Governments Carry NGO Message on BPFA

September 7, Bangkok---The APNGO Forum Caucus, non-governmental organisations that coalesced to lobby for full implementation of the Beijing Platform For Action (BPFA) in the Asia and Pacific region, found sure allies among governments at the opening of the High Level Ministerial Meeting (HLM) to Review Regional Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in Bangkok, Thailand.

Over 300 government and NGO delegates came for the HLM, bringing with them their country’s perspectives on the status of BPFA initiatives. They were welcomed by messages by UNESCAP executive secretary Kim Hak-Su, Thai Social Development and Human Security minister Wanlop Phloytabtim, and UN Division for the Advancement of Women director, Carolyn Hannan.

Both Hannan and Kim underscored the role of partnerships between civil society and governments in advancing the BPFA. “The women’s movement no longer needs to be the lone voice calling for change; instead national machineries and other government counterparts are able to recognize the value of exchange, information sharing and capacity building across sectors, between governments and together with civil society and private partners,” acknowledged Kim.

Hannan confirmed the APNGO Forum’s stance that gender equality is a prerequisite goal for other development targets to succeed. “The overall global framework for gender equality and empowerment of women remains the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action from 1995 and the emerging issues identified in the review and appraisal in 2000. The framework of the Millennium Development Goals does not replace this global framework but should be seen as an instrument to support its full implementation.”

However, she said the ongoing meeting is being held at a time when commitments adopted in previous conferences are still being discussed today. “The fact that 30 years after the First World Conference on Women, and 10 years after the (1995 Fourth World Conference on Women), many of the goals set have not yet achieved is to be lamented.” She pointed to persistent issues of violence against women, under-representation in decision-making in all areas and at all levels, the lack of access to basic reproductive health services, and the feminisation of poverty as matters that remain unsolved.

A set of presiding officers for the duration of the HLM was elected after these opening remarks. Habiba Sarabi, Minister of Women’s Affairs from Afghanistan, was chosen as Chair. Yoriko Meguro of Japan and Polotu Fakafanua-Paunga of Tonga became joint rapporteurs.

In their individual presentations, the country representatives of Malaysia, India, Philippines, New Zealand, Netherlands and the UK affirmed the need for BPFA implementation, and the related commitments expressed in the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

The rest of the opening day gave way to panels on specific issues. An ESCAP-organised side event “Young Men Speak Out,” on the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality, was held from 12am to 1:15. This was followed by panel presentations on globalisation (see separate report) and migrant labour, trafficking and violence against women, gender-responsive information society, political participation of women, and gender and HIV/AIDS.

At the end of the day, the APNGO Forum Caucus met to plan for opportunities for intervention during the plenaries. The caucus members highlighted their call for the reaffirmation of the BPFA and ICPD Program of Action with a sticker campaign, and a caucus statement that will be presented on September 8. Nevertheless, some tactics had to be changed when they were informed by the ESCAP secretariat that instead of a Chair’s summary document, the HLM was expected to produce an outcomes document.This document would likely undergo negotiations in language before the end of the four-day meeting. At the same time, only six speaking slots of nine minutes each would be given to the NGOs, and only on the last day of the HLM, by which time it would not be included in the official document. The allotted time would have to be divided among the issues that were considered most pressing. Sub-caucuses on media and ICTs, armed conflict, sustainable development, land rights and youth rights had already begun to discuss and prepare their statements. They hope to interject their statements in the panel events on September 8 and 9 to make use of the available spaces for lobbying.

Aileen Familara of Isis International Manila and APWW, with inputs from Diana G. Mendoza of the Women’s Feature Service

ERRATUM: In the previous onsite report, the ICPD was wrongly spelled out. The correct meaning of the acronym is International Conference on Population and Development. This writer regrets the error.