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1United Nations Economic & Social CouncilIndian Model United Nations, 2013

Indian Model United Nations 2013

Economic and Social CouncilBackground Guide

Neha Dewan Aditya Tamar

President Vice President

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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Greetings delegates,

Welcome to the Economic & Social Council at Indian Model United Nations 2013

A founding UN Charter body established in 1946,with the primary purpose of pressing down

worlds economic, social and environmental challenges the ECOSOC is the place where such issues

are discussed and debated, and policy recommendations issued, making the Economic & Social

Council an undoubtedly challenging committee, resulting in potentially explosive concoctions that

might drastically affect the fate of world at hands of the diplomats present.

The Indian Model United Nations Conference, the brainchild of Ryan Group of Institutions has been

very special to us for innumerable reasons better not divulged in this diminutive letter, but we hope

that by the end of this three day long conference you find yourselves appended with a similarly

strong association with the magnificent institution.

With the diversity of the work ambit of the organization and the wide horizon that it expands over,

the ECOSOC has a broad responsibility for some 70% of the human and financial resources of the

entire UN system, including 14 specialized agencies, 9 functional commissions and five regional

commissions. At this session of the ECOSOC, the Council shall discuss the following agenda items:

1. Eradication & elimination of neglected tropical diseases by 20202. Enhancing participation of women in development through an enabling environment for

achieving gender equality & advancement of women

The agendas have been set for the delegates to act as leaders, advocates, facilitators and diplomats

to address crucial issues with an in-depth focus on specific areas to build in them a strong

understanding of the most basic yet complex sectors of the society.

In order to represent your nations to the best of your capabilities, we urge you to not let yourself

be restricted to the confines of this background study guide, as it has been made with the purpose

of making the base of things clear to you, and we hope it steers you in the right direction as you

prepare for the upcoming conference.

Put your best foot forward as you research into the varied aspects of the agenda and display the

best of your diplomatic courtesy. Feel free to revert back to the executive board for any queries or

for any form of assistance that you may require.

Wishing you luck for the conference.

Warm Regards

Neha DewanPRESIDENT

Aditya TamarVICE PRESIDENT

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Committee Background

History:

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is comprised of 54 Member States of the United

Nations. Historically ECOSOC is responsible for promoting international discussion about issues

related to employment and standards of living, economic, social and health concerns, educational

and cultural topics, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Purpose and mission statement:

The Council holds several short sessions and many preparatory meetings, round tables and panel

discussions with the members of civil society throughout the year, to deal with the organization of

its work. It holds a four-week substantive session in July, alternating between New York and Geneva

, which is organized in four segments (High-level, Coordination, Operational Activities,

Humanitarian Affairs and General Segments).

At the High-level Segment, national cabinet ministers and chiefs of international agencies and other

high officials discuss major economic, social and environmental policy issues. A Ministerialdeclaration is generally adopted on the theme of the High-level Segment, which provides policy

guidance and recommendations for action which covers both global issues and technical,

administrative questions. The year- round work of the Council is carried out in its subsidiary and

related bodies.

The official languages of the Economic and Social Council are Arabic, Chinese, English, French,

Russian and Spanish.

The new functions of the Economic and Social Council:

The 2005 World Summit ( A/RES/60/1 ) mandated the Economic and Social Council to convene

Annual Ministerial Reviews (AMR) and biennial Development Cooperation Forum (DCF).These new functions were endorsed by the General Assembly in November 2006 ( A/RES/61/16 )

focusing on select themes drawn from the UNs Millennium Development Goals.

Membership and authority:

The 54 member Governments of the ECOSOC are elected for three-year terms by the General

Assembly. Seats on the Council are allotted based on geographicalrepresentation with fourteen

allocated to African States, eleven to Asian States, six to Eastern European States, ten to Latin

American and Caribbean States, and thirteen to Western European and other States.

The Bureau of ECOSOC includes one Government from each of five world regions Latin Americaand the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, East Europe, and West Europe and the other developed countries.

Each year, a representative from a different region is chosen to head the Council as its President.

The functions and powers of the Economic and Social Council are stipulated in Chapter X of the

Charter of the United Nations. The complete text of the UN Charter is accessible at:

http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/index.html

The rules of procedure of the council:

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http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/pdf/rules.pdf

The Nature of Reports, Proofs/Evidence

Evidence or proof is acceptable from the following sources for reference:

News Sources:

REUTERS Any Reuters article which clearly makes mention of the fact or is in contradiction of the factbeing stated by a delegate in council. http://www.reuters.com/

State operated News Agencies These reports can be used in the support of or against the State that

owns the News Agency. These reports, if credible or substantial enough, can be used in support of or

against any Country as such but in that situation, they can be denied by any other country in the

council. Some examples are RIA Novosti(Russia) http://en.rian.ru/ , IRNA (Iran)

http://www.irna.ir/ENIndex.htm, BBC (United Kingdom) http://www.bbc.co.uk/ , Xinhua News Agency

and CCTV (P.R. Of China) http://cctvnews.cntv.cn/

Government Reports:

These reports can be used in a similar way as the State Operated News Agencies reports and can, in all

circumstances, be denied by another country. However, a report that is being denied by a certain

country can still be accepted by the Executive Board as credible information.

Examples are Government Websites :

1.State Department of the United States of America: http://www.state.gov/index.htm , Ministry ofDefence of the Russian Federation http://www.eng.mil.ru/en/index.htm, Ministry of Foreign

Affairs of various nations like India (http://www.mea.gov.in/) , Peoples Republic of China

(http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/ ), France (http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/ ), Russian

Federation (http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/main_eng), etc.

2.Permanent Representatives to the United Nations Reports : http://www.un.org/en/members/(Click on any country to get the website of the Office of its Permanent Representative)

3.Multilateral Organizations like the NATO (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/index.htm ),ASEAN (http://www.aseansec.org/),OPEC (http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/), etc.

UN Reports:

All UN Reports are considered as credible information or evidence for the Executive Board.

1.UN Bodies: Like the SC (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/), GA (http://www.un.org/en/ga/ ), HRC(http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/HRCIndex.aspx ) etc.

2.UN Affiliated bodies like the International Atomic Energy Agency (http://www.iaea.org/ ),WorldBank (http://www.worldbank.org/ ), International Monetary Fund

(http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm ), International Committee of the Red Cross

(http://www.icrc.org/eng/index.jsp), etc.

3.Treaty Based Bodies like the Antarctic Treaty System (http://www.ats.aq/e/ats.htm ), theInternational Criminal Court (http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC)

Under no circumstances will sources like Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/ ), Amnesty

International (http://www.amnesty.org/), or newspapers like the Guardian(http://www.guardian.co.uk/), Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ ), etc. be accepted

in the Council.

Acceptance and denial of reports is completely depended on the foreign policy of the particular member

nation. However, based on their presentation, content and logical consistency, all reports will be taken

into consideration by the Executive Board.

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AGENDA I : ERADICATION & ELIMINATION OF NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASESBY 2020

Tropical Diseases:

Tropical diseases encompass all diseases that occur solely, or principally, in the tropics. In practice,

the term is often taken to refer to infectious diseases that thrive in hot, humid conditions, unique

to tropical or sub tropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in partto the occurrence of a cold season, which controls the insect population by forcing hibernation. The

most common vectors are insects such as mosquitoes and flies. These insects may carry a parasite,

bacterium or virus that is infectious to humans and animals. Most often disease is transmitted by

an insect "bite", which causes transmission of the infectious agent through subcutaneous blood

exchange. Human exploration of tropical rainforests, deforestation, rising immigration and

increased international air travel and other tourism to tropical regions where lack of hygiene and

poor living conditions prevail has led to an increased incidence of such diseases such as malaria,

leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas disease, African

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trypanosomiasis, and dengue .Commonly vaccines are not available for any of the diseases listed

here, and many do not have cures.

Factsheets on tropical diseases:

http://www.who.int/topics/tropical_diseases/factsheets/en/index.html

Neglected Tropical Diseases:

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) blight the lives of a billion people worldwide and threaten the

health of millions more. These ancient companions of already poverty weaken impoverished

populations, frustrate the achievement of health in the Millennium Development Goals and

impede global public health outcomes. An evaluation of their significance to public health and

economies has convinced governments, donors, the pharmaceutical industry and other agencies,

including nongovernmental organizations, to invest in preventing and controlling this diverse group

of diseases as these NTDs not only cause communicable illness specially to children but also

hamper economic development in poor populations.

Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases(TDR):

Established in 1975 the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) is a

global initiative of scientific collaboration that helps coordinate, support and influence global

efforts to combat a portfolio of major neglected infectious diseases which disproportionately affect

poor and marginalized populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, Central America and South

America primarily.

Vision:

The power of research and innovation will improve the health and well-being of those burdened

by infectious diseases of poverty.TDR's vision is to take up a functional global effort for eradication and elimination of infectious

diseases of poverty by research and planning in which disease endemic countries play a pivotal role.

It has a dual mission of developing new tools and strategies against these diseases, and to develop

the research and leadership capacity in the countries where the diseases occur.

Mission:

To foster an effective global research effort on infectious diseases of poverty and promote the

translation of innovation to health impact in disease endemic countries.

Some examples of work include helping to develop new treatments for diseases, such as ivermectin

for onchocerciasis (river blindness); showing how packaging can improve use of Artemesinin-

Combination Treatment (ACT) for malaria; demonstrating the effectiveness of bednets to prevent

mosquito bites and malaria; and documenting how community-based and community-led

programmes increases distribution of multiple treatments.

TDR is based at and executed by the World Health Organization (WHO), and is sponsored by the

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the

World Bank and WHO.

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European Foundations Initiative for African Research into Neglected Tropical Diseases (EFINTD):

The EFINTD is a response from five European Foundations Cariplo, Gulbenkian, Merieux, Nuffield

and Volkswagen. They see NTD control as representing a largely untapped development

opportunity to alleviate poverty in the worlds poorest populations, with a direct impact on the

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Beyond their negative impact on health, NTDs

contribute to an ongoing cycle of poverty and stigma that leaves people unable to work, go to

school or participate in family and community life.Link : http://ntd-africa.net/

World Health Organization and NTDs:

The WHO released its first report on Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2010.The assessment of the global

burden caused by these diseases, and of the tools and strategies available for their control, brought

optimism, although specific obstacles to controlling individual diseases were also identified.- Dr Margaret Chan Director-General World Health Organization

In January 2012, the WHO built on various resolutions and decisions of its governing bodies as well as

this previous assessment of opportunities and obstacles and on the growing sense of optimism byissuing a roadmap with visionary time-bound goals for controlling, eliminating or eradicating several of

these ancient diseases. That ambitious agenda was almost immediately endorsed by the London

declaration on neglected tropical diseases, which expressed a strong and broad-based will to seize

these new opportunities. Commitments on the part of ministries of health in endemic countries, global

health initiatives, funding agencies and philanthropists escalated, as did donations of medicines from

pharmaceutical companies by the help of engagement of the international community.

The 17 neglected tropical diseases:

Buruli Ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans infection) Chagas disease Dengue/Severe dengue Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) Echinococcosis Foodborne trematodiases Human African trypanosomiasis (Sleeping sickness) Leishmaniasis Leprosy Lymphatic filariasis Onchocerciasis (River blindness) Rabies Schistosomiasis

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Soil transmitted helminthiases Taeniasis/Cysticercosis Trachoma Yaws (Endemic treponematoses)

Factsheets on neglected tropical diseases:

http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/resources/en/index.html

Definitions by WHO:

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2009/WHO_HTM_NTD_2009.1_eng.pdf

Other 'neglected' conditions:

Podoconiosis Snakebite Strongyloidiasis

THE ROADMAP AND THE LONDON DECLARATION:

The January publication of the WHO -Accelerating work to overcome the global impact of neglected

tropical diseases: a roadmap for implementation (the roadmap) was created at a meeting of partners

donating resources, expertise and time, uniting to combat neglected tropical diseases. Their

commitment is outlined in the London declaration on neglected tropical diseases (the London

declaration) . The continuing informal relationships and goodwill that exist among the International

community of partners and the governments of endemic countries through the vision of the Economic

and Social Council of the United Nations have been essential in achieving goals.

The Roadmap for Implementation :

http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/NTD_RoadMap_2012_Fullversion.pdf

London Declaration United to Combat Neglected Diseases :

http://unitingtocombatntds.org/downloads/press/ntd_event_london_declaration_on_ntds.pdfThis declaration is the largest coordinated effort to date in health issues and it aims to eliminate or

control 10 neglected diseases by 2020 by providing more than US$785 million to support research and

development. These diseases are most rampant in the economically deprived regions of the world and

affect 1.4 billion people, and are responsible for the persistent backwardness in human development.

Further: http://www.unitingtocombatntds.org/endorsements

Practical Definitions of Eradication, Elimination and Control:

After consulting with the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases in

2012, WHO recommended that the following definitions should be used for the roadmap's targets:

Eradication is the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of infection caused by

specific pathogen as a result of deliberate efforts , with no risk of reintroduction. In some cases a

pathogen may become extinct, but others may be present in confined settings such as laboratories.

Elimination (interruption of transmission) is the reduction to zero of the incidence of infection caused

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by a specific pathogen in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts; continued actions

to prevent re-establishment of transmission may be required.

Control is the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence, intensity, morbidity, or mortality, or a

combination of these, as a result of deliberate efforts. The term elimination as a public-health

problem should be used only upon achievement of measurable targets for control set by Member

States in relation to a specific disease. Continued intervention measures may be required to maintain

this reduction.The members while suggesting methods for control may set targets for their achievement.

Obstacles and risks in achieving target goals by 2020:

a. Conflicts & Population displacement

Natural disasters and violent human conflicts lead to the death and displacement of millions of

people who, as a result, suffer from disease, as well as starvation and sexual and physical abuse. Since

1945, some 23 conflicts have been waged or continue to be waged in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa,

where NTDs are prevalent. Since 1999, 5.4 million people have died in the Democratic Republic of the

Congo, and 1.5 million have become refugees or been displaced.

Armed conflict is likely to disrupt the delivery of preventive chemotherapy, and adequate case

management and disease surveillance, put the lives of health workers at risk and impede access to

treatment. Plans should be made to reach out to refugees and IDPs, especially if they are living in

campus. The number may seem relatively small compared with those requiring preventive

chemotherapy but, in addition to their health needs, displaced persons may serve as reservoirs of

infection or agents of dispersal when national borders are porous.

b. Population Growth

By 31 October 2012, the world's population had reached 7 billion, with most if the growth occurring

again in the countries where NTDs are prevalent. Population growth is predicted to continue to be the

greatest in sub-Saharan Africa, which includes 33 of the 49 countries considered to be least developedaccording to social and economic indicators. By 2020, the estimated current population with a likely

annual increase of 20 million is predicted to be 1.02 billion. In the wake of meeting 1 eradication target,

4 global elimination targets and 10 regional or country-based elimination targets,the population

growth should be considered to ensure that resources will be available to deliver sufficient treatments

and how.

c. Vector control

The transmission and persistence of many pathogens such as those responsible for dengue, Chagas

disease, foodborne trematodiases, human African trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis, dracunculiasis,

lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and schistosomes depend on vectors or intermediate hosts. There

is a risk that sufficient medicines alone will not achieve a specific target if measures to control vectors

or intermediate hosts are inadequate. Most efforts need to be made to deal with vectors and the

chemicals involved in their control, with due consideration to the possibility of the side effects of these

control mechanisms.

Vector control mainly relies on the use of pesticides. Sound management of pesticides requires

collaboration among sectors of agriculture, health and the environment. WHOPES ( the WHO Pesticide

Evaluation Scheme) works in collaboration with the FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization of the

United Nations) and UNEP ; it continues to serve as the main resource for information on pesticide

management and encourages members states to provide guidance on the safety, quality control,

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application and efficacy of pesticides.

d. Resistance to medicines and pesticides

Resistance to a medicine or pesticide is defined as a loss of susceptibility to that medicine or

pesticide in a population that was previously sensitive to the appropriate therapeutic dose or

controlling application. Certain veterinary experiments in sheep have shown resistance to doses like

albendazole, mebendazole, levamisole. In mice experimentally infected with a human isolate of

Schistosoma mansoniand exposed to repeated doses of praziquantel, evidence has shown thatpraziquantel-resistant genes are present in the isolate, thus making it inefficient for human cure.

The shorter a pathogen's generation time, more likely is the risk of resistance. In anticipation of the

development of such resistance, especially with the scaling up of preventive chemotherapy, WHO's

Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for NTDs has established a working group to monitor efficacy of

medicines and prepare standard operating procedures to detect resistance early.

It is equally important t highlight these provisions and deliberate upon them and along with prepare

procedures and alternative strategies that can be used if resistance is detected.

e. Insufficient capacity for scaling up

Projections for the progressive scaling up of interventions en route towards 2020 and the related

milestones, assume that necessary resources will become available as required. In terms of human

resources, this implies that technical and managerial capacity will be built at all levels of national

health-care systems so that simultaneous nationwide implementation can be carried out and

maintained for as long as necessary as part of the delivery of routine health-care interventions, similar

to the ways that nationwide vaccination programmes were introduced. If adequate sustainable capacity

is not built into national health plans and strategy, it is unlikely that such a large number of endemic

countries will simultaneously be able to scale up their programmes. Significant resources are required

to ensure that programmes are fully implemented, milestones are reached, and then programmes are

scaled down. It is unlikely that these resources will be generated entirely from external sources, thus

consistent efforts to mobilize national resources from various sectors will need to be made in endemic

countries. The worldwide private sector has made unprecedented pledges to supply the medicines

required for large-scale distribution, but such external support needs adequate domestic infrastructure.The impact of programmes will need to be monitored, and adjustments may need to be made to

implementation strategies to reach the roadmaps targets in the most cost-effective manner.

f. Expectations overtaking science

Evidence from clinical trials and community studies demonstrates that individual treatment and the

large-scale delivery of effective chemotherapy reduces and controls morbidity caused by NTDs.

However, current scientific information may not be sufficient to underpin all aspects of NTD control.

For example, a key assumption guiding most programmes is that a given number of treatments or

rounds of mass drug administration will interrupt transmission in all settings, whether transmission

occurs from person to person or through vectors or their intermediate hosts. Information collected by

monitoring coverage and evaluating the impact of strategies will help validate this assumption and

refine control strategies.

g. Inadequate support for research

Fundamental research and operational research will continue to be essential components in the work

to overcome NTDs. The 2012 Global report for research on infectious diseases of povertyrecognized

that research into NTDs lags behind research that affect more affluent people. There is a need for

equitable support for research into NTDs to increase knowledge about these diseases ant to improve

control interventions.

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h. Climate Change

Climate change is now accepted as resulting mainly from an increase in emissions of greenhouse

gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) released as a result of human activities. By

the end of the 21st

century, the Earth's temperature may rise above mid-1990 levels by 1.1C to 6.4C, a

change that is predicted to lead additional heat waves, floods and droughts. The World Meteorological

Organization's publicationAtlas of health and climate explores the numerous and variable effects of

climate change on infectious diseases, including NTDs. The effect of climate change on population of

vectors and on the persistence and transmission of NTDs are of particular concern and put in questionforeign and local industrial and extraction activity.

First Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases:

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241564090_eng.pdf

A Human Rights Based approach:

Right to Health

A human rights-based approach is guided by human rights standards and principles.

It requires that health interventions support the capacity of duty bearers (primarily government

authorities) to meet their obligations and of affected communities to claim their rights. The right to the

highest attainable standard of health ('the right to health') is recognized in several human rights treaties

and national constitutions. Moreover, the right to health is closely related to and contingent on several

other human rights. Development efforts often need to be cross-sectoral and include economic, social

and political interventions. The contents of the right to health have been

clarified by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in General Comment 14.

The right to health extends not only to timely and appropriate health care, but also to the underlying

determinants of health (i.e. Access to education, clean water, housing, etc.).The right to health calls for

immediate and targeted steps to be taken to progressively ensure that health services, goods and

facilities are available, accessible, acceptable and of good quality. A human rights-based approachrequires that the interventions and processes in response to neglected tropical diseases are guided by

human rights principles, such asparticipation, non-discrimination and accountability. From the

perspective of the right to health, interventions should be population-based; respond to specific local

needs; and form part of, or at least not undermine, the regular health system.

Participation

People are entitled to participate in decisions that directly affect them, such as the design,

implementation and monitoring of health interventions. Participation should be active, free and

meaningful, and include affected women, men, boys and girls. Specific attention must be focused on

people living in poverty and other vulnerable groups. Communities affected by neglected tropical

diseases are sometimes involved in prevention, treatment and control programmes, such as vector

control programmes or administration of treatment. However, a human rights-based approach requiresthat affected communities participate not only in implementing programmes, but also in priority-setting

at local, national, and international levels.

Non-Discrimination

States have an obligation to ensure equality and non-discrimination in laws, policies and the

distribution and delivery of resources, health services and underlying determinants of health. This

requires identification and targeting of vulnerable groups. Authorities need to take steps to ensure that

prevalence data, mass drug administration and facility-based treatments are available for all at-risk

populations.

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Accountability

Rights and obligations demand accountability. Governments and other decision makers need to be

transparent about process and actions and justify their choices. Also, redress mechanisms should be in

place. Accountability comes in many forms. These are some of the possible mechanisms:

Judicial mechanisms, e.g. incorporating human rights obligations in domestic law, court cases;

Quasi-judicial mechanisms, e.g. national, human rights commissions or ombudspersons;

Administrative and policy mechanisms, e.g. development and review of health policies andplans, human rights impact assessments;

Political mechanisms, e.g. Parliamentary processes, monitoring and advocacy by NGOs;

Ratification and reporting on human rights treaties incorporating the right to health.

Children and women are disproportionately affected by some neglected tropical diseases and may face

additional barriers to seeking and receiving treatment. Women also tend to suffer more severely

from social stigma. Dissemination of information is necessary for awareness-raising, and for impeding

stigmatization, which is both a cause and consequence of neglected tropical diseases

Further areas to consider:

1. To examine the causes of the neglected tropical diseases with regard to internal and foreignactivity

2. Other relevant causes that the member states deem important for the council to discussion3. Solutions and their applicability and efficiency4. Human and Economic Burden5. To achieve the target goal : 2020 and beyond6. Global and regional plans for prevention and control

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AGENDA IIENHANCING PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPEMT

THROUGH AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR ACHIEVING

GENDER EQUALITY & ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN

INTRODUCTION:

The report of the Secretary-General on the review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for

Action and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,

submitted to the 49th session of the Commission in 2005, noted that the status and role of women has

undergone a significant change over the past ten years, although not at an equal pace in all regions.

Achievements noted included increased awareness, policy reforms, improved legislative frameworks,

and institutional development at the national level in many countries. Positive developments include

the establishment of national policies and strategies for gender equality; adherence to international and

regional instruments for the protection of the human rights of women; increased diversity in the

mechanisms promoting and monitoring attention to gender equality; attention to resource allocations

through gender-sensitive budgeting; the recognition of the critical role played by NGOs in awareness-

raising, advocacy, monitoring and programme delivery; and efforts to engage men and boys more

actively in the promotion of gender equality.

Yet, ten years after the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action by the Fourth World Conference on

Women in 1995, a large gap remains between policy and practice. Discriminatory practices and public

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attitudes towards the advancement of women and gender equality have not changed at the same pace

as policy, legal and institutional frameworks. The Commission on the Status of Women, at its forty-ninth

session in 2005, adopted a Declaration in which Governments pledged to undertake further action to

ensure the full and accelerated implementation of the Platform for Action and the outcome of the

twenty-third special session.

UNITED NATIONS ACTION ON THE ISSUES AT HAND

1. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW):- It was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, and is often described asan international bill of rights for women. It defines what constitutes discrimination against

women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. The

Convention provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through

ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life --

including the right to vote and to stand for election -- as well as education, health and

employment. (Full text of the Convention:-

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/text/econvention.htm)

2. Declaration on elimination of violence against women:- The Declaration on the Eliminationof Violence Against Women was adopted without vote by the United Nations GeneralAssembly in its resolution 48/104 It stresses the recognition of "the urgent need for the

universal application to women of the rights and principles with regard to equality, security,

liberty, integrity and dignity of all human beings". The resolution is often seen as

complementary to, and a strengthening of, the work of the Convention on the Elimination of

All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Vienna Declaration and Programme of

Action. (Full text:- http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/48/a48r104.htm)

3. United nations General Assembly Resolution 54/210(Text:- http://www.unfpa.org/gender/docs/54-210.pdf)

4. Fourth World Conference on WomenThe United Nations convened the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for

Equality, Development and Peace on 415 September 1995 in Beijing, China. Aung San Suu

Kyi delivered the keynote address at the conference. Delegates had prepared a Declaration

and Platform for Action aimed at achieving greater equality and opportunity for women.

Many nations publicly disagreed with positions outlined by the United States of America and other

nations concerning abortion, reproductive rights and other sensitive issues which still continue to

be highlight today.

Complete document :http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/pdf/BDPfA%20E.pdf

Text : http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/declar.htm

5.Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/confer/nfls/

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REGION SPECIFIC DECLERATIONS/INSTRUMENTS

Africa:

1. Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa:- In July 2004, the African Union (AU) embarked ona new chapter of moving forward the gender equality agenda in Africa, representing

another milestone for womens effective participation: The AU adopted the Solemn

Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) at its Summit meeting in Addis Ababa,

Ethiopia. For the first time in history, a continental organization took ownership of gendermainstreaming at the highest level, calling for the continued implementation of gender

parity in the AU and at national level. (Text of the Declaration:-

http://www.achpr.org/instruments/declaration-on-gender-equality-in-africa/)

2. Declaration on Gender and Development (SADC):- While the Member States of SADC aimto raise the status of women to that of men, a disparity remains throughout Southern Africa

in terms of legal rights, power sharing and decision-making, and access to productive

resources and education. Therefore, SADC signed the Declaration on Gender and

Development on 8th September 1997 to promote closer regional cooperation and collective

action as a means of fostering gender equality. ( Text:

http://www.sadc.int/files/7613/5292/8380/Declaration_on_Gender__Development_1997.pdf

Arab Nations:

1. Beirut Declaration:- In 2004, more than 400 Arab women ministers, parliamentariansand non-governmental representatives launched a call for peace in a regional forum

organized by the Beirut-based United Nations Economic and Social Commission for

Western Asia (UNESCWA). The importance of the Arab Regional Forum Ten Years afterBeijing: a Call for Peace, lies in the great attention and support the world body is giving to the

conferences organized by the five regional commissions, UNESCWA. ( Full text:-

http://www.unfpa.org/gender/beijing10/docs/arab.pdf)Latin America:-

1. Adoption and Implementation of the Inter American Program on the Promotion of WomensHuman Rights and Gender Equity and Equality :- It was adopted at the first plenary session of

the Organisation of the American States, in the year 2000, in collaboration with the Inter

American Commission of Women (Text:-

http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/agres_1732_xxxo00.htm)

Indigenous women and gender equality:

In indigenous communities, men and women have different gender roles and responsibilities and for that

reason they also often have different needs, desires and interests. Traditionally, indigenous women were

generally respected by indigenous men and had equal access to and control over collective land and naturalresources.

However, with the gradual loss of collective ownership of lands and other natural resources and the

introduction by dominant outsiders of institutions of private property, indigenous women progressively lost

their traditional rights to lands and natural resources. The following has been a familiar pattern in many

indigenous communities:

As the indigenous economy, guided by the values of generalized reciprocity, symbolic complementarity and

customary laws that cherish gender equity and equality, weakened, male members of some indigenous

communities became sole inheritors of lands and other property. As a result, female members have been

deprived of their rights of traditional access to lands and other resources. Mainstreaming a gender

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perspective in development initiatives can make a real difference. For instance, indigenous mens and

womens situations can be better understood through the analysis of gender disaggregated data (qualitative

and quantitative). Based on their needs assessment and their development priorities, various programs

such as awareness raising, social mobilization, organization building, training, saving and credit schemes,

income generation, functional literacy and cultural revitalization, will be prepared and implemented with

their full participation. When indigenous women manage institutions, resources and development

initiatives, they enhance and improve their social and economic situation. Gender-blind approaches to

development fail to address the issues and problems of indigenous women.

In plural legal systems, the simultaneous existence and operation of national legislation, customary and/or

religious laws often lead to tensions and complications in the implementation of the rights of women and

girls. For example, The Global Campaign to Stop V iolence against Women finds that child marriage in the

indigenous-dominated Autonomous Region of Muslim.

Mindanao (ARMM) of the Philippines is largely influenced by Article 16 of the Muslim Code, which sets the

minimum age of marriage of both males and females at 15 years and also confers powers on sharia district

courts to sanction the marriage of a girl who has attained puberty. The International community is the only

way through which such states can express their viewpoint along with deliberation by the opposing member

nations with regard to existing International laws and rights of women.

Text of relevant treaties:

http://social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples/CrossThematicIssues/IndigenousWomen/Recommen

dationsrelatedtoIndigenousWomen.aspx

Discrimination:

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adoptedin 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women.

Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets

up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.

The Convention defines discrimination against women as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on

the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or

exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human

rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."

Text: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

MDG 3: To promote gender equality and empower women

The MDG 3 indicators track key elements of women's social, economic and political participation and guide

the building of gender-equitable societies.

All the MDGs influence health, and health influences all the MDGs. The MDGs are inter-dependent. For

example, better health enables children to learn and adults to earn. Gender equality is essential to the

achievement of better health

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United Nations and Women Empowerment Principles:

The Womens Empowerment Principles are the product of collaboration between UN Women and the UN

Global Compact.Created by the UN General Assembly in July 2010, UN Women - the United NationsEntity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - merges and builds on the important work of

four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which focused exclusively on gender equality and womens

empowerment: Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)

International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)

Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI)

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

Over many decades, the UN has made significant progress in advancing gender equality, including through

landmark agreements such as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on

the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Yet gender inequalitiesremain deeply entrenched in every society. Women lack access to decent work and face occupational

segregation and gender wage gaps. They are too often denied access to basic education and health care.

Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination. They are under-represented in political

and economic decision-making processes.

For many years, the UN has faced serious challenges in its efforts to promote gender equality globally,

including inadequate funding and no single recognized driver to direct UN activities on gender equality

issues. UN Women was created to address such challenges.

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the UN Charter, UN Women, among other issues, works for

the:

elimination of discrimination against women and girls;

empowerment of women; and

achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human

rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but its achievement has enormous socio-economicramifications. Empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth.

Sectors for advancement of women:

(i) Creating an environment through positive economic and social policies for full developmentof women to enable them to realize their full potential

(ii) The de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by womenon equal basis with men in all spheres political, economic, social, cultural and civil

(iii)Equal access to participation and decision making of women in social, political and economiclife of the nation

(iv) Equal access to women to health care, quality education at all levels, career and vocational

guidance, employment, equal remuneration, occupational health and safety, social security and

public office etc.

(v) Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination againstwomen

Legal-judicial system should be made more responsive and gender sensitive to womens needs, especially in

cases of domestic violence and personal assault. New laws should be enacted and existing laws reviewed to

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ensure that justice is quick and the punishment meted out to the culprits is commensurate with the severity

of the offence. At the initiative of and with the full participation of all stakeholders including community and

religious leaders, the Policy should aim to encourage changes in personal laws such as those related to

marriage, divorce, maintenance and guardianship so as to eliminate discrimination against women

considering their globally conflicting nature. The evolution of property rights in a patriarchal system as in

certain countries has contributed to the subordinate status of women. The Policy should aim to encourage

changes in laws relating to ownership of property and inheritance by evolving consensus in order to make

them gender just.

(vi)Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process.

Policies, programmes and systems will be established to ensure mainstreaming of womens perspectives in

all developmental processes, as catalysts, participants and recipients. Wherever there are gaps in policies

and programmes, women specific interventions would be undertaken to bridge these. Coordinating and

monitoring mechanisms will also be devised to assess from time to time the progress of such mainstreaming

mechanisms. Womens issues and concerns as a result will specially be addressed and reflected in all

concerned laws, sectoral policies, plans and programmes of action.

(vii)building and strengthening partnerships with civil society, particularly womens organizations.

(viii) Public and Private Sector

UN Women is committed to advancing womens economic empowerment, inter alia, through engagingwith business, recognizing the significant potential of the private sector for providing women with social and

economic opportunities for their empowerment and advancement as well as the benefits resulting from

womens contributions to sustainable business at all levels and along the value chain.

The UN Women, Women Empowerment Principles (WEP) provide an important and targeted tool for

building strong partnerships with the private sector to advance gender equality and womens

empowerment.

(ix) Decision-making

Womens equality in power sharing and active participation in decision making, including decision making in

political process at all levels should be ensured for the achievement of the goals of empowerment. All

measures should be taken to guarantee women equal access to and full participation in decision making

bodies at every level, including the legislative, executive, judicial, corporate, statutory bodies, as also theadvisory Commissions, Committees, Boards, Trusts etc. Affirmative action such as reservations/quotas,

including in higher legislative bodies, should be considered whenever necessary on a time bound basis.

Womenfriendly personnel policies will also be drawn up to encourage women to participate effectively in

the developmental process.

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Poverty Eradication

Since women comprise the majority of the population suffering from poverty, given the harsh realities of

intra-household and social discrimination, macro economic policies and poverty eradication programmes

will specifically address the needs and problems of such women. There should be improved implementation

of programmes which are already women oriented with special targets for women. Steps should be taken for

mobilization of poor women and convergence of services, by offering them a range of economic and social

options, along with necessary support measures to enhance their capabilities

Micro Credit

In order to enhance womens access to credit for consumption and production, the establishment of new,

and strengthening of existing micro-credit mechanisms and micro-finance institution should be undertaken

so that the outreach of credit is enhanced. Other supportive measures should be taken to ensure adequate

flow of credit through extant financial institutions and banks, so that all women below poverty line have

easy access to credit.

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Women and Economy

Womens perspectives must be included in designing and implementing macro-economic and social policies

by institutionalizing their participation in such processes. Their contribution to socio-economic development

as producers and workers should be recognized in the formal and informal sectors (including home based

workers) and appropriate policies relating to employment and to her working conditions will be drawn up.

Member states should present country based measures and areas for incorporating women's participation

where it is lacking and is deemed viable.

Globalization

Globalization has presented new challenges for the realization of the goal of womens equality, the gender

impact of which has not been systematically evaluated fully. However, from the micro-level studies, it is

evident that there is a need for re-framing policies for access to employment and quality of employment.

Benefits of the growing global economy have been unevenly distributed leading to wider economic

disparities, the feminization of poverty, increased gender inequality through often deteriorating working

conditions and unsafe working environment especially in the informal economy and rural areas. Strategies

should be designed to enhance the capacity of women and empower them to meet the negative social and

economic impacts, which may flow from the globalization process.

Women and AgricultureIn view of the critical role of women in the agriculture and allied sectors, as producers, concentrated efforts

should be made to ensure that benefits of training, extension and various programmes will reach them in

proportion to their numbers. The programmes for training women in soil conservation, social forestry, dairy

development and other occupations allied to agriculture like horticulture, livestock including small animal

husbandry, poultry, fisheries etc. should be expanded to benefit women workers in the agriculture sector.

Women and Industry

Women at present cannot work in night shift in factories even if they wish to due to certain national laws or

safety conditions of various nations. Suitable measures should be taken to enable women to work on the

night shift in factories. This must be accompanied with support services for security, transportation etc.

Support Services

The provision of support services for women, like child care facilities, including crches at work places and

educational institutions, homes for the aged and the disabled should be expanded and improved to create

an enabling environment and to ensure their full cooperation in social, political and economic life. Women-

friendly personnel policies will also be drawn up to encourage women to participate effectively in the

developmental process.

SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Education

Equal access to education for women and girls should be ensured. Special measures should be taken to

eliminate discrimination, universalize education, eradicate illiteracy, create a gender-sensitive educational

system, increase enrolment and retention rates of girls and improve the quality of education to facilitate life-

long learning as well as development of occupation/vocation/technical skills by women. Gender sensitive

curricula should be developed at all levels of educational system in order to address sex stereotyping as one

of the causes of gender discrimination however the issue of a non-universal educational system needs to

addressed considering the variation in the education pattern of various nations.

Health

A holistic approach to womens health which includes both nutrition and health services that should be

adopted and special attention will be given to the needs of women and the girl at all stages of the life cycle.

The reduction of infant mortality and maternal mortality, which are sensitive indicators of human

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development, is a priority concern. This policy reiterates the national demographic goals for Infant Mortality

Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) set out in the National Population Policy 2000. Women should

have access to comprehensive, affordable and quality health care. Measures should be adopted that take

into account the reproductive rights of women to enable them to exercise informed choices, their

vulnerability to sexual and health problems together with endemic, infectious and communicable diseases.

The social, developmental and health consequences of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases

should be tackled from a gender perspective. Good and accurate data at micro level on deaths, birth and

marriages is required. Strict implementation of registration of births and deaths would be ensured and

registration of marriages should be made compulsory while a global maintenance record i.e. encouraged.

Nutrition

In view of the high risk of malnutrition and disease that women face at all the three critical stages viz.,

infancy and childhood, adolescent and reproductive phase, focussed attention would be paid to meeting the

nutritional needs of women at all stages of the life cycle. This is also important in view of the critical link

between the health of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women with the health of infant and young

children. Special efforts should be made to tackle the problem of macro and micro nutrient deficiencies

especially amongst pregnant and lactating women as it leads to various diseases and disabilities and hinders

their role in overall development. Womens participation will also be ensured in the planning,

superintendence and delivery of the system.

Housing and Shelter

Womens perspectives should be included in housing policies, planning of housing colonies and provision of

shelter both in rural and urban areas. Special attention should be given for providing adequate and safe

housing and accommodation for women including single women, heads of households, working women,

students, apprentices and trainees.

Science and Technology

6.11 Programmes should be strengthened to bring about a greater involvement of women in science and

technology. These will include measures to motivate girls to take up science and technology for higher

education and also ensure that development projects with scientific and technical inputs involve womenfully. Efforts to develop a scientific temper and awareness should also be stepped up. Special measures

should be taken for their training in areas where they have special skills like communication and information

technology. Efforts to develop appropriate technologies suited to womens needs as well as to reduce their

drudgery should be given a special focus too. Women's role in International relations and projects should be

encouraged through the same. Expert teams of nations to interact abroad can help develop global

advancement the women sector.

Violence against women

All forms of violence against women, physical and mental, whether at domestic or societal levels, including

those arising from customs, traditions or accepted practices shall be dealt with effectively with a view to

eliminate its incidence. Institutions and mechanisms/schemes for assistance should be created and

strengthened for prevention of such violence , including sexual harassment at work place and customs likedowry; for the rehabilitation of the victims of violence and for taking effective action against the

perpetrators of such violence. A special emphasis should also be laid on programmes and measures to deal

with trafficking in women and girls.

Rights of the Girl Child

All forms of discrimination against the girl child and violation of her rights shall be eliminated by undertaking

strong measures both preventive and punitive within and outside the family. These would relate specifically

to strict enforcement of laws against prenatal sex selection and the practices of female foeticide, female

infanticide, child marriage, child abuse and child prostitution etc. Removal of discrimination in the treatment

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of the girl child within the family and outside and projection of a positive image of the girl child should be

actively fostered.

Mass Media

Global media should be used to portray images consistent with human dignity of girls and women. The

policy shall help specifically to strive to remove demeaning, degrading and negative conventional

stereotypical images of women and violence against women. Private sector partners and global media

networks should be involved at all levels to ensure equal access for women particularly in the area of

information and communication technologies. The media would be encouraged to develop codes of

conduct, professional guidelines and other self regulatory mechanisms to remove gender stereotypes and

promote balanced portrayals of women and men.

Lastly, implementation of international obligations/commitments in all sectors on empowerment of women

such as the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights

of the Child (CRC), International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD+5) and other such

instruments and their particular clauses. International, regional and sub-regional cooperation towards the

empowerment of women should continue to be encouraged through sharing of experiences, exchange of

ideas and technology, networking with institutions and organizations and through bilateral and multi-lateral

partnerships.

Further areas to consider:

1. Global sectors for advancement of women2. International opportunities3. Strategies for internationally applicable guidelines4. Internal policies and constitutional policies of member nations5. Role of ECOSOC sub bodies past success and failures

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