Major Groups: Women, NGOs and Workers and Trade
Major Groups’ Statement on Gender Equality
11th Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
Tuesday 6th of May 2014
Thank you co-chair,
I am Doris Mpoumou with International Planned Parenthood Federation/ Western hemisphere region and this morning I am speaking on behalf of Women, NGOs and Trade Unions Major Groups.
Co-Chairs, we welcome the retention of gender equality as a focus area and deeply appreciate your proposal in this regard. Yet, as it stands now the proposal is not bold and ambitious enough to have a transformative impact on the lives of women and girls worldwide nor does it really put us on the path to achieving sustainable development.
We suggest the following concrete suggestions to the title and targets, many of which have already been proposed in prior sessions of the OWG. We have a longer version that we will share with you but for the interest of time I will read an abridged version.
On the wording of the goal, we have consistently advocated that it is critical that this goal be grounded in full respect for women’s human rights and that this be explicitly reflected in the framework. The goal should read as follows:
Attain gender equality, the full realization of women’s human rights, and the empowerment of all women and girls everywhere.
We largely support the suggested targets but feel that they need to be more ambitious and explicit particularly in regards to Eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices that impede gender equality; creating an enabling environment for the realization of gender equality through the creation of new policies; and the redistribution and allocation of necessary resources to achieve gender equality.
Target A, by 2030 end all forms of discrimination based on gender and violence against all women and girls of all ages, including by revoking all gender discriminatory legislation, policies and practices.
On target B by 2030 end all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls in all their diversity and end impunity for gender-based violence.
Target C by 2030 ensure equal access to education (36) including a commitment to universal, quality and free education for all women and girls at all levels, life-long learning and comprehensive sexuality education.
On target D by 2030 ensure equal employment opportunities for women and equal pay for (delete: equal) work of equal value (37)
Target E, by 2030 ensure equal access to and control of productive assets and resources, including land ownership and inheritance, credit, and natural resources management [38], that promote fair redistribution of assets.
Target F, by 2020 ensure equal and full participation and leadership of women and girls in decision-making at all levels in public and private institutions (39) and spheres, including in conflict and disaster-affected settings
Target G, by 2030 end harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and honor killings.[40]
Target H, by 2030 reduce and redistribute the burden of unpaid domestic and care work (41) through shared responsibility by states, private sector, communities, and women and men.
Target I, by 2030 ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and [delete: reproductive] rights, including by guaranteeing that women and girls of all ages are free from stigma, violence, coercion and discrimination.
Target I bis) Remove all legal and policy barriers that hinder access to sexual and reproductive health care services, and eliminate laws and harmful practices that criminalize sexuality and reproductive autonomy.
Target J, Promote the availability of gender and age disaggregated data to improve the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of gender equality policies, laws and programs, including gender sensitive budgeting43
We believe that financial resources for gender equality and women’s rights need to be addressed separately. As such, we suggest an additional target, which would read as follows:
Target K, by 2020 ensure that gender sensitive planning and budgeting are integrated into national and local legal and policy frameworks, and ensure effective and continuous ODA as well as innovative financing for gender equality.
Finally we would like this process to remain open to ensure the participation of all major groups and other stakeholders.
Co-chairs, the post 2015 agenda presents a unique opportunity to be bold and ambitious. We count on your leadership to seize this moment to make a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. We stand ready to working with you in making sure these recommendations are integrated in the final document.
Thank you!
11th Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
Tuesday 6th of May 2014
Thank you co-chair,
I am Doris Mpoumou with International Planned Parenthood Federation/ Western hemisphere region and this morning I am speaking on behalf of Women, NGOs and Trade Unions Major Groups.
Co-Chairs, we welcome the retention of gender equality as a focus area and deeply appreciate your proposal in this regard. Yet, as it stands now the proposal is not bold and ambitious enough to have a transformative impact on the lives of women and girls worldwide nor does it really put us on the path to achieving sustainable development.
We suggest the following concrete suggestions to the title and targets, many of which have already been proposed in prior sessions of the OWG. We have a longer version that we will share with you but for the interest of time I will read an abridged version.
On the wording of the goal, we have consistently advocated that it is critical that this goal be grounded in full respect for women’s human rights and that this be explicitly reflected in the framework. The goal should read as follows:
Attain gender equality, the full realization of women’s human rights, and the empowerment of all women and girls everywhere.
We largely support the suggested targets but feel that they need to be more ambitious and explicit particularly in regards to Eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices that impede gender equality; creating an enabling environment for the realization of gender equality through the creation of new policies; and the redistribution and allocation of necessary resources to achieve gender equality.
Target A, by 2030 end all forms of discrimination based on gender and violence against all women and girls of all ages, including by revoking all gender discriminatory legislation, policies and practices.
On target B by 2030 end all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls in all their diversity and end impunity for gender-based violence.
Target C by 2030 ensure equal access to education (36) including a commitment to universal, quality and free education for all women and girls at all levels, life-long learning and comprehensive sexuality education.
On target D by 2030 ensure equal employment opportunities for women and equal pay for (delete: equal) work of equal value (37)
Target E, by 2030 ensure equal access to and control of productive assets and resources, including land ownership and inheritance, credit, and natural resources management [38], that promote fair redistribution of assets.
Target F, by 2020 ensure equal and full participation and leadership of women and girls in decision-making at all levels in public and private institutions (39) and spheres, including in conflict and disaster-affected settings
Target G, by 2030 end harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and honor killings.[40]
Target H, by 2030 reduce and redistribute the burden of unpaid domestic and care work (41) through shared responsibility by states, private sector, communities, and women and men.
Target I, by 2030 ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and [delete: reproductive] rights, including by guaranteeing that women and girls of all ages are free from stigma, violence, coercion and discrimination.
Target I bis) Remove all legal and policy barriers that hinder access to sexual and reproductive health care services, and eliminate laws and harmful practices that criminalize sexuality and reproductive autonomy.
Target J, Promote the availability of gender and age disaggregated data to improve the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of gender equality policies, laws and programs, including gender sensitive budgeting43
We believe that financial resources for gender equality and women’s rights need to be addressed separately. As such, we suggest an additional target, which would read as follows:
Target K, by 2020 ensure that gender sensitive planning and budgeting are integrated into national and local legal and policy frameworks, and ensure effective and continuous ODA as well as innovative financing for gender equality.
Finally we would like this process to remain open to ensure the participation of all major groups and other stakeholders.
Co-chairs, the post 2015 agenda presents a unique opportunity to be bold and ambitious. We count on your leadership to seize this moment to make a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. We stand ready to working with you in making sure these recommendations are integrated in the final document.
Thank you!