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The UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to End Violence Against Women- Call for Proposals 2008

UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women is launching its annual call for proposals for 2008.The call continues to focus on supporting the implementation of national policies, laws and actions plans on ending violence against women and highlights the following categories of grant making.

a) Meeting the Implementation and Upscaling Challenge that envisions making grants to support larger-scale initiatives at national, sub-national and local levels based on multi-sector, multi-stakeholder partnerships and is intended to take to scale promising or already proven approaches on ending violence against women and girls.

b) Supporting Catalytic, Innovative and Learning initiatives with grants for programmes focused on expanding the global knowledge base on effective approaches to implement national laws and/or plans of actions by supporting the piloting, testing, evaluation, documentation and dissemination of innovative or promising approaches on ending violence against women and girls.

Interested governments, civil society organisations and UN Country Teams in partnership with governments and NGO’s from developing countries and countries in trasition are invited to submit initial concept notes (max. 5 pages), that meet with the core principles and focus of the call. The relevant documents relating to the call are listed below for your easy reference. Please note the deadline for receipt of concept of notes is 26 May 2008.

For more information you can Contact:
Joy Tonawai, Program Coordinator or Sally Cobb, Assistant program Coordinator
Concept Note Form
2008 Call for Proposal
Budget Summary
Contact Information

• CEDAW	- Progressing the Implementation of CEDAW
• EVAW	- Ending Violence Against Women
• EWI	- Early Warning Indicators
• G&HA	- Gender & HIV/AIDS
• WIP	- Women In Politics
• WPS	- Women, Peace & Security

Girl Child Report Please click here for a version of our most recent publication on the Girl Child Report a joint publication with UNICEF Girlchild Report

CEDAW Legislative Compliance In Nine Pacific Island Countries

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Please click Here for a version of our most recent publication on the CEDAW legislative indicators which was a
joint production with the UNDP Pacific Center
“Translating CEDAW into Law”

Please click here for a version of our most recent newsletter on Bringing CEDAW Home

Please click here for a version of our newsletter that was published in June 2005, on Bringing CEDAW Home

Laisa Bale-Tuinamoala, UNIFEM’s CEDAW Programme Coordinator attended the 32nd CEDAW Committee Session in New York and kept us updated about the 32nd CEDAW session by sending us 10 email postcards, which can be read here

Please click below for a full size version of our most recent brochure on Early Warning Indicators [565 KB]:

Pacific Parlimentarians Discuss the Way Foward Wellington, New Zealand 2nd October 2006

Commonwealth female members of Parliament from the Pacific Region gathered in Wellington today for a regional roundtable organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) which included representives from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Mr. Nails Johnston, CPA Director said that the workshop was a culmination of a series of workshops at the national level which aims at discussing strategies for increasing women’s political participation in the Pacific Region. The workshop seeksto build on various initiatives taken in the Region including workshops held in Papua New Guinea and Tonga, and the recent regional workshop in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, he said.

The New Zealand Minister for Women, Hon. Liaane Dalziel, opening the workshop at the Parliamentary complex said that it is important for Pacific Islands Members of Parliament to take a strong stand on importatn priorities such as increasing women’s representation in Parliament because they are the basis of moving forward as women, as leaders in communities and as the mainstay of families. Towards this end, New Zealand will work with its Pacific neighbours to maximise the potential as a region through the realization of the potential of women.

Ms. Laisa Bale-Tuinamoala, speaking on behalf of UNIFEM said that the way forward was through partnerships with different groups and at different levels, even between groups of differing political thought. In acknowledging the partnership with CPA, Ms Laisa Bale-Tuinamoala also thanked partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Gender Advisor for providing technical assistance at the workshop. UNIFEM, she said are now conceptualizing a Pacific Women’s School of Politics that aims at “mass popular civics eduaction that will give women access to information and eduation, essential for them to be better informed and more active citizens, capable of mounting and sustaining a demand for a good governance. It is envisaged, that this will support and develop critical needs to enjoy their human rights, to access basis health, education among other this". While the programme is currently bieng conceptualized, UNIFEM will be sharing the concept paper for more dialogue and consultations, Ms. Bale-Tuinamoala said.

The four day workshop will conclude on the 5th October 2006 with key recommendations on how the Pacific Islands can meet their commitments made to the Beijing Platform for Action, the Commonwealth Women’s Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women and the Millenium Development Goals.

Program Area 1: Reducing the prevalence of violence and HIV/AIDS amongst Pacific women.

National research conducted in the pacific island countries confirms high levels of gender-based violence.In most countries this includes habitual violence within the family, and there is increasing evidence of opportunistic violence and sexual assault during times of war,conflict and natural disasters.

HIV infection is a growing problem in the Pacific and is transmitted mainly through heterosexual intercourse.There is an urgent need to address the ways violence against women increases their vulnerability to HIV infection and hardship and suffering when living with HIV.

UNIFEM will support organisations working on violence agaist women to be more effective in HIV prevention and care.Likewise, organisations working on HIV and AIDS will be sensitized to understand how violence against women and girls contributes to HIV infection and makes living with HIV/AIDS harder for women.

UNIFEM Pacific provides additional support for organisations that wish to apply to the Trust Fund and will explore the options for a Regional Trust Fund or support facility. Local and national efforts to end violence against women will benefit from a focus on institutional strengthening and understanding of the resources required and sustaining and expanding their work.

UNIFEM is working with other UN Agencies and NGO partners to expore innovative new ways to understand the significance of Gender in HIV/AIDS programmes, from a social, cultural, political, economic and spiritual perspective.

UNIFEM coordinates the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.Over the past 10 years the Trust Fund has supported innovative intiatives at community level and has that lessons learned can be disseminated to strengthen global efforts to eliminate violence.To date, 5 Pacific organisations have benefited fromthis fund. (FWCC, YWCA and WAC in Fiji, Samoa AIDS Foundation and IWDA working in PNG.

The Trust Fund supports:
Domestic legislation and national policies and plans of action to end violence against women.
Increasing understanding of the link between violence against women and HIV/AIDS and effective programming to address it.

Program Area 2: Enhancing Women’s Economic Security and Rights:

Women’s economic security and rights is fundamental to their enjoyment of basic rights, meeting of basic needs and their freedom from violence and are in reducing the risks of HIV infection.
A better understanding of globalizations, national economic and foreign investment policies, budgets and trade is needed to protect the livelihoods of women. UNIFEM’s pilot programs have sensitized governments and civil society organisations on the social impact fo trade agreements.

UNIFEM will continue to assists women’s organistions and governments to enable women to achieve secure and sustainable livelihoods and employment.This is central to the achievement of national development goals, the Millennium Development Goals and gender equality commitments.

UNIFEM will place a new emphasis on programmes that ensure structural change to support rural women’s economic empowerment, through education and training, transport and marketing support for fresh produce and the exploration of e-marketing opportunities for unique products created by women of the Pacific region.
UNIFEM will partner with donors in pilot projects for women to plan, manage new or renovated markets and add value for sellers and buyers.

Program Area 3: Governance, Peace and Security

UNIFEM in the Pacific is working towards advancing UN SC 1325 : and reaffirming the ‘important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace building’.

Current activites include:
A joint-study - investigate to what extent National Women’s Machineries and other women-led organisations in PNG, Solomon Islands, and Tonga have implemented gender perspectives in their programs’
The joint-study will strengthen UNIFEM ability to support institutional building of women’s organisations.
Consultation workshop with organisations from PNG and Solomon Islands; explore possobilities for a new program.

Program Area 4: Advancing Gender Equality in Political Governance

Programme Objectives:

To increase political participation by women as active citizens and leaders

Targeted Outcomes

• More women understand their rights and responsibilties and are active as citizens and leaders to promote democratic governance

• Pacific women supported to stand for elections and to effectively perform roles and responsibilites of political offices

• Incresased support for women’s leadership and participation in government by broad constituencies

• An increase in women-friendly and gender sensitive government structures, operations and procedures

Supporting Government Action on Gender Equality

• Working with Governments to strengthen National Women’s Machinery, policies and National Plans of Action for achieving Gender Equality across all sectors of development

• Mobilising technical support, training and information resources from the Pacific and other parts of the world

• UNIFEM support enables governments to develope policy and programme frameworks that are aligned witht the implementation of the MDG’s, CEDAW, the Beijing and Pacific Platforms of Action

• UNIFEM is committed to working collaboratively with other UN Agencies, regional development organisations and institutions to provide comprehensive and quality support to Governments

(More information on the programmes will be available shortly)

UNIFEM’S WOMEN IN POLITICS PROGRAMME FOR THE PACIFIC

The Pacific Platform for Action prepared in 1994, in preparation for the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women, integrated the Islands’ priorities to achieve gender equality. The Pacific Platform was endorsed by all 23 Pacific region governments and supported by regional organizations and women’s NGO. Since 1995, most Pacific governments have translated their commitments into national plans of action to promote gender equity, constitutional guarantees against sex discrimination, and special provisions for women in National Plans.

In 2004, these national plans and regional plans were the basis of the discussions and reviews of the 2 major meetings held in Nadi, Fiji. In May was the 7th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting and in August, the SPC 9th Triennial Meeting.

According to data, despite governments’ strategic plans and public statements in support of the Millennium Development Goal to increase women’s participation by the year 2015, progress towards achieving this target has been slow and governments’ political will often erratic.

To address these gaps, UNIFEM, with the support of NZAID, developed a strategy to promote women’s political empowerment in six Pacific Island countries The programme has three components:

i) Provide training in politics for women and ensure that such training is institutionalized through the establishment of National Women in Politics (WIP) organizations in each programme country.

ii) Identify potential women leaders in key government decision-making bodies and strengthen their capacities and political skills.

iii) Develop a database on the participation of Pacific women at all level of decision making.

The WIP activities are outlined below by objectives in the various countries:

OBJECTIVE 1: Strengthen the institutional support for Pacific women’s political participation at all levels of governance.

Samoa
UNIFEM funded a National Workshop in Samoa from 3 – 5 December 2002 to 1) assess efforts and achievements, and identify opportunities and obstacles to women’s political participation in Samoa; and 2) review the status of institutional support by major organizations, including capacity, sustainability, other strengths and weaknesses, lessons learned and best practices to support women’s political participation.

As a result of the meeting, a National Plan of Action was developed to increase options and opportunities for Samoan women by ensuring that they are able to participate in and shape political decision making at all levels.

Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Following a Regional Women’s Political Empowerment Congress held in Nadi, Fiji in October 2003, the Papua New Guinea government and NGO delegates planned to develop a PNG-specific National Plan for Women in Politics.

Fiji
The Fiji National Council of Women (NCW) is currently carrying out an assessment of WIP’s programme activities since the 1995 Beijing conference. The NCW drafted a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the terms for NCW and WIP collaboration, whereby NCW will play a leadership role to support women’s participation in government in a sustainable way.

Vanuatu
Following an assessment, the Vanuatu National Council of Women will draw up a similar arrangement to Fiji’s beginning in September 2004 whereby it will also play a leadership role in support of women’s political participation.

WIPPaC:
A review and feasibility study of the Women in Politics Pacific Centre by a consultant hired in March 2004 provided the foundation for setting priorities. The report: 1) assessed the role, capacity, and budgetary resources available for regional inter-governmental organizations to link to the work of WIPPaC in terms of implementing the Millennium Development Goal number three and the Beijing Platform for Action; 2) identified areas for Inter-governmental organization/WIPPaC complementary activities to avoid duplication of efforts and make the best use of limited resources; 3) identified links with major projects on good governance currently underway; 4) developed an organizational model and staffing plan and identify possible resources to finance the Centre’s operation; and 5) make recommendations on WIPPaC’s physical location, including a proposal to rotate its management between member countries on a 3-year sub regional basis.

WIPPaC Interim Advisory Working Group is currently reviewing the draft report which will be finalized soon.

OBJECTIVE 2: Promote gender responsive and people centred governance by training women politicians and policy makers in transformative leadership.

Beginning in April 2004, the UNIFEM WIPPaC Training Manual was revised by consultants. The draft will be finalized soon.

Samoa: Translation of the manual into the Samoan vernacular is currently underway.

Marshall Islands: Women United Together in the Marshall Islands (WUTMI) is working closely with local women to translate the WIP manuals for use by trainers in the outer atolls.

Fiji: UNIFEM is working with the Fiji College of Advanced Education and the Centre for Training and Development, (Fiji Government’s training centre for civil servants) to test the WIP modules in their training programme. Both training institutions are eager to incorporate the modules into their programmes, and view this pilot as an opportunity to gender sensitize the trainers and trainees.

In December 2004, UNIFEM contracted a team from CAPWIP for about a month to work with the Public Service Commission’s Centre for Training and Development. The objective was to mainstream gender into the Fiji Public Service machinery. Middle level managers from all ministries and departments of the Fiji Public Service were the targeted audience. CAPWIP’s team of 4 highly skilled, trained and educated facilitators took the participants through a 6 week course in Gender Sensitisation; gender analysis and gender mainstreaming. Together they also developed 6 modules which are tailored to the Fiji Public Service culture.

21 middle level managers from various sectors within the Fiji Public Service graduated in December 2004 and they now form the Gender Mainstreaming Core Group.

UNIFEM, in collaboration with UNDP, is working with Ministry of Education Curriculum Development Unit to review the school curriculum. It has identified the Centre for Asia Pacific Women In Politics (CAPWIP) as a partner to assist in developing a political education programme tailored for the adult education programme and primary and secondary schools.

Vanuatu: UNIFEM is working with the National Council of Women on the possibility of developing modules for adults as part of the adult civic education programme.

Marshall Islands
UNIFEM aims to work with the Marshall Islands Ministry for Education incorporate gender into its civic education programme.

OBJECTIVE 3: Assist in the development of a more facilitating environment for Pacific women in the broad political arena.

Fiji
UNIFEM funded an assessment of the electoral system and will work closely with stakeholders to advocate for reform in the Electoral Act and regulations that impede women’s full participation in the decision-making process at all level of governance.

For more information on the Women In Politics Programme for the Pacific, please contact the WIP Programme Coordinator Ms Seruwaia Vukivou seruwaia@unifempacific.com

“Improving the Status of Women in the Pacific Island Countries through support towards CEDAW implementation in the Pacific”

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is a human rights treaty which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on the 19 December 1979 and came into force as a treaty on the 3 December 1981. CEDAW, the cornerstone of all UNIFEM Programmes, is often referred to as “the women’s bill of rights” and has been ratified by over 179 countries including 14 Pacific Island Countries. This include 8 Pacific Independent States : Federated States of Micronesia (2004), Fiji (1995), Kiribati (2004), Papua New Guinea (1995), Samoa(1992), Solomon Islands (2002), Vanuatu (1995) & Tuvalu (1999); 6 dependant states through their foreign administrators:Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, (in 1985 through New Zealand) New Caledonia, Tahiti and Wallis & Futuna (in 1983 through France).

Progressing the Implementation of CEDAW in the Pacific is a 3 year programme which covers 6 Countries: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu & Tuvalu. The programme seeks to achieve 4 primary goals:

Governments to understand their obligations under the Convention and to take active steps to implement it and enhance their reporting in a timely and appropriate fashion to the Committee

Non-Government Organizations understand and use the Convention in their advocacy work

Engage Governments

and NGOs in the reporting process and collaboration in monitoring and implementation of the Convention

Increase the access to across-the-region lessons learned, good practices and expertise on the implementation

To implement these activities, UNIFEM works in collaboration with UNDP/RRRT, Secretariat of the Pacific Community Pacific Women’s Bureau, International Womens Rights Action Watch, UNICEF,

CEDAW in Fiji:

Fiji is the first Pacific Island County to have reported to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in January 2002, having ratified the Convention on the 28 August 1995.

On the 9-11 March 2004, UNIFEM Pacific upon the request for technical assistance by the Ministry of Women held a National CEDAW workshop in Suva, to celebrate International Women’s Day. The participants consist of 26 community women leaders from all over Fiji.

UNIFEM organized a Regional Training of Trainers in November 2003 to create a pool of CEDAW experts in the region and of trainers who will sustain this initiative.

CEDAW in Papua New Guinea:

PNG ratified CEDAW on the 12 January 1995. PNG has yet to submit its Initial Report to CEDAW.

In February 2004, the UNIFEM CEDAW Coordinator met with
Government, Development/Donor Agencies and Non-Government Organizations to discuss the writing of PNG’s pending CEDAW Report. There is now a national CEDAW Committee that is overseeing the writing of this report.
From its dialogue with all key stakeholders, the Ministry of National Planning, agreed to be the focal point in facilitating the writing of PNG’s Initial Report.

CEDAW in Samoa:

Samoa ratified the Convention on the 25 September 1992.

In November 2004, UNIFEM funded a mock trial workshop in Apia, Samoa to better prepare the government and NGO delegation for the reporting in New York. Ms Shanti Dharaim who is now a CEDAW Committee member was a resource person at that mock session and her presence and feedback/input proved invaluable to the process.

In January 2005, the government of Samoa appeared before the Committee on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women in New York to present its initial report. It was the second Pacific Island Country to appear before the committee. UNIFEM’s CEDAW Coordinator was in New York for this session and her postcards on the PACWIN network can be found at CEDAW postcards.

CEDAW in Solomon Islands:

The Solomon Islands has a Solomon Islands National Advisory Committee on CEDAW (SINACC) which is chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Women, Youth and Sports.

CEDAW in Vanuatu:

Mrs Isabelle Donald, Vanuatu’s Minister for CRP and Women’s Affairs deposited Vanuatu’s initial report in New York when she attended the CSW in March 2005. Vanuatu is in the queu with 49 other countries who are expecting to be called upon by the committee to present its country report at one of the committee’s 2 annual sittings.

For more information on the CEDAW Programme for the Pacific, please contact the CEDAW Programme Coordinator Ms Laisa Bale-Tuinamoala laisa@unifempacific.com

UNIFEM has been implementing its gender-focused HIV/AIDS responses since 1998, building on existing areas of work and expertise such as elimination of violence against women, women’s economic empowerment, and achieving women’s full political participation in democratic governance. For the past six years, halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst women and girls has been one of UNIFEM’s four goals under the Strategic Results Framework. UNIFEM’s global strategic framework on HIV/AIDS responses is based on the human rights and women’s empowerment approach, placing CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) as a cornerstone. Recognizing that gender inequality and inequity are the driving force of the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, UNIFEM has been calling for a shift from “women-targeted” responses to “empowerment-oriented” responses. UNIFEM also acts as a catalyst within the UN system and attempts to link the needs and concerns of women to all critical issues – including HIV/AIDS - at the national, regional and global level.

The 21st Century has seen HIV/AIDS progressively treated as a multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional, and multi-sectoral issue. As a gender issue, many causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS on women are inter-linked to other women’s and gender issues such as violence against women, women’s lack of decision making power, and the feminization of poverty. Moreover, women’s empowerment is increasingly recognized as a means of effective prevention of HIV/AIDS in major international forums including UNGASS. UNIFEM’s own resolve in this area has been institutionalized under its Multi-Year Funding Framework (MYFF) with a commitment to “halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst women and girls” as one of the four goals of the 2004-2007 MYFF cycle.

Overview

Worldwide, the HIV virus continues to spread at an alarming rate, with an estimated 13,000 new infections per day. The Asian and Pacific region now accounts for over 18% of the world’s total HIV infections and has already overtaken Africa in recording the fastest growing rates of HIV infection in the world.

It is estimated that there are 7.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region today. The current rates of infection in the Pacific region is expected to rise, with regular practice of unsafe sex, denial of women’s sexualities, high incidence of sexually transmitted infections and lack of access to information and services.
Through its groundbreaking research in the area of eliminating violence against women (EVAW), UNIFEM has shown that women’s widespread inability to negotiate safe sex and to refuse unwanted sex within primary relationships means that they are placed in a situation of high vulnerability to the virus without indulging high-risk behaviours or activities. In the Pacific, physical and sexual violence, psychological abuse and the threat of violence continue to act as significant barriers for women in terms of their ability discuss fidelity with their partners or leave relationships that they perceive to be risky. Too afraid to negotiate safe sex and condom use with their partners, the freedom from violence and sexual coercion essential to both physical security and reduced vulnerability to HIV infection, is not a reality for many Island women.

In light of the growing recognition amongst the international community that the gender dimensions to HIV AIDS can no longer be ignored, the renewed calls for action from the 189 UN Member Governments on ‘the elimination of all forms of discrimination, as well as all forms of violence against women and girls’ dovetails with many of the areas that UNIFEM is already working on within the region, including the implementation of CEDAW, EVAW, and the Women, Peace and Security programmes.

Background – HIV/AIDS in the Pacific Region

In terms of national responses to Gender and HIV/AIDS, the Update on HIV/AIDS in the Pacific – the outcome document from the Meeting of Ministers of Health for the Pacific Island Countries held in March 2003 – identified a number of key issues that still needs to be addressed by Governments in their respective National Strategic Plans. Chief amongst these was the creation of a better understanding of the linkages between development problems in the region (including gender, poverty, inequity) and the spread of HIV/AIDS/STIs. While two surveys in Samoa and Vanuatu in 2000 showed that almost one third of women attending antenatal clinics had at least one STI - and the Ministers Meeting noted ‘that the relatively high prevalence of STIs throughout the region underscores the risk of a HIV epidemic and indicates widespread vulnerability to sexual transmission of HIV’ - there has been no concerted effort to date by any of the Pacific Island governments to address the gender dimensions of the virus in a holistic or multi-ministerial, multisectoral manner. Rather, the high vulnerability status of Pacific Island women continues to be better addressed at the regional level.

With increased collaboration amongst the major donors and stakeholders, the commitment to not only strengthen country responses to HIV/AIDS but to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard, suggests that governments will come under increasing pressure to meet their obligations under the Millennium and UNGASS Declarations. In Fiji, there has been a seismic shift in political will amongst the traditional leaders, as demonstrated by the decision of the Great Council of Chiefs to co-host the ‘Accelerating Action Against AIDS in the Pacific’ regional meeting, held at the President’s village in March 2004.

Against this backdrop and given the favourable political climate at present, the launching of a Gender and HIV/AIDS programme for the region is well-timed and strategically placed to effect real change for the women of the Pacific.

Papua New Guinea

On the 16th of June 2003, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with the Government of Papua New Guinea signed a project document titled, “Support to the National Response to HIV/AIDS in PNG” as UNDP’s contribution to the Governments efforts in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country. The project is fully operational with two staff, the project manager and the project administrative assistant housed within the National AIDS Council (NAC) of Papua New Guinea.

There are three (3) components to the project; 1) Advocacy and policy dialogue at the national level; 2) Integration of gender dimensions of HIV/AIDS into National Programmes on HIV/AIDS and 3) Workplace support for HIV+ workers. The second component entails a partnership with UNIFEM. UNIFEM is to provide technical assistance to the project in identifying and developing activities that mainstream gender components into the project outputs.

The tasks of integrating gender dimensions into national policies, plans and budgetary instruments is being done in two phases.
Phase (i) which took place from September to October 2004 provided an audited report on gender dimensions of HIV/AIDS in PNG and of the National Plan of Action on HIV/AIDS.

Phase (ii) scheduled for around February 2005 will consist of workshops and consultations with key stakeholders and development partners culminating in a report with recommendations of gender dimension policies integrated into national polices and plans including Medium term Development Strategy (MTDS), the National Poverty Reduction Strategy (NPRS), the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2004 –2008 and the National Human Development Report (NHDR) for Papua New Guinea, 2004.

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the General Assembly in December 1979 and it is, in essence, the international bill of rights for women.

The Convention requires states to eliminate discrimination against women in the enjoyment of all civil, political, economic and cultural rights. It also establishes programmatic measures for states to pursue in achieving equality between women and men.

Currently, 173 countries - more than two- thirds of the members of the United Nations - have ratified the Convention, committing themselves to a legally binding international treaty, including participation in a country-by-country reporting process.

An additional 97 countries have signed the treaty, binding themselves to do nothing in contravention of its terms.

The CEDAW Committee comprises experts in the field of women’s rights from 23 countries. These 23 experts are elected by secret ballot from a list of individuals nominated by the countries that are party to the Convention. In this election, consideration is given to equitable geographical distribution, as well as to representation of different civilizations and legal systems. The 23 Committee members serve in their personal capacity, and not as delegates or representatives of their countries of origin.

UNIFEM is initiating globally a series of pilot projects on Early Warning Indicators in five regions as part of their work on conflict prevention and peace building. The five regions where pilots will be conducted are the Pacific, South/Central Asia, Latin America, Africa, East Asia. In the Pacific the pilot will be conducted in the Solomon Islands

Project Objectives:

To develop indicators for early warning of peace and conflict, taking into account gender issues and the experiences of women and men.

To establish a system for the collection, analysis and dissemination of gender-sensitive information on conflict and peace-building.

To create a more responsive policy and programming environment for gender-sensitive conflict prevention and by supporting the role of women and men in peace building at all levels.

Mechanisms for Implementation:

The project will involve 3 key elements:

Information collection by women and men using gender-sensitive indicators in the categories of governance, economics, land, public security and peace building.

Information analysis and dissemination, using indicators, media scans and structural data.

Communication mechanisms and feedback loops that facilitate appropriate preventative actions and peace building.

Project Partners:

The project is being implemented by UNIFEM in partnership with the National Peace Council (NPC), Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) and the Government of the Solomon Islands.

Objectives:

Apply a gender lens to the early warning and early response approach.

Identify indicators that reflect mens’ and womens’ experiences of building peace and reducing conflict.

Track changes in levels of conflict as perceived by all members of communities thereby, enabling more appropriate systems for response.

Establish linkages to support peace building through a more informed and responsive policy and programming environment.

For more information, please contact Ms. Annalise Moser at:
Email address: annalise.moser@undp.org.sb
UNIFEM Honiara
Postal address: P.O. Box 1954. Honiara. Solomon Islands.
Phone contact: (677) 24853

Violence against women is arguably the world’s most prevalent, pervasive, and systemic problem. It is a problem without borders, a universal scourge on women and their families that knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. It has grown to epidemic proportions around the world, devastating lives, fracturing communities and prohibiting development. At least one in three women worldwide will be beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime — with the abuser usually someone known to her.

According to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, it is “perhaps the most shameful human rights violation.” Unless tackled systematically at all levels of society with zero-tolerance policies and a concerted effort by the international community and governments to make it socially unacceptable and a crime, gender-based violence will stall any real progress towards equality, development and peace.

Some Progress: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
In the last two decades, women’s organizations have taken the lead in moving the issue from the shadows into the public eye, taking innovative steps to focus world attention on the problem. Initiatives ranging from providing medical, legal, counseling and protection services, to drafting and lobbying for legislation, raising awareness and changing attitudes through advocacy, education and training, and building national, regional and international end-violence networks have led to dramatic changes in norms, laws, policies and practices in many countries.

These efforts have been supported by international standards and policies that recognize violence against women as a human rights abuse, such as the 1981 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that obliges states parties to the convention to take all appropriate means to eliminate violence against women; the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993; and the Beijing Platform for Action of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, which explicitly acknowledges that the human rights of women include their right to have control over and decide freely on matters related to their sexual and reproductive health and sexuality, free of discrimination, coercion and violence. In 1996, the UN General Assembly also established the UNIFEM Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women; this is a unique grant-making mechanism that provides support to catalytic programmes in developing countries working to prevent gender-based violence.

Today, following global and regional commitments and treaties and the tireless efforts of activists, at least 45 nations have passed new laws that explicitly prohibit domestic violence, while more than 21 countries are drafting new laws. Twenty-five countries have adopted laws and policies addressing female genital mutilation, 16 countries have passed distinct legislation on sexual assault, 14 countries have adopted laws on sexual harassment, and another 46 have incorporated provisions related to sexual harassment in non-specific legal codes. Continued advocacy and NGO-government dialogues have led to responses that directly address female survivors of violence, such as special female police stations, community policing, gender-sensitive training for law-enforcement officials and the judiciary, women’s and people’s courts, and one-stop crisis centres.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
and the Sixteen Days of Activism Global Campaign

In December 1999, at their 54th Session, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring November 25th the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This was in recognition of the magnitude of the problem and the urgent need for serious commitment by the world community to make finding solutions a key priority.

The origins of November 25th go back to 1960, when the Mirabal sisters, activists from the Dominican Republic, were violently assassinated for their political activism. The sisters, known as the “Unforgettable Butterflies,” became a symbol of the crisis of violence against women in Latin America. November 25th was the date chosen to commemorate their lives and promote global recognition of gender-based violence, and has been observed in Latin America since the 1980s.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an annual global campaign started in 1991 by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University in the United States. The campaign begins on November 25th, runs through World AIDS Day on December 1st and ends on Human Rights Day on December 10th. Since it was started, more than 1,700 organizations in 130 countries have participated, using the annual campaign as an organizing strategy to call attention to gender-based violence and better resources to combat it.

The theme for 2004 is “For the Health of Women, For the Health of the World: No More Violence,” with specific emphasis on the intersection between violence against women and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The theme complements the theme of World AIDS Day 2004, on “Women and AIDS,” and also follows on the attention received at the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok in July 2004 on the growing disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls.

For more information, please visit Not a Minute More, UNIFEM’s web pages on November 25th and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

UNIFEM’S EVAW TRUST FUND
The United Nations Trust Fund to Eliminate Violence Against Women will provide a grant of US$50,000 to Fiji’s Women Action for Change (WAC) for its 2005 programme.
The Trust Fund is a unique multilateral mechanism established by the UN General Assembly in 1996 and administered by UNIFEM. Grants are decided collectively by representatives of UN agencies and international NGOs.

The UNIFEM Trust Fund in support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women is the only UN global grant-making mechanism that supports innovative community efforts to end violence against women worldwide. Since it was established in 1997, the Trust Fund has awarded over US $19 million to $263 initiatives to address violence against women in 115 countries.
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Since its establishment, the Trust Fund has granted US$8.3 million to 175 initiatives in 96 countries. Demand continues to outstrip supply. UNIFEM has received up to US$17.5 million in requests, with only about US$1 million to give out each year. “For every project funded, there are at least ten turned away. Over the last 8 years, we have learned from the innovative efforts of nongovernmental and governmental organizations worldwide, efforts that have made real progress on the issue. They must continue to be supported if there is to be an end in sight to violence against women. Our biggest obstacle is not a lack of ideas. It is a lack of resources,” said Noeleen Heyzer (UNIFEM’s Executive Director).

Donors to the 2004 grant-making cycle include Japan, Denmark, Finland, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as NGOs and private individuals.

For more information on the Trust Fund, click here

PACIFIC REGIONAL SCAN

In 2002, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) conducted a global assessment on actions to end violence against women to determine what the movement to end violence against women (VAW) had achieved since the Beijing Conference for Women, and identify gaps in action and impact. As part of that global assessment process, a Pacific regional scan was conducted by UNIFEM in 2002. The scan focused on violence against women and girls, actions by government and non-government organizations to eliminate violence against women, and the impact of support from UNIFEM’s programmes and projects. The scan concluded that actions to eliminate violence against women in the Pacific had mainly been initiated and sustained by women’s organizations and non-government organizations (NGOs) and that government implementation of commitments in international, regional and national plans of action, to eliminate violence against women, needed to be strengthened.

In February 2003, a regional workshop in Fiji on Strengthening Pacific Partnerships for the Eliminating Violence Against Women, was jointly organized by UNIFEM with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the two main regional intergovernmental organizations, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (FS) and the Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC). The workshop, attended by over 70 participants from 17 Pacific countries, exchanged information on Pacific government strategies for the elimination of violence against women, on the Commonwealth’s model of an integrated approach to EVAW and concluded with recommendations for strengthening GO, NGO and agency partnerships in EVAW strategies in the Pacific region . The Outcome Statement from the workshop reiterated the seriousness of the problem of gender violence in the Pacific, the need for actions to be taken in partnership with other organizations and agencies, and raised issues of the cost of VAW, the need for coordinated approaches to the problem and the need to address cultural and religious practices that victimized and oppressed women. The recommendations from the workshop were presented at the Forum Regional Security Meeting in June 2003.

As a follow up to the Pacific regional workshop of 2003, and drawing on the main conclusions of the scan conducted by UNIFEM in 2002 which provided detailed information on the work of women’s organizations and NGOs to eliminate violence against women and girls, UNIFEM identified the need to strengthen government commitments to eliminating violence against women in its programmes.

From December 2003 to March 2004, in preparation for developing a regional programme on EVAW, UNIFEM conducted a regional assessment to review current Pacific strategies on violence against women by government and non-government organizations, to identify needs and gaps.

Reviewing the overall framework of legislation, policies and programme, violence against women in conflicts and the role of the media and communications, the regional assessment built on the regional scan conducted in 2002, which primarily focused on EVAW activities by women’s organizations and NGOs. For the regional assessment, emphasis was given to reviewing government strategies to address VAW. Country visits were made to Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Samoa for in-depth interviews with government (GO) and non-government (NGO) personnel, to find out their experiences of VAW and views on EVAW strategies. Interviews were also conducted in Fiji with GO and NGO representatives and with representatives of UN agencies, regional organizations and regional training programmes based in Suva.

The general findings of the regional assessment and recommendations for programme interventions by UNIFEM, were presented at a two day consultation from March 29-30th 2004, which was attended by representatives from Pacific countries and UN agencies, with select expertise various in EVAW activities in the region. The consultation agreed with the findings of the regional assessment and the scan.

The main findings presented at the consultation were that responses to VAW in the region have been mainly carried out by women’s organizations and NGOs. Activities that were well established as strategies to respond to VAW were awareness raising, training, provision of services and support for women victims/survivors, and advocacy for legislative and policy reform. It was noted that national machineries for women were also key actors in awareness raising and conducting training on VAW, worked often in partnership with women’s groups and NGOs on VAW, and had conducted or supported research on VAW. Assessing the strategies to bring about change in policies and practices in relation to VAW, it was noted that the police and the judiciary were the main targets for awareness and advocacy on VAW, with efforts by women’s organizations and NGOs focused on better treatment of women victims/survivors of violence.

The assessment noted that many sectors in government were not involved in strategies to eliminate VAW or promotion of gender equality strategies. In government, it was assumed that EVAW and gender equality strategies were the responsibility of the national machineries for women.

National machineries for women have varying capacities and resources. Some national machineries are Ministries and have the mandate to review government policy and legislation, including responses to VAW while others are smaller divisions with the same mandate but not enough power or resources to do policy analysis or advise on government policies. The national machineries give high priority to violence against women as a problem and see government responses to implementation through CEDAW and national action plans as the best approach. National women’s machineries in many countries are the focal point and coordinate CEDAW and CRC Committees, which are existing mechanisms for advancing EVAW strategies.

In some countries, law reform proposals and advocacy were well underway and supported by women’s rights advocates, national machineries for women and government officials in interagency committees, but delays were sometimes reported as due to lack of decisions by higher officials or support by parliamentarians. The assessment noted that policy makers and high level officials, apart from personnel in the judiciary and parliamentary representatives, were not targeted for gender advocacy; policy analysis and review and research for advocacy at high levels of government, were also gaps in EVAW strategies.

Target Countries:	Pacific Island Countries (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu)
Project Beneficiaries:	Governments and civil societies
Project Duration:	5 Years (2003 – 2007)

1. UNIFEM’S PEACE & SECURITY MANDATE

The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 [PDF file, 36KB](also available as annoted version [PDF file, 239KB] provides a comprehensive framework for the promotion and support of the protection of women and their role in peace building. The Council recognises the inextricable linkage between gender equality and peace. It affirmed that the equal access and full participation of women in power structures and their full involvement in all efforts for the prevention and resolution of conflicts are essential for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. Where peace agreements are to be signed, measures to support local women’s peace initiatives and indigenous processes for conflict resolution are essential and should involve women in all mechanisms of the agreement.

The UN Security Council has mandated the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to support and enhance women’s role in conflict resolution and peace building, ranging from women working at local community levels to those involved in national and international level peace negotiations. Specifically the UNIFEM peace building programme focuses on:

- Strengthening women’s leadership for conflict resolution and social transformation
- Promoting and protecting women’s human rights in conflict situations
- Capacity-building to engender peace and reconstruction processes
- Mainstreaming gender within the global peace and security agenda.

The UNIFEM peace programme has promoted and supported the greater participation of women in peace building processes in many parts of the world as: the provision of skills training for women in conflict resolution in Burundi; the psychological rehabilitation of women victims of violence in Rwanda; the annual March for Peace in Columbia and is “leading a discourse to mobilise global attention and action to eradicate gender-based violence in conflict situations”. As part of the extension of its global programme in support of women in conflict and peace building situations, UNIFEM is directing activities to the Pacific region with the focus on the Melanesian countries of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji in the first instance

This Women Peace and Security programme links and complements UNIFEM’s Women in Politics (WIP) programme as in, the use and nature of power, decision-making factors and relationships. The focus of the WPS project is predominantly grass roots rights based approach linking into macro level processes. Training of women leaders is an integral part of this project.

The political framework for support of programmes that promote the protection of women in times of war and their participation in conflict resolution and transformation is provided in several international agreements and conventions.

2. THE POLITICAL FRAMEWORK

Political support through CEDAW, BPA, PPA

Pacific women are not using the powerful mandates given them through the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform of Action and the Pacific Platform for Action. There is insufficient knowledge about regional/ global commitments, the cross cutting nature of these, or their use as evidence in debate for gender equity in peace and security. Data has not been collected on the impact of war and conflict situations on women and families, nor has there been serious advocacy and lobbying for women’s participation in peace negotiations.

The political framework to promote the protection of women in times of war and women’s participation in conflict resolution and transformation is provided in several international agreements and conventions including:

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW):

All four project countries have ratified CEDAW. CEDAW affirms the equal rights of men and women in all situations including times of conflict and in conflict transformation.

During times of conflict women are often used deliberately as targets in sexual atrocities. Gender - based violence against women - such as women’s use as weapons of war through rape. Article 1 defines discrimination against women which includes gender-based violence, which impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Article 6 require States to take specific protective and punitive measures in times of wars, armed conflicts and the occupation of territories which often lead to increased prostitution, trafficking in women and sexual assault of women. These issues are also covered under General Recommendations 12 and 19 as adopted by the CEDAW Committee.

Beijing Platform for Action (BPA):

The BPA represents Government’s commitment to addressing the adverse impacts of armed conflict on women. The BPA also reaffirms Government’s commitment to equal rights of men and women as enshrined in CEDAW and other international conventions and declarations that “Equality between women and men is a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and is also a fundamental prerequisite for equality, development and peace.”

The five-year review of the BPA called for actions to strengthen women’s political empowerment and participation in decision-making process, including those relating to conflict resolution and peace-building.

Pacific Platform for Action (PPA) for Sustainable Development (1995):

The PPA was a regional document prepared by Pacific women for the Beijing World Conference, and was endorsed by all Pacific governments.

Thirteen critical areas of concern are listed in the PPA. Those relating directly to conflict and conflict resolution are: women’s legal and human rights; addressing issues of violence; peace and justice; poverty; and indigenous people’s rights.

3. WPS PROGRAMME

Women’s protection in armed conflict and their centrality to conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace building is a primary concern of the international community. Yet the deliberate killing, rape, mutilation, forced displacement, abduction, trafficking and torture of women and girls continues unabated in contemporary armed conflict.

Women play a central role in creating and maintaining peace at the community level. However, these efforts are insufficiently recognised and supported, both politically and financially. Effective institutional arrangements to ensure women’s full participation in peace processes are lacking. As a result, women’s rights are rarely fully integrated in peace agreements and in structures and mechanisms supporting post conflict reconstruction, or maintaining peace.

For the Pacific, UNIFEM focuses on Melanesia (Fiji Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu), with problem areas at a range of stages in conflict that must be tackled urgently, as part of international efforts to reduce the impact of violent conflict on women and support women’s role in peace initiatives.

The Programme is to increase and strengthen women’s participation in national and regional activities for the protection and assistance of women and families affected by conflict and to support women’s role in conflict prevention resolution and peace building.

Conflict in the Melanesian Pacific

The past 2 decades have been years of escalating unrest, challenge to political systems and turmoil in Pacific countries as the complex realities of moulding nations (and political entities) out of a huge diversity of clans, tribes and languages groups, scattered over many islands, becomes more apparent. Multiple causes of instability include land disputes and intra-clan rivalries, changing family systems and a loss of confidence in the wisdom of the chiefs’ councils. There are also issues relating to the sustainable use of nations’ mineral wealth, timber and marine resources as well as questions as to whether rural and urban communities are sharing equally in the benefits of development. And all this takes place against a background of changing times – as Pacific societies deal with the issues of increasing globalisation. The challenges to social stability and peace faced by women and families in Melanesia represent a range of conflict situations and highlight the different priorities for each country.

The Impact of conflict on women and families

In today’s wars conflict is not at a distance – conflict and the influence of conflict spreads right through villages, neighbourhoods and people’s home, dividing communities, families and family members. Increasing documentation of the role of women in situations of conflict show women’s commonality as victims of war, (traumatised, raped, despised). While the causes and magnitude of conflict may differ in the four Melanesian countries covered by this project, women and children constitute a disproportionate number of those affected by conflict. Reports show women have been at risk in all settings, whether at home, in-flight or in camps for displaced people, and also in the resettlement period. Women and their families have been at risk to malnutrition and poverty (as women flee with their families to areas where they may not have land for gardens) increasing economic hardship and the pressures this brings, physical violence, sexual exploitation and harassment, in some cases leading to trafficking and prostitution. Of the 30 to 50 million refugees worldwide the majority are women and children: estimates are that over 90% of refugees in Bougainville Care Camps are women and children.

The adverse affects of conflict on women and children is undeniable however there is insufficient and inadequate data to show the impact of war on women and families and communities. One of this project focus is data and information collection.

Women have also been the agents by which the society at war has been able to preserve itself and rehabilitate and re-establish in times of peace. Little attention has focussed on women’s roles as sustainers of families and communities in times of conflict (running schools, health clinics, keeping businesses, farms and gardens, feeding and providing security for those around them); as peace promoters (reaching across warring sides to other women); and as peace builders (helping combatants and victims alike readjust to post conflict normalcy). Often women have played this peace making role outside official channels as in Northern Ireland, in Sri Lanka, the women’s movement for peace in Palestine and Israel, the women’s NGOs for peace in Central Europe and the former USSR and the women working for peace in Africa.

Again, data is needed to show women’s coping and community maintenance strategies in times of warfare and women’s roles as peace builders. The collection of qualitative and quantitative data, including women’s stories, will reveal women’s perceptions of war, their knowledge and use of reconciliation procedures and processes, as well as aspirations for the future. This data is vital to understand the factors at play in conflict situations in Pacific countries today, as well as baseline for planning strategies for conflict prevention as well as rehabilitation strategies. Again, this will be a project strategy.

Gender blind conflict resolution and peace processes

Despite their continued role in peace making and social maintenance before, during and after situations of conflict, women have usually been marginalized in peace processes (UNIFEM 2001). There are many global examples of this: for example, no women were included on the negotiating team at Dayton to end the Bosnian conflict. One woman was at Guatemala’s negotiations in 1994 and one at the Rambouillet talks on Kosovo in 1999.

The situation in the Pacific is similar. There is compelling evidence that it was the persistence of women’s efforts that lead to the ending of ten years of war in Bougainville. In July 1996, after 7 years of war and many failed formal negotiations for peace, 700 Bougainville women met in Arawa for a week-long search of how to bring about peace. That meeting became “ a major catalyst for peace” . As a result of that meeting women began working more actively for peace within their communities, including walking into the jungle to persuade their sons to return home and helping their sons resettle to village life. The effectiveness of women’s actions was reinforced by the fact that Bougainville is a matrilineal society, and so women carry respect and authority. However this authority does not carry over to national level decision-making. For example, in 1998, women’s efforts were rewarded with the signing of a permanent cease-fire that has held to date. But despite this role as peace brokers, women were left out of national level negotiations and post conflict programmes

In the Solomon Islands also women’s groups played a pivotal role in the peace making process. Like their sisters in Bougainville, a group of Solomon Island women held a meeting in early 2000, recommendations from which were taken up by the National Peace Conference in August 2000. At great personal risk, members of the “Women for Peace” group helped distribute essential basic items to displaced families. Women also moved between the different combatant groups persuading men to lay down arms: so taking on the traditional go-between role by women negotiators which is a traditional method of conflict resolution in the Solomon Islands. Again as in Bougainville, the women victims of war in the Solomon Islands are invisible in post conflict considerations for programmes. Furthermore, while women were displaced, or raped and psychologically traumatised during the war there have been no officially supported counselling services or refuge for them after cessation of hostilities.

The May 19th coup of 2000 in Fiji gave rise to a peace and reconciliation movement of NGOs spearheaded by the National Council of Women which spearheaded the Women’s Action for Democracy and Peace (WAD’aP) movement to organise activities and campaigns promoting peace. Women’s organisations in Fiji have ongoing programmes to advocate and address issues of women’s rights and violence against women which together work to transform structures of violence within society.

In brief, the women of Melanesia are working effectively for peace at local and civil society level. Not only that, women are using existing social structures and traditional mechanisms for conflict resolution and transformation that are respected and understood by combatants and their leaders and as such are the foundation for future peace strategies.

However, women’s knowledge, experience and strength – that they could bring to the peace table - has been ignored as is women’s right to be consulted in these decisions. As a result, women’s concerns are not well presented or debated in official post conflict programmes nor have women’s strengths and knowledge as peacemakers been incorporated in solutions.

Factors influencing women’s exclusion, which is a key project focus, include:

a lack of and the non-collection of data on women’s roles and situation before, during and after times of conflict. Information is needed to inform, remind and sensitise male decision makers of a) the impacts of conflict situations on the quality of life of women and families b) women’s contribution in maintaining and brokering peace.

A second group of factors relate to the nature and type of the formal peace negotiation processes:Have these been formalised, large scale top down, externally brokered strategies, rather than community based, participatory processes involving small groups in the first instance and building from there.

Third, are perceptions about female and male roles in decision making, including perceptions of rights and duties and how these are actioned.

Women’s availability is another factor: are women so busy working to ensure basic quality of life of their families that they do not have the time to attend formal meetings and, are meetings held at times when women are not available and places where women cannot access?

As stated, despite women’s marginalisation from formal peace negotiation processes, women in Melanesian Pacific continue to be active agents for peace, working informally at local community level, sometimes with the support and through international networks. Women’s groups have been active in promoting peace and peaceful solutions; they have played key role as activists and peacemakers while holding together their families and communities. Not only that, women’s networks are building between neighbouring countries – as the Solomon Island women’s groups and Bougainville women. Despite this, women have not been recognised and supported politically or financially in the post conflict situation, nor have effective institutional arrangements been put in place to ensure women’s full participation in peace processes. As a result women’s concerns are not fully integrated in peace agreements or in the structures and mechanisms supporting post conflict resolution. For example, in Bougainville post conflict programmes have targeted males.

Women’s participation at the peace table is vital - from the a rights based perspective, because women have the right to involved in decisions which affect them, and also because better solutions will result because of the knowledge and skills and attitudes women can bring to the negotiating processes.

4. Mechanisms for Implementation

National Mechanisms

In each of the four project countries, there exist various small community groups and organisations working for peace and security. These groups are the pillars of the national network, and whilst some of these groups have networked, others work in isolation.

The project starts with these groups coming to an agreement on how to work together to support women’s participation in peace and conflict transformation. Collaborative partnerships have been formed with government agencies, academia and the private sector and with on-going regional and bilateral projects. Each of the 4 programme countries have established a National Women, Peace & Security Consultative Committee/Board. It’s membership are from government and civil society stakeholder groups.

Marginalised groups

During difficult times communities usually become more closed and inward looking. In this process, the marginalised such as the poor, the disabled, the minority immigrants are neglected. Peace efforts cannot afford to forget these as their neglect sows the seed of conflict for the next generation. The project has identified such marginalised groups and aims to deal with their concerns for peace as well.

Rapid urbanisation in the four project countries, largely of youth, is seeing high crime rates and vulnerability to violence. In both Fiji and Solomon Islands, young unemployed persons from rural locations close to urban centres have been prominent as instruments of violence in recent conflicts.

Traditional peace making structures and the influence of change

Traditional peace making structures still exist alongside modern systems in most Pacific societies. Recent years has seen increased acknowledgment of the role of these indigenous and local structures and communities in peace building. This “indigenous empowerment” as it has been called, asserts that “conflict transformation must actively envision, include, respect and promote cultural resources from within the setting.”

Women’s use of the custom ways has proven their value in complementing official and modern conflict resolution attempts. For example, in both Bougainville and in the Solomon Islands, where there are matrilineal communities, women are respected in the role of peace makers and adjudicators and were able to do things which males could not do.

At the same time, in these transition times there is undoubtedly some confusion and blurring of roles between the legal and traditional decision-making structures, with some groups using these differences to their own advantage. Research and understanding of the traditional and modern peace resolution institutional processes is necessary groundwork to appropriate conflict resolution strategies. Central to this process is understanding of the way the different levels of governance operate and the interaction points between these levels; women’s actual and potential place and participation in these processes; local perceptions of what is peace as well as whether the family are still teaching, practising and reinforcing these values.

Cross cutting solutions

While modern conflicts commit atrocious violations of human rights, particularly on women and children, analysis of their causes indicates that these are grounded in economic, political and social structures that deny human rights. The cessation of conflict cannot be sustained unless the underlying causes are addressed.

Reviving and maintaining livelihoods security is undoubtedly the priority concern for all women in the project countries as they work to re-establish their families and homes destroyed by civil unrest, replant their gardens, and upgrade community health, schooling and recreation services. The links between economic security and stable social conditions are undoubted – simply put, peace and security is a pre-condition for rebuilding of subsistence livelihoods and for household investment into expanding their livelihoods activities producing surpluses for economic exchanges (semi-subsistence with occasional sale).

The activities in this project deliberately target peace and security. However, project activities will be planned in such a way as to both a) promote women’s understanding of the issues involved in women, peace and security, as well as the impact on livelihoods and the disruption to women’s work and b) address women’s economic priorities.

Partnership and Regional Approach

The Twenty-Fifth (1994) South Pacific Forum Heads of Government meeting endorsed the Suva Declaration on Sustainable Human Development in the Pacific and confirmed that sustainable human development is only attainable with political commitment for people-centred development. The UNDP Pacific Human Development Report of 1999 confirmed that Pacific Island Leaders supported the role of effective governance in achieving Sustainable Human Development.

Good governance assistance from donors has mainly focused on building more capable states. Relatively little good governance assistance reaches outside of government ministries and departments, nor directly benefits vulnerable groups, women and children. This Project is an integral part of other donors effort to promote the quality of governance in Melanesia.

5. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

To increase and strengthen women’s participation in national, and regional activities for the protection and assistance of women and families affected by conflict and to support women’s role in conflict prevention, resolution and post conflict peace building.

6. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES

1. To improve availability of data and analysis on the root causes of conflicts, the impact on women and their role in conflict prevention, resolution and post conflict peace building in the four programme countries.

2. To strengthen the capacity of women and women’s groups in the four programme countries to play a role in conflict prevention, resolution and post conflict peace building at the national and regional level.

3. To promote a gender perspective in conflict resolution and peace building initiatives of governments, regional organisations and mainstream agencies.

4. To promote peace, tolerance and reconciliation through advocacy in the community and with the general public.

PACIFIC REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS FOR ELIMINATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

17-19 FEBRUARY 2003, SUVA, FIJI

OUTCOME STATEMENT

Violence against women is endemic in Pacific countries

1. The 1993 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women defines Violence against Women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats or such acts, as coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

2. The 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, endorsed by Pacific countries, agreed on a comprehensive set of recommendations to address the issue of gender-based violence. The UN General Assembly adopted GA Resolution 50/166, which emphasized the need for full implementation of the Platform for Action by governments and other social actors. Commonwealth Ministers of Gender Affairs reiterated their concern for the continued acts of violence against women in their 6th Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi (2000) which was expressed in the Commonwealth Plan of Action on Gender and Development. The 1994 Pacific Platform for Action endorsed by the Pacific Ministers identified violence against women as a critical area of concern and urged the Pacific to work towards eliminating violence against women and children.

3. The workshop expressed concern about the significant under-reporting of and the extent of violence against women in the Pacific Region.

Strengthening partnerships

4. A regional workshop on “Strengthening Partnerships for Eliminating Violence Against Women” was jointly organized by UNIFEM, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community from 17-19 February 2003. The meeting brought together representatives of government, non-government organizations (NGOs), civil society groups, regional-level inter-governmental organizations and international development partners, for a constructive dialogue. Participants came from 17 Pacific Island Countries and territories. The presentations and discussions focused on deepening an understanding of violence against women, sharing experiences and approaches, methodologies and training tools, good practices and the pressing need to institutionalise policy frameworks to support the elimination of violence against women at the local, national, regional and international levels.

5. The workshop acknowledged the work of the Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women. The workshop built and complemented current efforts of Governments, NGOs and other international and regional organizations who have undertaken a range of measures to address violence against women.

Action is required now

6. The participants recognised the workshop was timely, given two years after the declaration and adoption of the Millennium Development Goals by world leaders; and eight years after the Beijing Platform of Action and the Pacific Platform for Action, in which the elimination of all forms of violence against women was a key objective. The workshop therefore provided the Pacific region with an excellent opportunity to further explore and proposed recommendations to enhance levels of government commitment to implementation measures, establish stronger and more effective partnerships, and develop practical recommendations for eliminating violence against women at national and regional level.

Good Governance includes gender equality

7. The workshop noted that good governance is about the appropriate allocation and proper management of financial and human resources and the promotion of gender equality and equity. Yet men are the main decision-makers in the region and it is essential not to exclude or suppress the full potential of women.

8. The biggest challenge faced by women in many of the Pacific island societies is that of being acknowledged as equal partners in social, cultural, political and economic development in their communities, countries and territories. Women and women’s work are not recognized in many successful development efforts in the Pacific.

Some religious and cultural practices have victimized and oppressed women

9. The workshop discussed and agreed that violence against women is a priority issue for action in the Pacific region because it is a major human rights issue affecting women. There is a significant interplay between traditions, culture, religion, education, community expectations, the role of women and power relations in contributing to this problem.

10. The workshop considered the challenges and potential of culture and religion in eliminating violence against women. It was suggested that traditional reconciliation practices can promote a culture of silence towards victims and protects the perpetrators of violence.

11. The workshop strongly recommended that some cultural and religious practices need to be re-examined to support rather than victimize women.

Current approaches are uncoordinated

12. An integrated approach for addressing violence against women was presented as a model for developing regional and national plans of action to contribute to the elimination of violence against women. It requires a coordinated multi-sectoral policy and implementation framework. Central concepts include the need to view violence as a public, not private issue; to explore the root causes, not symptoms of violence only; and to develop action strategies with all stakeholders to avoid duplication of efforts and resources. Violence was recognised as a development issue.

Violence costs

13. The workshop discussed and viewed with great concern the high cost of violence on societies in particular the economic impacts of violence against women and children. Governments were urged to calculate the costs. Current ratios presented suggest up to 7% of GDP if direct and indirect costs are considered.

Regional approaches can help

14. The workshop heard of and acknowledged the ongoing work of the Pre- and Forum Regional Security Committee Meeting and the specialist law enforcement agencies, the Oceanic Customs Organisation, PILOM, South Pacific Chiefs of Police Conference, Pacific Island Immigration Directors Conference in conjunction with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, in the areas of sex crime legislation, capacity building through regional workshops with Police training and cooperation with NGOs to counter sex related and transnational crimes, for example pornography through internet, people smuggling and trafficking of persons especially women and children. The workshop urged that such agencies consider actions be included to eliminate all forms of violence but particularly violence against women and children. Support for community violence reduction approaches will enhance community safety and security.

15. Regional initiatives and programmes developed by multilateral agencies such as UNIFEM and other donors play a vital role in eliminating violence against women. The workshop urged a coordinated approach to ensure that efforts are complementary and to avoid duplication.

Law enforcement and cooperation is critical

16. The workshop was informed of the value of the Combined Law Agency Group (CLAG) concept and noted it as a tool to assist agencies in monitoring the activities of and investigate those perpetrating cross-border crimes or multiple crimes, including trafficking of people, and pornography and urged attention to impacts on women and children.

17. The workshop agreed that domestic violence legislation is essential. Existing laws need to be reviewed and concerted efforts be made to enact existing legislation where it exists in draft form.

Ethnic and armed conflict increases gender-based violence

18. The workshop viewed with concern the negative social and economic impacts of armed conflict on the lives of women and children. It therefore strongly urged governments, NGOs, churches, community leaders, regional and international institutions and development partners to take appropriate action to address issues and concerns for women and children arising from ethnic and armed conflict situations. The workshop also reaffirmed its support for the work that UNIFEM and other regional organizations are doing in the region in addressing women, peace and security issues including specific areas on:

Research, data collection and analysis

Capacity building

Information dissemination and advocacy on issues on violence against women and child abuse

Trauma and therapy counselling

Conflict resolution, human rights, good governance, legal literacy and restorative justice.

19. The workshop reiterated the important and often complex roles women play as peacemakers and bridge-builders in ethnic and armed conflict situations. The workshop therefore calls for recognition and involvement by government, NGOs, civil society, regional institutions and development partners to solicit necessary support for women to effectively play their role as bridge-builders and peace-makers.

20. The workshop also noted the involvement of youth in ethnic and armed conflict and viewed with concern the negative effects this has had on their livelihoods. It therefore called on governments, NGOs, women’s groups, churches, civil society, regional institutions, development partners to initiate and support development efforts aimed at addressing problems affecting youth as a direct or indirect consequence of ethnic and armed conflict.

Conclusion

21. As a critical area of focus under the Pacific Platform for Action, the Secretariat for the Pacific Community was encouraged to further the activities to eliminate violence against women and children.

22. Among the critical factors identified for the elimination of violence against women were:

The need for an integrated national response bringing together key government agencies, NGOs, religious groups and other relevant stakeholders.

The enactment of new legislation and/or the revision of existing legislation designed to more effectively protect and meet the needs of women.

Improve sex-disaggregated data collection and gender analysis.

Gender as a cross-cutting issue.

A high level of political will and commitment.

GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

23. The workshop urged, as appropriate, governments, NGOs, regional inter-governmental bodies, agencies, development partners, educational institutions, police, churches, broadcasters, media organizations, community and traditional leaders and other relevant stakeholders, to work with the following goals and recommendations:

National

- Highest political will and commitment is required to eliminate violence against women.

- Countries should be encouraged to ratify international human rights conventions like CEDAW, the Optional Protocols and the CRC, and implement regional agreements like the Honiara and Biketawa Declarations.

- Awareness should be raised to the economic costs of violence against women to spur governments on to curb it.

- Development and implementation of national plans of action to eliminate violence against women should be a priority.

- Co-ordinating bodies, organizational structures and strategies to address violence against women should be established.

- Increased resources and capacity building are required to develop National Women’s Machineries, key Ministries, agencies and organizations, to strengthen their efforts to eliminate violence against women.

- Increase the allocation which provide support services and counseling to survivors of violence against women.

- Efforts should be made to bring more men into the mainstream of work on violence against women.

- Strengthen consultations and partnerships between key ministries, NGOs, community leaders and churches, including women as representatives to negotiate peace and resolve conflicts.

- Address the negative impacts of ethnic and armed conflict.

- Explore opportunities within religious and cultural structures and practices to eliminate violence against women.

- Establish appropriate policies and codes of conduct to address sexual harassment in the workplace.

- Provide technical assistance and support to countries wishing to initiate new research, data collection and analysis on violence against women in Pacific countries and territories.

Regional

- Present the Outcome of this workshop to the SPC-organised 9th Pacific Women’s Conference and the Pacific Ministers’ for Women Meeting in 2004.

- Support and participate in, as appropriate, the UNIFEM Pacific programme on conflict and peace-building in four Melanesian countries.

- Support the further development of innovative, regional programmes designed by donors and NGOs to eliminate violence against women.

- Multilateral, donor and regional agencies to work together to ensure that their violence against women programmes are complementary and to reduce duplication of effort.

- Secretariat of the Pacific Community to coordinate regional research study on violence against women.

- Present the Outcome of this workshop to the Heads of Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) as another channel to the Forum leaders.

- Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to present the Outcome of this workshop to the Forum Regional Security Committee (FRSC) meeting to ensure that the impact of violence against women is considered by leaders at the 2003 Forum.

- The Specialist Law Enforcement agencies through the Pre-FRSC develop an action plan to:

(i) develop and review domestic violence legislation within the region in conjunction with ongoing work relating to sex crimes and ensure domestic violence is legislated against the region;
(ii) to increase training opportunities for law enforcement agencies]in collaboration with other agencies to implement gender sensitive responses and support “no-drop” policies which will take seriously and effectively address domestic violence and enhance human security situations; and
(iii) to develop and support methods for recording and analyzing sex-disaggregated data on violence against women by the Police and other agencies, for use at policy level.
(iv) FRSC to further develop the Community Safety Strategy of the Cook Islands for implementation in Forum Island Countries.
(v) The Specialist Law Enforcement agencies’ action plans be developed and presented to FRSC for endorsement.

- Present the Outcome of this workshop to the Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting to be held in Fiji in 2004.

Research and Education

- Regional, national and community-based research on incidences, responses and impacts of violence against women should be undertaken and shared widely.

- Develop relevant participatory research methods, gender indicators on violence against women, and sex-disaggregated data systems to be used by governments and NGOs for policy and programme development and action strategies.

- Efforts to eliminate gender-based violence through gender sensitive approaches should be incorporated within school curriculums and initiated in non-formal, continuing, adult and community education programs.

Media

- Media has a vital role and responsibility to play in fairly reporting on violence against women, and not perpetuate stereotypical images and violence against women. Better relations and information sharing should be developed to help in this regard.

- Public awareness and media campaigns on violence issues should be encouraged.

- Media and information, education and communications (IEC) materials in vernacular languages should be developed.