NGO "ANOTHER WAY" (STICHTING BAKENS VERZET), NETHERLANDS, SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATED SELF-FINANCING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIES

The Millennium Project, commissioned by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has produced a report called A practical plan to achieve the Millennium Development Goals – 2002-2006. With effect from 1 January 2007 reporting on the Millennium Development Goals was taken over by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which brings out annual reports on progress made in achieving the Development Goals. The report referred to in this section is the Millennium Development Goals Report 2008. The most recent report published is The Millennium Development Goals Report 2010. Analysis of these documents is included in parts Goals 1-4 and Goals 5-8 in Section 8 of Block 5.

Surprisingly there is no separate section in the Plan of Implementation of the Millennium Goals which covers Millennium Goal 3 on gender equality and the empowerment of women. The term “empowerment of women” does not appear anywhere in the plan. The term “equality” shows up 13 times :

In par. 4 , in the introduction , in general terms.

In par. 7d) and 7g) on education. See block 2, section 1 Achieve universal primary education.

In par. 11 c) “Increase decent employment, credit and income for the urban poor, through appropriate national policies, promoting equal opportunities for women and men;” See block 2, section 1 08. Develop a global partnership of development where there is a reference to “decent” occupations for young people.

In par. 47, where there is a general reference to inequality in society.

In par 54 g) and i) on access to health. See block 2 section 1 05. Improve maternal health.

In par. 54 l) generic reference linked to technology transfer.

In par. 62 a) general reference to Africa.

In par. 62 e) on education. See block 2, section 1 Achieve universal primary education.

In par. 120 on education. See block 2, section 1 Achieve universal primary education.

In par. 138, generic reference to good governance.

In par. 164 relating to citizens’ participation.

Indicators 09 and 10 (see slide on the Promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women) were discussed in general terms in bloc 2, section 1 Achieve universal primary education.

Indicators 11 and 12 (see slide Promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women) are :

11. Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (ILO) and

12. Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (IPU).

They are only covered indirectly in paragraphs 138 and 164 of the Plan of Implementation of the Millennium Goals.

Paragraph 138 reads:

“138. Good governance is essential for sustainable development. Sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication, and employment creation. Freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, and the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies, and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing.”

Paragraph 164 states :

“164. All countries should also promote public participation, including through measures that provide access to information regarding legislation, regulations, activities, policies and programmes. They should also foster full public participation in sustainable development policy formulation and implementation. Women should be able to participate fully and equally in policy formulation and decision-making.”

The Report on Human Development for 2007/2008 by the UNDP provides the following tables;:

31 Gender inequality in economic activity.

32 Gender, work and time allocation (for industrialised and a few other countries).

33 Women’s political participation with details of seats occupied by women.

1. Research.

On one page, make a list of at least six of the most important international conventions on women’s rights. Next to each one write the articles and paragraphs which deal specifically with women’s rights and describe the rights in question.

Millennium Goal 03 is designed to “Promote gender equality and empower women”.

2. Opinion.

Write two pages. On one page you are promoter and one of the well-paid authors of the Millennium Goals. Explain why the indicators for Millennium Goal 3 are sufficient to help achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women. On the second page, you are a women living in a rural area in a poor country. You do not think the indicators are adequate for the promotion of your rights. Explain your point of view.

Page 65 of the report Making the MDGs Work for All lists problems which are not mentioned amongst the Millennium goals, targets and indicators which refer to women’s rights:

Goal 2 : improving chances for post-primary education for girls.

Goals 3, 4, and 6 : guaranteeing sexual and reproductive health to women and girls and the rights associated with them..

Goals 1 and 2 : making investments in infrastructure to reduce time spent by women and girls on unpaid household work and care.

Goals 1 ,2 and 3 : guaranteeing the rights of women and girls to property and inheritance.

Goal 1 : eliminating employment inequality through reduction of the dependence of women on informal work, the salary differences between men and women, and employment segregation ( the concentration of men and women in different occupations and industries, above all the concentration of women in poorly paid occupations and industries.)

Goal 3 : increasing the proportion of seats occupied by women in the organs of local government.

Goal 3 : eliminating violence against women and girls.

3. Opinion.

Given the content of the conventions on the rights of women and girls ,make a two-page summary of how you think the Millennium goals and the Implementation Plan cover women’s rights.

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◄ Second block : Problems to be solved.

◄ Index : Diploma in Integrated Development (Dip. Int. Dev)

◄ List of key words.

◄ List of references.

◄ Course chart.

◄ Technical aspects.

◄ Courses available.

◄ Homepage Bakens Verzet.

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