NGO Documents for the Social Development / Copenhagen Process

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SUBMISSION FROM THE AD HOC WOMEN'S CAUCUS
TO THE COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

FEBRUARY 26, 1997

We applaud the ideas that we have heard over the last few days with respect to the importance of sustaining the Summit's vision and coherence. We also endorse the need to focus on implementation.

We have a very practical suggestion as to how you can immediately begin to implement the Summit's commitments with respect to gender equity and how this commitment might continue to be implemented over the years.

We propose that the Bureau itself begin to reflect the Summit's commitment to gender equity. More specifically, we recommend that gender equity be reflected in:

a) the structure of the Bureau's membership;

b) the Bureau's policy work; and

c) the Bureau's processes and implementation strategies.

One way to implement this recommendation is for the Bureau to be composed of two representatives from each region to ensure an equal number of women and men on the Bureau. All members of the Bureau should also be charged with the responsibility, especially the women, to ensure women's equality and an elimination of the deep-rooted assumptions against women in policy work and implementation strategies.

This will involve ensuring that data presented are gender disaggregated- and that data are presented for both men and women. It will also involve an insistence on women-centered as well as patricentric assumptions. For example, in addressing the question of full employment, we ought to recognize full employment for women requires child-care policies, for example.

We also encourage governments next year to place a priority on gender equity when naming individuals to this Commission for Social Development.