During this quadrennial, BPW International helped implement the Beijing Platform for Action and lobbied for CEDAW. Our permanent representatives worked with other NGOs during meeting preparation process, attended appropriate sessions and/or made statements as necessary on behalf of the organisation at the United Nations in New York, Vienna, Geneva, at all regional Commissions of ECOSOC, UNESCO, ILO, WHO, FAO, UNICEF, DPI, UNIDO, UNIFEM and at UNCTAD. BPW affiliates were involved in other UN-related activities such as inviting UN officials to participate in our international conferences. We also stepped up our involvement in the environment and commitment to implement newer UN resolutions such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Peace. Implementing UN policy regarding women Since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, BPW affiliates have been working with governments to address the Beijing Platform for Action. BPW International also passed resolutions at our International Congress at Vancouver in 1999 and Melbourne in 2002 regarding critical areas for action on Education, Health, Human Rights, Economic, Power and Decision Making, Environment, Armed Conflict, and Violence Against Women. In January 2000, our UN representatives in Europe chaired sessions during NGO Consultation and attended UN ECE regional preparatory meeting for the Beijing+5 Review held in Geneva. In June 2000, a large delegation from BPW International attended both in the official sessions and as speakers and leaders within the activities of the parallel NGO Forum at the special session of the General Assembly “Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-First Century: Implementation of Strategic Objectives” in New York. At this Beijing+5 Review, BPW International made a joint statement with Soroptimist International, the International Council of Women, the International Federation of University Women and with Zonta International. (This group is referred to as “Five-O”) BPW International also lobbied governments through its affiliates to become signatories to both CEDAW and the Optional Protocol. In year 2000 BPW co-organized a NGO conference on the Optional Protocol to CEDAW in Vienna. Our affiliates, such as BPW Sweden, also worked with other women NGOs in their own countries to prepare CEDAW shadow reports. We worked with other UN subsidiaries and associate bodies, attending sessions and reporting to its affiliates on the work of the Human Rights Commission, CEDAW. BPW is consistently involved in consultation activities during the two weeks of CEDAW held each year. |
