Working toward gender equality

THE 30th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)—which follows this month—provides a great opportunity to reflect about the world’s situation of women’s rights. In spite of progress in the promotion of gender equality, discriminations on the basis of gender are still pervasive in all societies. And, surprisingly, even in the Philippines which has been governed by two women presidents.

The European Union is taking a leading role in gender equality, and it is a matter of close co-operation between the European Union and international and regional bodies. In particular, the European Union engages with partner countries to combat the practice of discriminatory laws. Through its financial instruments, the EU supports complementary efforts by civil society organizations, such as activities on advocacy, monitoring and support to victims.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, says: “This Convention has now been ratified by almost all countries in the world and in many has guided the review of constitutions or other national legis-lations, which now enshrine the principle of gender equality. However, much more still needs to be done. What is of pressing concern is that states that have ratified the Convention continue to maintain legislation that discriminates against women, in areas such as inheritance rights, the transmission of nationality by women or the right to property. The EU will continue to engage with partner countries and organizations on these critical issues.”

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly 30 years ago, on December 18, 1979. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Optional Protocol to the Convention. To date, 186 countries have ratified the
Convention and 98 of these countries have ratified the Optional Protocol, with the Philippines a signatory to both.

Information about the implementation of CEDAW, such as that provided by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discriminations against Women, forms the basis for a frank and constructive dialogue between the EU and its partner countries.

A recent example of discussions at the ministerial level on strengthening the role of women in society is the conference that was organized in Marrakesh on November 11 to 12 in the framework of the Union for Mediterranean. On September 25, the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations held in New York a high-level breakfast meeting on efforts of regional organizations to implement UN Security Council resolution 1325(2000) on women, peace and security.

These discussions took place in the run up to the adoption by the UN Security Council of two new resolutions on women, peace and security (resolutions 1888 and 1889), which significantly contribute to strengthening international accountability on sexual violence against women.

The holding of systematic discussions about women’s rights between the EU and partner countries is a key deliverable of the “EU Guidelines on Violence against Women and Girls and combating all Forms of Discrimination against Them.” As part of the implementation of these Guidelines, the EU supports a number of activities of civil society organizations in monitoring the implementation and raising awareness about CEDAW, in particular through the “European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights.”

In addition, through the thematic program “Investing in People,” the Commission has recently launched a call for proposals on strengthening the capacity of non-State actors to promote women’s rights and gender equality in the Mediterranean countries, with a deadline for the submission of proposals set for February 8, 2010. –RANDOM JOTTINGS, Manila Times

rjottings@yahoo.com