Indicators — where are we now and next steps

Written by Katrin Erlingsen, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) 

The SDSN has published a new report on indicators. They are suggesting 100 indicators to monitor the goals and targets as outlined in the OWG report. In addition they are suggesting complementary national indicators which countries can choose to include in their monitoring. “These would be applicable to some countries only, such as indicators for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs); would give countries greater scope in applying complex concepts, such as inequality, to their specific needs; and/or allow for greater  specificity on issues of national concern. The Complementary National Indicators represent a menu of options for countries to choose from, though the list we include is far from exhaustive.” (page 7). 

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The new development agenda: six priorities from Amina J Mohammed

What lessons can we learn from the MDGs? Ban Ki Moon’s special adviser on post-2015 development shares her to-do list

Amina J Mohammed has set out her priorities for the post-2015 development agenda in a recent article in the Guardian newspaper. She emphasizes: universality — the new goals must apply to all countries;  being ‘fit-for-purpose’ and for government, donors, civil society and the private sector to change to do things differently; redefining the private sector partnership; a realistic yet ambitious agenda (i) starting with an inspirational vision for the future, made plain in a declaration, (ii) a practical plan for that declaration laid out in an integrated set of goals, targets and indicators, (iii) adequate means to implement the plan and a renewed global partnership for development and (iv) ensuring promises made become actions delivered, a framework to be able to monitor and review implementation; and involving young people and other marginalised groups now. 

Editor’s comment: The assumption that might be made, is that Ms Mohammed’s priorities will be reflected in the UN Secretary General’s synthesis report which is due to be published in English on Thursday.

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ICW/WGNRR World AIDS Day Statement on the SRHR of Young Women Living with HIV

My Life, My Choice, My Sexual & Reproductive Rights!

December 1st 2014 

This World AIDS Day, the International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW)’s Chapter for Young Women, Adolescents, and Girls (CYWAG), and the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) are emphasizing the need to realize the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young women and girls living with HIV!

Gender inequality is still a major issue affecting many girls and young women around the world, playing a huge role in increasing their vulnerability to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The current context of HIV clearly illustrates the importance of acknowledging how the virus affects young women and girls, where:

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Mainstreaming Gender and Human Rights in Post-2015 Agenda are reaffirmed at the Beijing+20 review for Latin America and the Caribbean

The Latin America and Caribbean Special Session on the Beijing Platform for Action was held in Santiago, Chile, on 18-19 November 2014. The event was inaugurated by Chilean President and founding Executive Director of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet. ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena, Minister Alejandrina German, Chair of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean and Gülden Türköz-Cosslett, Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programmes at UN Women were in attendance. 

Delegates from 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean reaffirmed in an outcome statement their commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action and the removal of barriers to women's active participation in public and private life. They also called for a specific target on gender equality in the post-2015 development agenda, and for mainstreaming gender and human rights in all the objectives, targets and indicators.

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Preparatory forum for civil society engagement in post-2015 development agenda

The following has been received from Beyond-2015 on calls for applications for members of the Steering Committee for a preparatory forum to be held on 16 January 2015 and the first negotiating session on the post-2015 development agenda.

Information has been received from the UN that, in order to support civil society engagement in the forthcoming intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 agenda, a preparatory forum will be convened by DESA-DSD and UN-NGLS on Friday, 16 January 2015, in New York.

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Advocacy Workshop for Latin American and Caribbean Region Beijing+20 meeting

Women activists from Latin America and the Caribbean agreed on a regional advocacy strategy in order to ensure that the goals adopted almost 20 years ago at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing are incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals.Members from more than 60 organizations of the national and regional civil society, representing all the diversity of women, were trained in a workshop given by the Committee of NGOs from Latin America and the Caribbean (CoNGO LAC) on the Status of Women (CSW), with the support of the Committee of NGO CSW New York and the cooperation of the governments of Switzerland and Norway.

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Civil society expresses disappointment that Asia-Pacific governments are not fulfilling commitments on women’s rights in the region and are failing to realise the promise of Beijing Platform for Action

(As reported on the Isis International website)

Following the Asia-Pacific Beijing+20 Review Conference, civil society organisations from across the Asia Pacific region expressed their disappointment at the regressive outcome document agreed by States at the intergovernmental meeting to review the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA). 

“The Beijing Platform for Action is an unfinished agenda,” said Abia Akram, representing civil society organisations in the region, “We therefore regret the lack of progress on women’s rights and the rollbacks in commitments we have seen here in the last two days, despite the support of the majority of governments for an advancement in gender equality and the realisation of women’s rights.” 

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Asia-Pacific Beijing+20 Review Pledges Strengthened Partnerships, Accountability, Funding

Over 700 participants attended the Asia-Pacific Beijing+20 Review Conference, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, 17-20 November 2014. At the close of the Conference, Governments adopted the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. They pledged to strengthen institutions and partnerships, enhance accountability, support regional cooperation and increase resources to advance gender equality and women's empowerment across the Asia-Pacific region. 

The Queen Mother of Bhutan, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuk, in her keynote address, said that the “eradication of violence from the lives of women and girls, along with peace, democracy and sustainable development in the region, will become possible when women and girls are valued, when their ability to fully and freely exercise their human rights is wholly supported, when there is equality in the exercise of power and when decisions are made to fully resource comprehensive and evidenced-based interventions."

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Asia Pacific Civil Society Forum on Beijing+20, 14-16 November 2014

Over 400 feminist women activists, working on women’s rights, participated in the Beijing+20 CSO Forum, at the end of which an outcome document was adopted by consensus. It contained recommendations to be to be forwarded to the governments meeting at the Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Beijing+20 Review.

The CSO outcome document reiterated the need to address violence and discrimination against women, including migrant workers, sex workers, women with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, women living with disabilities, and women human rights defenders...

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Declaration of African ministers recommitting them to implementing Beijing Platform for Action

(based on Economic Commission for Africa report)

African ministers responsible for gender and women’s affairs, attending the 9th African Regional Conference on Women, as part of the 20 year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 19 November 2014 adopted a Declaration calling for their respective governments to achieve gender equality by 2030, as spelled out in the Agenda 2063. 

Despite progress in efforts for more gender equality, Ministers noted that daunting challenges to implementing BPfA remain, and that were compounded by emerging issues, such as climate change, terrorism, conflicts, global economic and financial crises and increasing inequality.

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