The following statement was delivered by Rineke van Dam of Rutgers WPF on the Declaration on Tuesday 21 July 2015
I’d like to highlight the consistent support from governments, UN agencies, and CSO colleagues from around the world, who agree that gender equality, women’s rights and human rights are essential to achieve sustainable development, and must cross-cut the post-2015 agenda. We wear purple today to highlight these concerns and invite you all to join our colour campaign the rest of the week.
The full range of issues vital to achieve gender equality should be reflected throughout the draft and especially in paragraph 19. This includes but is not limited to: women’s economic rights, women’s and girl’s participation at all levels, including peace building, and the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are inseparable from gender equality and elementary to the transformational aim of this agenda.
To reflect existing UN commitments and in line with a large number of member states’ comments yesterday and today, paragraph 15 should refer to the ICPD, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the outcomes of their review conferences and CEDAW.
We agree with member states that this draft has improved on human rights - for instance paragraph 18. However, we also agree with many that human rights references still need to be strengthened throughout the text, in specific by adding: non-discrimination in para 7, human rights of all women and girls in para 19 and realizing human rights for all in para 45. Listings should always be open, and include sexual orientation and gender identity. When ‘national policies’ or ‘culture’ are mentioned, the text needs to be balanced with ‘in conformity with international human rights’. Moreover, ‘cultural values in para 8 should be replaced by ‘cultural diversity’ as in para 31.
We support the very many member states yesterday and today calling for the deletion of para 38. If retained, it should refer to the diverse forms in which families exist, and the human rights of individuals within families – in line with existing agreed language.
Finally, we reiterate the call by the Netherlands and others for the rights of adolescents and youth, their empowerment and their meaningful participation to be better reflected. Girls and adolescents should be added to the listing of people in vulnerable situations; paragraph 23 should expand with education on human rights, gender equality and comprehensive sexuality education; and paragraph 46 should refer to meaningful youth participation – in line with Canada’s request today.
ENDORSEMENTS/COLLABORATION