions), references to increased resources, debt cancellation and the creation of an enabling environment are bracketed. Paragraph 47(bis) (actions by NGOs) is entirely new and bracketed. NGOs are called on to: mobilize to improve the effectiveness of anti- poverty programmes; organize pressure groups; develop a comprehensive national strategy for improving social services; and mobilize to protect women's traditional land and property rights. A.2. Revise laws and administrative practices to recognize women's rights to economic resources and to ensure women's access to economic resources: Additions to paragraph 48 (action by Governments) are bracketed: enact laws to prevent rural and indigenous community resources from passing to the private sector; urge ratification of ILO Convention 169; and urge adoption by ECOSOC and the GA of the draft International Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. A.3. Provide women with access to savings mechanisms and institutions and to credit: Paragraph 53 (action by international organizations) contains the bracketed options to "increase" or "provide adequate" funding for entrepreneurial activities. A.4. Conduct research in order to enable women to overcome poverty: The only brackets in this section are on the call to [seek to] apply methodologies for incorporating gender perspectives on all policies. SECTION B. Unequal access to and inadequate educational opportunities: In paragraph 56 (education as a tool), references to education's contribution to the achievement of [sustained economic growth], and [sustainable development]...[centered on the human person] are bracketed. In paragraph 58 (discrimination in girls' access to education), references to "early marriages" and to "sexual harassment" are bracketed. Paragraph 59 (gender biased curricula), references to the impact of "the lack of sexual and reproductive education" on women and men and to the "rights, duties and responsibilities of parents and other persons" are bracketed. B.1. Ensure equal access to education: In paragraph 63 (action by Governments), brackets remain around references to freedom of conscience and religion, repeal of discriminatory laws and prioritizing women's educational provision. B.2. Eradicate illiteracy among women worldwide: In paragraph 64 (actions by Governments, national, regional and international bodies), the target year 2000 is bracketed. B.4. Develop non-discriminatory education and training: In paragraph 66 (actions by Governments and educational and academic institutions), a sub-paragraph calling for awareness about the status, role and respective contributions of women and men in the family and society is bracketed. Most of a sub-paragraph that calls for the removal of legal and regulatory barriers to sexual and reproductive health is bracketed. Also bracketed are sub- paragraphs regarding: integrated education and awareness services related to "youth sexuality;" appropriate education for indigenous women; pluricultural education for countries with indigenous people; respect for cultural and religious diversity in educational institutions; and the removal of barriers to schooling of pregnant girls and young mothers. B.5. Allocate sufficient resources for educational reforms and monitor implementation: In paragraph 70 (action by international and intergovernmental organizations), sub- paragraphs calling for monitoring the closure of the gap between women and men in education and for the allocation of a minimum percentage of assistance to women and girls' education are bracketed. B.5 (bis) [To promote life-long learning [educational processes] for girls and women]: The title contains the only brackets in this section. IN THE CORRIDORS A breakthrough in the impasse to the accreditation issue may come Friday morning after a bilateral meeting between two of the delegations represented on the special accreditation working group. Failing that, the US delegation is expected ask a CSW member to introduce a draft resolution on the issue over the weekend. THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY PLENARY: The Plenary will meet today to act on draft resolutions and to consider rules of procedure. A report from a working group on communications is also expected. INFORMAL-INFORMALS: The informal-informal groups will continue meeting today. Evening, night, Saturday and Sunday sessions are all possible. 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 (, 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. 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