UNIFEM South Asia - Publications

Beijing

Progress of Women in South Asia 2007- A Series for the Sixth South Asia Regional Ministerial Conference: Commemorating Beijing, prepared for UNIFEM by Ms. Ratna Sudarshan and her team at the Indian Institute of Social Studies Trust, (ISST), in collaboration with Ford Foundation.

This fifth issue of ‘Progress of Women in South Asia’ forms the base document for the ‘Sixth South Asia Regional Ministerial Conference: Commemorating Beijing’, held on 17th – 19th January 2008, at New Delhi, India. The document presents a holistic overview of the situation of women in South Asia since 2005. It delineates, the strides made and the challenges that persist in relation to the advancement of women, particularly in relation to violence against women, economic and political empowerment of women, disaster preparedness, health and education, which had been flagged as priorities. Keeping these in mind, the Progress, works its way around them covering an array of issues. These range from the macroeconomic, which include the feminine face of poverty and the impact of reform on women, to gender and social policy, discussing social protection, health and education. Women’s human rights framework and combating gender-based violence are spotlighted as are the issues of armed conflict and post conflict reconstruction on women. The challenges of participation and leadership are explored and the role of the national machineries and media scrutinized. Beyond border issues, including those of disaster and human security are dwelt upon and the importance of multi stakeholder engagement highlighted. In addition, the publication provides one of the mechanisms to track progress on gender equality in the region, filling the need for a single combined document, showcasing some Government and civil actions on areas of concern.

Report of the Fifth South Asia Regional Ministerial Conference

Celebrating Beijing Plus Ten

In an effort to keep the spirit of Beijing alive as also to track progress on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the region, UNIFEM South Asia has instituted the mechanism of Biennial Regional Reviews. Every alternate year, in collaboration with a government of the region, a review meeting is organized, bringing together governments, the SAARC Secretariat, NGOs, and members of civil society. Celebrating Beijing Plus Ten, was held at Islamabad, in May 2005, in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan.

While being a continuation of the process of regional sharing and learning, the meeting provided an opportunity for observations, insights and debate on post Beijing + Ten, as well as unpacking the Beijing + Ten document in the regional context. The Report provides a strategic instrument for highlighting gender concerns at the Millennium Summit in September, when nations would come together for the five-year review of the MDGs.

The Report captures the proceedings of the review, including Country Presentations, the consensus document, ‘Islamabad Declaration: Review and Future Action’, and technical sessions on: ‘The Varied Contours of Violence against Women by Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the former UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women; ‘Issues of Gender, Livelihoods and Resources’, by Dr. Govind Kelkar of the IFAD-UNIFEM Gender Mainstreaming Programme; and ‘Women’s Leadership Effectiveness and Representation’, by Ms. Khawar Mumtaz of Shirkat Gah. It captures the significant contributions by Prof. Savitri Goonesekere former member of the CEDAW Committee and Ms. Salma Khan, member of the CEDAW Technical Committee; as well as testimonies of elected women representatives from different tiers of governance.

3-5 May, 2005

Islamabad, Pakistan

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Progress of South Asian Women 2005 - A Series for the Fifth South Asian Regional Ministerial Conference Celebrating Beijing Plus Ten, prepared for UNIFEM by Dr. Ratna Sudarshan and her team at the Indian Institute of Social Studies Trust, (ISST), in collaboration with Ford Foundation.