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Finding gender in the MDGs/Retrouver le genre dans les objectifs de Develppement du Millenaire (ODM).


10 September 2005

As the world's attention shifts to the Millennium Review Summit taking place in New York New York, state, United States
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of
 from 12-14 September, Southern African gender activists are asking a critical question: Where is gender in the MDGs?

The inter-connected world we live in demands a standard set of measures to keep us focused on the common goal of humanity.

In his report, In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1 1997 to January 1 2007, serving two five-year terms. He was the co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.  argues that the "world must advance the causes of security, development and human rights together, otherwise none will succeed. Humanity will not enjoy security without development; it will not enjoy development without security; and it will not enjoy either without respect for human rights."

Gender equality is intrinsic to all these lofty ideals. Unless women are able to exercise their human rights freely in societies in which they are equal, true development will not take place.

As a response to the immediate crises facing the globe, the MDGs focus on the immediate; the practical and the tangible. Many of these targets (health, education) etc ring of the earlier days of the Women in Development (WID WID Width
WID Widow(er)
WID Women In Development
WID World Institute on Disability
WID What It Do?
WID Writing in the Disciplines (academia)
WID When It's Done
) as opposed to Gender and Development (GAD Gad, in the Bible, son of Jacob and Zilpah and eponymous founder of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Its allotment was half of Gilead; this was the land best suited to the pastoral life, which Gad, like Reuben, continued after the years in Egypt. ) discourse.

Thus the only target under promoting gender equality and empowering women is eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005 and in all levels of education no later than 2015.

This is a laudable goal, but hardly one that on its own will ensure "gender equality and the empowerment of women"! For a start, reducing gender disparities in primary and secondary education is no longer such a major issue; in many countries this has been achieved or is close to being achieved. In Southern Africa
This article concerns the region in Africa. For the present-day country in this region, see South Africa; for the former country, see South African Republic.
Southern Africa
 anyway, the issues are far more around girls poorer performance at secondary level as a result of teenage pregnancies; dual roles at home and at school; as well as glaring disparities at vocational and tertiary level.

Second, while education is a key factor in the empowerment of women, it is not the only factor. For example, there is no correlation between levels of education of women and their representation in decisionmaking. In Southern Africa, Mozambique--with the lowest levels of education--has among the highest percentage of women in decision-making while Mauritius, with the highest levels of education, has among the lowest levels of women in decision-making.

The difference between the two countries is that while one has a progressive constitution and history of struggle, the other is steeped in conservative religious and traditional practices. It is not possible to talk of gender equality anywhere without examining these deeply embedded, structural causes of inequality.

The other pitfall pit·fall  
n.
1. An unapparent source of trouble or danger; a hidden hazard: "potential pitfalls stemming from their optimistic inflation assumptions" New York Times.
 of the MDGs is the classic catch 22 of whether to make gender equality a stand alone goal, or to mainstream it in all the goals, or to do both. World leaders For a list of heads of state, see .
World leaders is a MMORPG. The game involves creating a state, joining an alliance and going into war. It is mostly played by players from Israel, China, USA, Britain, Brazil and Saudi-Arabia.
 opted for a bit of both, but with many gaps in the mainstreaming effort.

Other than goal eight (women's empowerment and gender equality) the only gender-specific indicators relate to maternal mortality. Gender dimensions of the other goals are not mentioned, and therefore not likely to be measured. For example, there is no requirement that there be gender balance in the halving of the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 per day; or in ensuring equal access to secure tenure for the 100 million slum dwellers to be assisted.

The narrow, time-bound goals are matched with 18 targets and 48 indicators and are located within a framework that does not recognise women's rights The effort to secure equal rights for women and to remove gender discrimination from laws, institutions, and behavioral patterns.

The women's rights movement began in the nineteenth century with the demand by some women reformers for the right to vote, known as suffrage, and
 as a development goal. The MDGs are not informed by a rights-based approach to development and as such, there are concerns that women's strategic gender concerns are begin sacrificed.

A glaring shortcoming short·com·ing  
n.
A deficiency; a flaw.


shortcoming
Noun

a fault or weakness

Noun 1.
 for example is the absence of specific targets and indicators on gender violence--which has reached epidemic proportions in Southern Africa and which is fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome . Another example, is the lack of discussion on the need to guarantee women' sexual and reproductive health Within the framework of WHO's definition of health[1] as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene  and rights in the context of reducing maternal mortality.

In an interview, weeks before the Millennium Summit The Millennium Summit was a meeting among many world leaders lasting three days from 6 September[1] to 8 September 2000[2] at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.  with Inter Press Service Inter Press Service (abbreviated: IPS) is a global news agency. Its main focus is the production of independent news and analysis about events and processes affecting economic, social and political development. , Salma Khan, a member of the UN CEDAW CEDAW Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (United Nations)
CEDAW Component Explosives Damage Assessment Workbook (reference for blast effects software modeling) 
 Committee stressed the need for incorporating a broader range of gender-sensitive targets and strategies, and for making gender-equality a cross cutting issue across the goals. Her view is echoed by many women's activists who argue that the women's agenda is being buried in the MDGs.

Gender concerns in Southern Africa and throughout the developing world go far beyond health and education. Many educated women lack access to employment, political participation and experience gender violence. How is it possible to adequately address maternal mortality without looking at the impediments to the realisation of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights? What are the structural and cultural barriers to women's equal and effective participation in public life? How are women being pushed deeper into poverty by trade liberalisation n. 1. Same as liberalization.

Noun 1. liberalisation - the act of making less strict
liberalization, relaxation

alleviation, easement, easing, relief - the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance); "he asked the nurse
 and global economic policies?

Unless gender is centrally located across all of the MDGs they will have no meaning for women. Similarly, unless the MDGs and all regional and international commitments are given meaning and made binding in regional, sub-regional and national contexts, they will just add to the growing pile of words that have little meaning where it matters most: on the ground.

Colleen Lowe Morna is the Executive Director of Gender Links. Janine Moolman edits the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service. This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service that provides fresh views on everyday news.

http://www.genderlinks.org.za/article.php?a_id =354

Au moment ou l'attention mondiale passe pas·sé  
adj.
1. No longer current or in fashion; out-of-date.

2. Past the prime; faded or aged.



[French, past participle of passer, to pass, from Old French; see
 du Sommet de Revue du Millenaire qui a eu lieu a New York du 12 au 14 septembre, les activistes du genre de l'Afrique Australe posent une question critique :Ou se situe le genre dans les ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) A contract manufacturer that uses its own designs and intellectual property (IP). See contract manufacturer. ?

Le monde n. 1. The world; a globe as an ensign of royalty.
Le beau monde
fashionable society. See Beau monde.
Demi monde
See Demimonde.
 interconnecte dans lequel nous vivons exige une serie standard de mesures devant nous permettre de rester focalises sur le but commun de l'humanite.

Dans son rapport, Dans une plus grande liberte : vers vers
abbr.
versed sine
 le developpement, la securite et les droits humains pour tous, le Secretaire General de l'ONU, Koffi Annan soutient que "le monde doit promouvoir simultanement les causes de securite, de developpement et de droits humains, faute de quoi aucune d'entre elles ne va reussir. L'humanite ne pourra jouir du developpement sans securite; et il ne pourra jouir ni de l'un ni de l'autre sans le respect des droits humains."

L'egalite des genres est intrinseque a tous ces grands ideaux. A moins que les femmes ne soient capables d'exercer leurs droits humains librement dans des societes ou elles sont egales, le developpement veritable n'aura pas lieu.

Pour repondre aux crises immediates auxquelles le globe est confronte, les ODM mettent l'accent sur l'immediat; le cote pratique pra·tique  
n.
Clearance granted to a ship to proceed into port after compliance with health regulations or quarantine.



[French, from Old French practique, from Medieval Latin
 et le cote tangible. Beaucoup beau·coup   also boo·coo or boo·koo Chiefly Southern U.S.
adj.
Many; much: beaucoup money.

n. pl.
 de ces cibles (sante, education) etc. rappellent les anciens temps de (WID) par opposition au discours Genre et Developpement (GAD).

Ainsi la seule cible sous la promotion de l'egalite des genres et l'habilitation des femmes est l'elimination de la disparite des genres dans l'enseignement primaire et secondaire d'ici 2005 de preference et a tous les niveaux de l'enseignement pas plus tard qu'en 2015.

Ceci est un but louable mais c'est a peine un seul qui, a lui seul, assurera "l'egalite des genres et l'habilitation des femmes"! Pour commencer, la reduction des disparites entre les genres dans l'enseignement primaire et secondaire n'est plus une question majeure; dans beaucoup de pays. Ceci a ete realise ou c'est pres d'etre realise. En plus autour de la performance des filles qui est plus pauvre au niveau du secondaire comme resultat des grossesses en cours d'adolescence; les doubles roles joues a la maison et a l'ecole; de meme que les disparites remarquables au niveau professionnel et tertiaire.

Deuxiement, alors que l'education est un facteur cle dans l'habilitation des femmes, ce n'est pas le seul facteur. Par exemple, il n'y a pas de correlation entre les niveaux d'education des femmes et leur representation aux instances de prise de decisions, au moment ou |i|e Maurice, avec les niveaux les plus eleves d'education, a parmi les pourcentages les plus bas des niveaux de femmes aux instances de prise de decisions.

La difference entre les deux pays est qu'au moment ou l'un a une constitution progressiste et une histoire de lutte, l'autre est enfonce dans des pratiques religieuses et traditionnelles conservatrices. Il n'est pas possible de parler de l'egalite des genres ou que ce soit sans examiner ces causes structurelles de l'inegalite profondement cachees.

L'autre point faible des ODM est le cercle Le Cercle is a foreign policy think-tank specialising in international security. Set up after World War II, the group has members from twenty-five countries and meets at least bi-annually, in Washington, D.C. The group includes many senior intelligence experts.  vicieux classique de savoir s'il faut ou non faire de l'egalite des genres un objectif a part, ou bien de l'integrer dans tous les objectifs, ou de faire les deux a la fois. Les dirigeants du monde ont opte quelque peu pour les deux, mais en laissant beaucoup de trous dans l'effort d'integration.

A part le but numero huit (habilitation habilitation,
n See rehabilitation.
 des femmes et egalite des genres) les seuls indicateurs specifiquement lies au genre portent sur la mortalite maternelle. Les dimensions genre des centres buts ne sont pas mentionnees, et ainsi ne sont pas a meme d'etre mesures. Par exemple, il n'y a pas d'exigence qu'il y ait equilibre entre les genres dans la division 50/50 de la proportion des gens gens (jĕnz), ancient Roman kinship group. It was the counterpart of what is known in other societies as a patrilineal clan or sib, and the word has been used in social science as a generic term for such groupings.  dont le revenu est moins de $ 1 par jour ; ou en ce qui est d'assurer l'acces egal a l'emploi securise pour les 100 millions d'habitants des bidonvilles qui doivent etre assistes.

Aux buts etroits, limites lim·i·tes  
n.
Plural of limes.
 dans le temps, correspondent 18 cibles et 48 indicateurs et sont situes dans un cadre qui ne reconnait pas les droits des femmes comme un objectif de developpement. Les ODM ne sont pas inspires par une approche de developpement basee sur les droits et, de la sorte, il y a des inquietudes que les preoccupations strategiques des femmes dans le domaine du genre sont en train d'etre sacrifiees.

Un manquement remarquable est par exemple l'absence de cibles et d'indicateurs specifiques sur la violence basee sur le genre--qui a atteint des proportions catastrophiques en Afrique australe et qui porte de l'eau au moulin moulin (mlăN`): see pothole.  la propagation du VIH/SIDA. Un autre exemple est le manque man·qué  
adj.
Unfulfilled or frustrated in the realization of one's ambitions or capabilities: an artist manqué; a writer manqué.
 de debat sur la necessite de garantir la sante et les droits sexuels et reprodudifs des femmes dans le cadre de la reduction de la mortalite maternelle.

Lors d'une interview, quelques semaines avant le sommet du Millenaire, avec Inter Press Service, Salma Khan, membre du Comite de UN CEDAW, a souligne la necessite d'incorporer un ensemble plus large d'objectifs et strategies qui tiennent compte du genre, et de faire de l'egalite des genres une question multisectorielle qui se recoupent avec les differents objectifs. Son point de vue est repris par beaucoup de defenseurs de la femme qui soutiennent que le programme des femmes est en train d'etre enterre dans les ODM.

Les preoccupations dans le cadre du genre en Afrique Australe et a travers le monde en developpement depassent de loin loin (loin) the part of the back between the thorax and pelvis.

loin
n.
The part of the body on either side of the spinal column between the ribs and the pelvis.
 la sante et l'education. Beaucoup de femmes eduquees manquent l'acces a l'emploi, la participation politique et elles font face a la violence basee sur le genre. Comment peut-on, de maniere adequate, s'attaquer au probleme de mortalite maternelle sans considerer les obstacles a concretisation de la sante et des droits sexuels et reproductifs de la femme?

A moins que le genre ne soit place au centre de tous les ODM, ces derniers n'auront aucune signification SIGNIFICATION, French law. The notice given of a decree, sentence or other judicial act.  pour les femmes. De la meme maniere, a moins que les ODM et tous les engagements regionaux et internationaux ne soient significatifs et ne revetent un effet contraignant dans les contextes regionaux, sous-regionaux, et nationaux, ils ne feront que s'ajouter a la pile croissante de mots ayant peu de sens au niveau qui compte le plus : le terrain.

Colleen Lowe Morna est Directrice Executive de Gender Links. Janine Moolman s'occupe de l'edition au niveau du Service Opinion et commentaires de Gender Links. Cet article fait partie du Service Opinion et Commentaires de Gender Links, service qui fournit de nouveaux points de vue sur les nouvelles de tous les jours.

http://www.genderlinks.org.za/article.php?a_id=354
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Author:Lowe-Morna, Colleen
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Date:Jul 1, 2005
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