Record of Inaugural Meeting of Caucus on International Women's Issues

Within this section:


• Record of Inaugural Meeting of Caucus on International Women's Issues
• Appendix A
• Appendix B

Record of Inaugural Meeting of Caucus on International Women's Issues

Held at Ministry of Women's Affairs Thursday 28 October 2004 3pm

Present

Apologies

Welcome

Shenagh opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and inviting everyone to introduce themselves to the group.

She then asked if anyone wished to add any items to the agenda that had been circulated in advance. There were no items added to the agenda.

Role and function of the Caucus

Shenagh opened the discussion by noting that the idea for the Caucus had come from the Minister following a successful meeting to debrief the 7WAMM (Seventh Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting) earlier this year. She referred the meeting to the draft Working Protocol that had earlier been circulated. There was general discussion regarding the scope of the Caucus being defined by reference to the instruments and institutions of the United Nations, with the meeting agreeing that this was an important focus as it is the UN that provides opportunities for all women to work together to advance the interests and wellbeing of women in developing countries.

The meeting endorsed the draft Working Protocol for the Caucus.

Sharing of Information

The meeting agreed that such gatherings were a valuable opportunity to share information with each other about the work of their respective organisations. It was agreed that the Ministry would facilitate the sharing of organisational profiles and information about current work being undertaken. A white board session resulted in a brief outline of the current work of each agency. That summary is attached as Appendix A.

MWA Strategy for International Issues

Shenagh led a general discussion on the Ministry's Strategy for International Issues that had been circulated earlier. The meeting noted it was very useful to have the Ministry's strategy clearly set out and recorded in one place. In particular, it was noted that it was useful to have the Ministry's policy in relation to funding of NGO's clearly set out. It was noted that the Ministry would continue to fund NGO attendance at the CEDAW forum but would not fund domestic activity relating to the preparation of the independent report to CEDAW.

Work Programme for 2004/05

The meeting noted that all international issues relate to the well being and interests of women, and in particular that trade and other economic agreements including ILO conventions, could have significant impact on the lives of women. It was noted that the Ministry should liaise closely with Department of Labour and the Ministry of Economic Development to ensure it was fully informed about and involved with such issues. It was also noted that it was important to ensure that adequate gender analysis of such agreements was undertaken as part of the process of determining New Zealand's position on such agreements.

There was also general discussion around the Major Event and the need to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals did not diminish the significance of the Beijing Platform for Action. Rae Julian suggested that the Ministry should raise with MFAT the possibility of using the same process to engage with civil society prior to the Major Event that they had used prior to the Sustainable Development Summit in Johannesburg.

Gill Greer noted she was pleased to see that the Ministry would be attending the CSW meeting given the significance of the 10th anniversary of Beijing.

CEDAW process

Shenagh invited Carolyn to outline the Ministry's current thinking as to the process and timeline for developing the 6th report to CEDAW.

Carolyn noted that although the reporting period ended in February 2006 a considerable amount of work relating to the report would be undertaken in the next calendar year.

Carolyn outlined the proposed timeline of events and noted that it was proposed to approach it in a series of "chunks" of time:

There was general discussion about the process and timeframe, which was generally accepted. The meeting stressed it was important to ensure that final consultation with stakeholders as to the content of the report was not scheduled over December and January or in a way that provided very limited time for comment when stakeholders would be involved in preparation of their own report.

Appendix A

Current Work Programmes re International Issues

YWCA

• Focus on young women
• Currently preparing WEDO report
• Policy issues relating to
  • AIDS and reproductive health
  • Violence and young women
• Involved in developing leadership skills for young women
• National focus on empowering women and promoting social change

PPSEAWA (Pan Pacific & South-East Asia Women's Association)

• International group with offices in Geneva and New York
• Objectives focus on:
  • Empowering women
  • Education for all
  • Family
• Promote sustainable development - Partnership not Patronage
• Involved with CEDAW and Beijing PFA
• Interested in Millennium Development Goals

PACIFICA

• Established in 1975 to provide a network for Pacific women in New Zealand
• Have an intern programme for young women leaders
• 19 branches throughout New Zealand
• Members in the Island as well as New Zealand

Mäori Women's Welfare League

• Focus on ensuring a better quality of life for women
• Conduct parenting programmes
• Interested in promoting economic development
• Conduct leadership courses for young women
• Focus internationally on issues relevant to indigenous people

National Council of Women

• Focus on income disparity and prevention of violence
• International network has representation at UN
• International focus on:
  • Water
  • Girl child
  • Poverty
• Involved in developing NGO CEDAW report and focus on BPFA

Council of Trade Unions

• Primary focus is paid work, particularly equity issues
• International network of international union movement
• Regional network as well
• Focus on ILO agreements - unique tripartite agreement
• Also interested in Trade agreements and impact on workers

Council for International Development

• Umbrella body for 70 organisations working internationally
• Provides support and liaison for member groups
• Has an advocacy role in relation to:
  • Trade
  • Debt
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Refugees
• Conducting the .7 Campaign to promote increase in level of New Zealand aid - focus on MDG in this context
• Focus on human rights and rights of indigenous people
• Interest in international trade agreements and institutions
• International network - Commonwealth Foundation and Pacific partnerships

Family Planning

• Funded by independent international funding
• Focus on ICPD Programme of Action
• Rights based approach
• Links with BPFA goals
• Next year will focus on MDG
• Work with Parliamentarian network internationally to promote ICPD
• Parliamentarians are promoting a 9th MDC to focus on ICPD goal

Appendix B

Profiles

The Profile of the NZ Council for International Development

CID is the umbrella body for about 70 organisations that work internationally in some way. Our international activities with special relevance for women are either those carried out by specific member agencies especially UNIFEM, YWCA, Soroptimists, FPAID, and Pacific Women's Watch or those carried out collectively through advocacy both in New Zealand and overseas.

Within NZ, we advocate on issues of trade, debt, violent conflict, and refugees. We are currently carrying out a major campaign to persuade the government to increase the amount of Gross National Income given to ODA (Official Development Assistance) in order to assist developing countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). All of these issues affect women and two of the MDGs are specific to women. We also provide gender training for our members who do international development with partners in the field.

Internationally, CID links closely to the Pacific, especially at the regional level, and with our Australian counterpart agency. We participate in an international network of umbrella NGOs to monitor the OECD donor countries and produce a biennial report - The Reality of Aid. I am a member of the Commonwealth Foundation Civil Society Advisory Committee, and represent that group on the Board of Governors of the Foundation. We use all of these opportunities to promote issues pertaining to women and development among the other important issues in the development area.

Rae Julian
Executive Director
NZ Council for International Development
PO Box 12 470, Wellington
New Zealand

Ph: (64 -4) 472 6375
Fax: (64 4) 472 6374
Email: rae.julian@cid.org.nz

The YWCA of Aotearoa-New Zealand

The Young Women's Christian Association of Aotearoa - New Zealand (YWCA of Aotearoa - New Zealand) is one of the broad-based women's organisations in New Zealand. The YWCA is an international movement with more than 25 million members from over 100 countries. It is sustained by a diversity of beliefs, faiths and values and works towards social, political, economic and emotional well being of women.

We have a particular commitment to women's holistic growth and leadership and strong dedication to peace, freedom, justice and dignity for all people. The World YWCA and the YWCA of Aotearoa-New Zealand are involved in advocacy in international and national issues affecting young women, women and young people.

The YWCA is a leading voice for women in New Zealand providing advocacy as well as successful programmes that improve the lives of women. While we have embraced new ways of working and are tackling contemporary social issues, we continue to focus on empowering women and girls to lead social change. Each year we witness the positive impact of our focus on women's leadership. Women are leading long term sustainable change in their local communities, and developing effective responses to issues such as unemployment, disenfranchisement, mental health problems, and dis-connectedness.

This is what the YWCA is about. We help women and girls develop into leaders who work for change in their communities, often in difficult and challenging conditions.

Our development philosophy emphasises women centered, sustainable and participatory processes, and works to achieve justice, peace, health human dignity, freedom and care for the environment.

The YWCA has been part of every major change for women since the Dunedin YWCA was established in 1878 as the first YWCA of the Southern Hemisphere. Countless women leaders over the last century owe their leadership training to the YWCA of Aotearoa-New Zealand.

The National Office services the local associations with resources, information, training, organises national meetings, coordinates the national working parties and the National Executive and has a key advocate role for the rights of women and young women at a national level and international level.

What the YWCA does today

• Runs hostels
• Runs employment programmes
• Provides emergency shelter
• Provides clubs for women
• Provides nationally recognised exercise programmes helping inactive women to get active again.
• Provides career guidance
• Run successful mentoring schemes
• Computer access and training
• School holiday programmes
• After school care
• Camps for young women
• Supports emerging or struggling services by and for women
• Runs a wide range of young women's development programmes
• Works with young people in their communities when the need arises
• Provides life education in schools
• Runs literacy and numeracy programmes for young women
• Provides programmes for sole and young mothers
• Provides a national network for young women
• Produces innovative health resources
• Produces an annual Young women's Magazine
• Produces violence prevention resources and networks and provides resources for groups working in violence prevention.
• Organises training for women's organisations.
• Co-ordinates an informal network of major women's organisations
• Provides a voice for women through advocacy and lobbying
• Provides an environment for women to grow as agents for change and community leaders.

Our Vision

Our vision is of a fully inclusive world where divisions based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, culture and religion no longer exist and in which justice, peace health, human dignity and care for the environment are promoted and sustained

The YWCA of Aotearoa-New Zealand is committed to six core values for which we are accountable to young women, volunteers and the nine local associations their community and our key stake holders. These are the things we value and which guide our objectives and actions.

• Integrity and accountability
• Women's empowerment
• Community
• Relevance
• Wairua ( Spirituality)
• Fun

National Office

Quinovic House
4th Floor
32-34 Kent Terrace
PO Box 9315
Wellington.

Ph: 384 8117
F: 04 384 3301
E: info@ywca.org.nz
W: www.ywca.org.nz or www.ydub.org.nz.

Executive Director: Janine Ahie

Local Associations

FPA International Development (FPAID) was established in 1997 to further the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action.

FPAID works to reduce poverty through improving reproductive health, by:

• Raising awareness in New Zealand of international population and development issues
• Improving access to quality sexual and reproductive health information and services in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.

FPAID is a unit within the Family Planning Association of New Zealand (FPANZ), a leading national provider of sexual and reproductive health information and clinical services within New Zealand. With more than 65 years experience, FPA also delivers educational programmes throughout the country, operates 30 nationwide clinics and delivers professional training.

FPAID is core funded by the Hewlett and Packard foundations. FPAID also receives project-specific funds from the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) and other donors to work with partners in the region.

FPAID is involved in:

• Sexual and reproductive health projects with in-country partners, including appraisal, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, with experience in Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
• Raising public awareness and promoting public support through media, events, seminars and fundraising campaigns
• Providing secretariat support to the New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development (NZPPD)
• Advocacy campaigns, including participation at international conferences; briefings, and information sharing with policy and decision makers; seeking to assist in the raising awareness of government officials on issues including HIV/AIDS, population and the environment; and study tours for New Zealand parliamentarians, policy makers, educators and journalists.
• Education campaigns including the development of school resources; preparing and distributing information packs, newsletters and factsheets; and training workshops.

FPAID has five full and part-time staff: a manager, programme manager, programme coordinator, communications coordinator, and information research analyst.

The National Council of Women of New Zealand

The National Council of Women of New Zealand membership is made up of 42 Nationally Organised Societies and 33 Branches. Within the Branches another 150 organisations are represented. Individual membership has been introduced in recent years and the numbers are steadily growing.

We have ten Standing Committees: Education; Economics, Social Issues, Public Issues; Health, Family Affairs, Justice & Law Reform, Consumer Affairs, Employment and Environment. In addition we have a Parliamentary Watch Committee.

The Standing Committees respond to Parliamentary Bills and Discussion Documents from Government and some other bodies.

We recently held a Conveners Training Weekend where all the Conveners came to Wellington to learn and update their skills for their role within the organisation. We had experts from both inside and outside the organisation share their knowledge on a range of topics including presenting to a select committee, NCWNZ's role in the International Arena, and dealing with the media.

NCWNZ holds a National Conference every two years which is attended by the Presidents of the NOS', or their representatives, and the Presidents and delegates from the Branches. In the alternate year we hold a National Executive meeting which is only attended by the Presidents or their representatives of the NOS' and Branch Presidents.

At our National Conferences we confirm our Strategic Plan and advise the membership of the targeted focus topics for the next two years.

The targeted focus topics for the past two years have been:

• Social cohesion - family, youth, elderly, health, law and order, migrants/refugees, human rights
• 
  
• Sustainable development - environment, genetic engineering, climate change, energy

The National Executive meeting in 2003 concentrated on the Social Cohesion focus and we invited speakers to assist with the topics. Our keynote speaker, Manying Yip from the University of Auckland challenged us to 'break down walls, brick by brick and use those same bricks to build bridges'. This challenge formed the basis of our Rosebowl competition. To enter the competition Branches were asked to demonstrate how they had put this challenge to effect in their community.

At our recent National Conference we concentrated on the topic of Sustainable Development with the theme "Sustainable Development: My Impact is Important". Invited speakers covered topics as diverse as international trade, demographics and consumerism.

The targeted focus topics for the next biennium are:

• Disparity of Incomes
• Preventing Violence in the Community

NCWNZ, along with Maori Women's Welfare League and PACIFICA, work alongside the Ministry of Women's Affairs and have regular meetings with others in government as well as political representatives.

NCWNZ, in 2003, facilitated meetings throughout the country, with the Ministry, to gather views on what women wanted in an Action Plan. Branches are again hosting meetings so that the Ministry can report back on the Plan of Action for NZ Women and how the actions will be implemented. This was a follow-up from the consultation undertaken to produce the alternative report to the CEDAW monitoring committee which was presented to the UN in 2002(?).

The International Council of Women has a parallel organisation of Standing Committees in similar areas to those of NCWNZ to which we feed information, and permanent representatives to the UN. ICW has a meeting every three years which is attended by Presidents of national Councils and International Presidents of NOS'. The ICW targetted focus topics for the current triennium are poverty, the girl-child and water.