Beijing +20

BPW members have had their say responding to the Beijing+20 online survey, and BPW Australia received a number of contributions for inclusion in the BPWA organisational response to the Beijing+20 Review. The focus of our submission was “Women in Power and Decision-Making”, one of the 12 critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform for Action.

Oct14 8.2 BPW Australia Submission to review of Beijing+20

JERA International is currently coordinating the Australian Civil Society 20 year review of the Beijing Platform for Action. Information will be gathered from civil society groups and individuals throughout July through until September, 2014.The review of the BPFA takes place each 5 years and in 2015 we will be celebrating the 4th complete review of the BPFA and the 20th year of the existence of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

In Australia women’s groups and civil society have been very active in both the development of the BPFA and all of the 5 yearly reviews. For each of the 5 year reviews (B+5 in 2000; B+10 in 2005 and B+15 in 2010) Australian women have participated in local discussions to feed into the Australian Civil Society review. Why should Australian women be involved in the Beijing +20 review?

The Australian NGO Review will:
1. Inform the Australian Government of the priorities for Australian Women for the next 3 – 5 years
2. Measure the Australian Government’s implementation of the BPFA since the last review 5 years ago
3. Be shared with Australian Civil Society to help inform advocacy and positions
4. Be shared with regional NGO Civil Society groups to inform on the regional position of civil society at the High Level Government Forum in ESCAP in November, 2014
5. Be sent to UN Women in New York so they can use this in their development of a gender position for the Post 2015 Development Agenda
6. Be used to measure future commitments of the Australian Government.

Beijing +15

At its fifty-third session in  2009, the Commission on the Status of Women decided to review the  implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) and the outcomes of the  twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (2000), at its  fifty-fourth session in 2010, emphasizing the sharing of experiences and good  practices, with a view to overcoming remaining obstacles and new challenges,  including those related to the Millennium Development Goals (CSW resolution  53/1 – E/2009/27).

In its programme of work for the period 2010-2014, the  Commission decided that the review of implementation would also assess its  contribution towards the full realization of the Millennium Development  Goals (ECOSOC resolution 2009/15).

The Commission focused on two thematic issues as  outlined in its thematic programme of work for the period 2010 to 2014 (CSW resolution 53/1 – E/2009/27 and ECOSOC resolution 2009/15):

 
  • Review of the implementation of the Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, with an emphasis on the sharing of experiences and good practices with a view to overcoming remaining obstacles and new challenges; and
  • Review of its contribution to shaping a gender perspective towards the full realization of the Millennium Development Goals.


At its fifty-third session in 2009, the Commission  decided that the review would emphasize the sharing of experiences and good  practices, with a view to overcoming remaining obstacles and new challenges,  including those related to the Millennium Development Goals.

From 1-12 March 2010, the Commission on the Status of Women  undertook a fifteen-year review of the implementation of the Beijing  Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third  special session of the General Assembly.    Emphasis was placed on the sharing of experiences and good  practices, with a view to overcoming remaining obstacles and new challenges,  including those related to the Millennium Development Goals.  Member States, representatives of  non-governmental organizations and of UN entities participated in the  session.  A series of parallel events  provided additional opportunities for information exchange and  networking.

National and regional review processes fed into the global review  process.

The General Assembly  of the UN marked the 15th  anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action  in a commemorative meeting during CSW.

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