By Baroness Prosser - 10th January 2011
The establishment of UN Women is a historic opportunity that must not be lost through limited finance, says Baroness Prosser.
The establishment of UN Women the United Nations Agency, designed to bring together the UN's works on gender inequality, is a recognition by the global community that better coordination and improved status is required if genuine commitments are to be turned into real and practical improvements in women's lives.
Headed up by Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, and with double the funding of previous disparate bodies responsible for women's issues, this does, of course, represent a significant step in the right direction.
Lest anyone should think there is little need for such an agency or that concern by the UN for women's rights around the world is misplaced, then let me offer a few facts.
-Among women aged between 15 and 33 years acts of violence cause more deaths and disabilities than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or wars combined.
-In a 10-country study by the World Health Organisation between 15 and 71 per cent reported physical or sexual abuse by a husband or partner.
-Less than half of women in the developing world receive skilled health care when giving birth.
-Women account for almost two thirds of the 776 million illiterate adults in the world.
There is, of course, a backdrop of global commitment on which the UN can build and can use to drive the wider agenda forward.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) global targets for the reduction of extreme poverty in all its guises have important dimensions which impact on the lives of the world's women. These worthy targets, due to be achieved by 2015, can in the view of many experts best be achieved by directing resources at women themselves. Empowering women and girls is one of the most effective ways of accelerating poverty reduction.
"Educate a mother and you educate a family" is a saying which contains a great deal of truth. Indeed, the British Parliament's international development committee, commenting on the Department for International Development's 2008 report, said: "Progress on the MDGs will not be made unless tackling gender inequality is given the necessary political priority and leadership".
As stated above, the budget for UN Women has been significantly increased. However, this level of spend still only accounts for two per cent of the UN budget overall. Women of course are 50 per cent of the world's population.
Andrew Mitchell, secretary of state for international development, said on 28th June 2010: "This is a historic opportunity to create an efficient, powerful and well-resourced body that has the chance to make a positive impact on the lives of millions of women and girls across the world."
I entirely agree. But such a "historic opportunity" must not be lost through limited finance or lack of day-to-day practical commitment. This is an opportunity for the UK to lead the way.
Baroness Prosser is to ask the government 'In the light of the launch of UN Women on 1 January, what plans they have to provide a financial contribution to the new agency?'
Article Comments
While I agree with the statement, could consideration be given to the many men who suffer violence at the hands of women.
Before I retired I treated many men who thought it unmanly to say their injuries were caused by a woman. Also could the TV show in one of it's soaps a period where a woman's violence towards her husband or male partner is highlighted.
We must also not forget same sex relationships where tremendous violence can happen. I wish to add that I have had women in treatment who had been violent towards their husbands and were terrified that they would murder them. I just ask for equality here for all people.
Violence in all it's forms is abhorent, that is what we should be fighting against.
Gerald Phillips
10th Jan 2011 at 6:11 pm
Baroness Prosser is right that there is still a great need for co-ordinated international action on the issues affecting women in the developed and developing worlds.
For too long, the UN's fragmented system has failed women and UN Women presents a once in a generation opportunity to make a difference for women around the world.
VSO has recently launched a campaign to make sure the Government give their backing to UN Women. You can sign up, and get more information about the campaign, at www.thegodmothers.org.uk.
Martin McCluskey
10th Jan 2011 at 12:18 pm
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