During
this quadrennial, BPW International helped
implement the Beijing Platform for Action
and lobbied for CEDAW. Our permanent representatives
worked with other NGOs during meeting preparation
process, attended appropriate sessions and/or
made statements as necessary on behalf of
the organisation at the United Nations in
New York, Vienna, Geneva, at all regional
Commissions of ECOSOC, UNESCO, ILO, WHO,
FAO, UNICEF, DPI, UNIDO, UNIFEM and at UNCTAD.
BPW affiliates were involved in other UN-related
activities such as inviting UN officials
to participate in our international conferences.
We also stepped up our involvement in the
environment and commitment to implement
newer UN resolutions such as UN Security
Council Resolution 1325 on Peace.
Implementing
UN policy regarding women
Since
the Fourth World Conference on Women in
Beijing, BPW affiliates have been working
with governments to address the Beijing
Platform for Action. BPW International also
passed resolutions at our International
Congress at Vancouver in 1999 and Melbourne
in 2002 regarding critical areas for action
on Education, Health, Human Rights, Economic,
Power and Decision Making, Environment,
Armed Conflict, and Violence Against Women.
In January 2000, our UN representatives
in Europe chaired sessions during NGO Consultation
and attended UN ECE regional preparatory
meeting for the Beijing+5 Review held in
Geneva.
In
June 2000, a large delegation from BPW International
attended both in the official sessions and
as speakers and leaders within the activities
of the parallel NGO Forum at the special
session of the General Assembly “Women
2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace
for the Twenty-First Century: Implementation
of Strategic Objectives” in New York.
At this Beijing+5 Review, BPW International
made a joint statement with Soroptimist
International, the International Council
of Women, the International Federation of
University Women and with Zonta International.
(This group is referred to as “Five-O”)
BPW
International also lobbied governments through
its affiliates to become signatories to
both CEDAW and the Optional Protocol. In
year 2000 BPW co-organized a NGO conference
on the Optional Protocol to CEDAW in Vienna.
Our affiliates, such as BPW Sweden, also
worked with other women NGOs in their own
countries to prepare CEDAW shadow reports.
We worked with other UN subsidiaries and
associate bodies, attending sessions and
reporting to its affiliates on the work
of the Human Rights Commission, CEDAW. BPW
is consistently involved in consultation
activities during the two weeks of CEDAW
held each year. |
