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UPDATE May 2007
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UNANIMA Internation
Intercongregational Delegation to the Commission on |
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The delegation led by Lise Gagnon, s.n.j.m.(left) includes Lisette Bisson, SBC, Denise Lirette, fJ, and Claudette Bastien, s.n.j.m. They are shown here participating in the morning NGO briefing. Odette St-Pierre and Josée Lareau, staff members for the Sisters of the Holy Names in Longueuil, QC. Will join them later in the week. Does Participation by NGOs make a difference? Our members and others often raise this question and we would like to report that in the case of the latest session of the Commission on the Status of Women, it did make a difference. Several years ago the major theme of the session pertained to violence against women and the commission was unable to agree on conclusions. This year, on the contrary, when the theme was an end to elimination of discrimination and violence against girls, and because more than 200 girls were present along with a high level of participation by NGOs, not only were there agreed upon conclusions but the document will provide NGOs and others with important elements to strengthen their lobbying efforts both at the UN and in their home countries. See http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/51sess.htm#outcomes for the document itself. April Meetings Updates Meetings with the major financial and trade institutions and the United Nations took place in New York on 16 April, the day after the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. NGOs had an increased opportunity to dialogue with the governments and business on the themes of good governance at all levels, voice and participation of developing countries in the major financial institutions, using trade and investment for development, and the use of aid and innovative financing for development. In this last area, it was heartening to hear of the growing commitment of major airlines to add a small tax on airline tickets to assist with development. It was not so heartening to hear that any efforts at debt cancellation have been offset by reduced aid and less investment in developing countries. UI volunteer Jennifer Kuhlman followed this session. A briefing sheet on this event will be on our web site shortly: www.unanima-international.org A second important session, sponsored by the NGO Committee on Migration featured a panel discussion with representatives from the International Organization for Migration, the Migration Policy Institute and the Mission of Belgium to discuss the upcoming Global Forum. Governments have decided on two themes for this first ever forum: ways to strengthen the links between migration policies and development policies, and migration as a socioeconomic tool. Further they propose that human rights and gender equality should be part of the discussions. UI Administrative Assistant Diana Ramos followed this session. May CEDAW Session During the meeting of the Committee to Eliminate all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, (14 May- June1) UNANIMA International will sponsor an alternative report to the presentation by the government of Pakistan. It is hope that Sister Catherine Nagawab from Pakistan will be able to present the statement on this situation. Once we have the report it will be posted on our website. UN Forum on the Issues of the Indigenous Peoples: While UNANIMA International will not have a special delegation to the Permanent Forum’s 14-25 May, 2007 session on Territories, Lands and Natural Resources, UI Volunteer, Ana Maria Martinez de Luco will be participating in the session. See the website http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_sixth.html for further information on the discussions at the session. During the session, Maree Marsh, CSB, will visit UI and have an opportunity to see first hand the workings of the UN.
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