| [
Introduction | Agenda
| Timetable
| Documents
]
Introduction
At
the fifty-fourth session of ESCAP in 1998, the Commission
decided to convene a High Level Intergovernmental
Meeting in 1999 to review the implementation of the
Jakarta Declaration and Plan of Action and the regional
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action
of the Fourth World Conference on Women. The High
Level Meeting which would be held from 26-29 October
1999 in Bangkok would also contribute in national
capacity building to overcome the constraints and
obstacles faced by the countries of the region, contribute
towards developing a common vision for the future
and constitute the regional input to the special session
of the General Assembly in 2000 to review implementation
of the Beijing Platform for Action. Under economic
empowerment, issues such as the impact of globalization
on women, the Asian economic crisis and its impact
on women, poverty, women's economic participation,
unpaid work , and the situation of rural women should
be analyzed. Under political empowerment, issues/concerns
relating to the decision-making process particularly
women's participation in politics, government and
local governance should be high-lighted. Issues related
to sociocultural and institutional barriers which
hamper women's political empowerment should also be
highlighted. Under rights-based approach to empowerment,
issues and concerns related to women's rights as human
right should be covered. These should also include
violence against women, trafficking of women and children,
and legal literacy including promotion of CEDAW. Under
strategies for empowerment, emphasis should be given
on creating an enabling environment covering (a) monitoring
and evaluation of the Beijing Platform for Action
and linkages with accountability and governance; (b)
building partnerships, and (c) capacity building and
gender-mainstreaming.
Agenda
and indicative schematic timetable
Participants are expected from:
NGO
participation
With
regard to NGO participation, the March 1999 decision
of the Commission on the Status of Women would be
followed i.e. NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC
as well as NGOs that were accredited to the Fourth
World Conference on Women may participate. Governments
will be urged to include NGOs as members of their
official delegation. |
