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):
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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.