Commission on the Status of Women declaration criticised

The 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) has been criticised as producing a "bland" and "unambitious" declaration which may signify a major step backwards for women's rights.

2015 marked the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which produced a landmark blueprint for advancing women's rights. CSW59 reviewed progress in implementing the Beijing recommendations and identified opportunities for achieving gender equality and empowerment of women in the post-2015 development agenda.

However, the Women's Rights Caucus which monitors discussions at the CSW voiced concern that the language in the declaration was being "watered down" by some UN states. Almost 1000 organisations added their signatures to a Statement on the Political Declaration on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women which demanded strengthening of the declaration.

The statement said "At a time when urgent action is needed to fully realise gender equality, the human rights and empowerment of women and girls, we need renewed commitment, a heightened level of ambition, real resources, and accountability. This political declaration, instead, represents a bland reaffirmation of existing commitments that fails to match the level of ambition in the Beijing declaration and platform for action and in fact threatens a major step backward. Governments cannot pick and choose when to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of women and should not do so in this declaration."

Many civil society representatives felt shut out of the decision making process. It was argued that most of the negotiations around the working methods resolution took place before the event and feminist and women's organisations had limited space to influence the outcomes of the session.

The declaration on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference, along with other information on CSW59, is available on the UN Women website.

New Zealand's Minister for Women Louise Upston presented New Zealand's National Statement at CSW59. She said the Government's priority areas in relation to women are:

• "Supporting women in the workplace and growing women’s participation in the New Zealand economy, particularly through participation in education and training, as well as encouraging employment in non-traditional roles. We will continue to work to reduce the gender pay gap and address unconscious gender bias.
• Growing and developing our future pool of women leaders, by inspiring them to aim high in their careers and take the next step up from where they are now in the workplace.
• Supporting families, through promoting family-friendly and flexible workplaces.
• Preventing violence against women through the primary prevention of violence, and keeping women safe from harm and preventing the first instance of abuse. In addition, we will work across-government to support victims, reduce reoffending and address causes of violence."

Ms Upston also noted, "The next two years are particularly important for New Zealand as we serve on the UN Security Council. It is an important opportunity for us to contribute to the Council's efforts to address the gendered impacts of conflict and the role of women in conflict prevention, protection and sustainable peace."

Media

Is it make-or-break time for gender equality?, Eldis, 14.04.2015

CSW59 –Beijing Betrayed, AWID Women's Rights, 20.03.2015

CSW 59 Political Declaration: A step backwards, WomenKind Worldwide, no date.

Future organisation and methods of work of the Commission on the Status of Women, Eldis, 18.03.2015

Activists blast 'bland' UN declaration as step backwards for women's rights, The Guardian, 09.03.2015