Global Women's Issues Women in the World Today, extended version Contents

Contents About the Extended Version Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Fourth Conference on Women Preface of State Rodham Clinton Overview Interview with Ambassador Chapter Women and Poverty Chapter Women and Education Chapter Women and Health Chapter Violence Against Women Chapter Women , Girls and Armed Conflict Chapter Women in the Economy Chapter Women in Power and Chapter Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women Chapter Human Rights of Women Chapter 10 Women and the Media Chapter 11 Women and the Environment Chapter 12 Rights of the Girl Child Conclusion Bibliography Additional Resources vi ix 20 39 59 78 96 112 128 143 157 171 188 204 205 212

About the Extended Version This extended version of Global Womens Issues Women in the World Today includes a chapter summary , key words , multiple choice questions , discussion questions , essay questions , and a list of additional resources for each chapter . This work was funded , in part , by an Ancillary Development Grant provided by the . Open Textbook Project . The . Open Textbook Project began in 2012 with the goal of making education in British Columbia more accessible by reducing student cost through the use of openly licensed textbooks . The . Open Textbook Project is administered by and funded by the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education and the Foundation . Open textbooks are open educational resources ( OER ) they are instructional resources created and shared in ways so that more people have access to them . This is a different model than traditionally copyrighted materials . OER are defined as teaching , learning , and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and by ( Foundation ) If you are an instructor who is using this book for a course , please fill out the Adoption of an Open Textbook form ,

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Fourth Conference on Women If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference , let it be that human rights are women rights and women rights are human rights once and for all . Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely and the right to be heard . Hillary Rodham Clinton World Conference on Women Beijing , China , September 1995 This book is based on the 12 critical areas of concern identified at the Beijing Conference ' 10 . 11 . 12 . The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women . Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to education and training . Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to health care and related services . Violence against women . The effects of armed or other kinds of conflict on women , including those living under foreign occupation . Inequality in economic structures and policies , in all forms of productive activities and in access to resources . Inequality between men and women in the sharing of power and at all levels . Insufficient mechanisms at all levels to promote the advancement of women . Lack of respect for and inadequate promotion and protection of the human rights of women . Stereotyping of women and inequality in women access to and participation in all communication systems , especially in the media . Gender inequalities in the management of natural resources and in the safeguarding of the environment . Persistent discrimination against and violation of the rights of the girl child Source Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action , Fourth Conference on Women , 15 September ,

viii Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State 1995 .

Preface Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton In September 1995 , I joined representatives from 189 countries for the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing . That event still stands out as one of the great honors and highlights of my life . That 1995 historic gathering brought together people of all backgrounds and beliefs to voice our support for women rights and put women issues at the forefront of the global agenda . Together , we outlined a Plan of Action to improve the condition of women and girls worldwide . In the years since Beijing , advocates , activists and governments around the world have used that plan to advance opportunity and progress for women . The good news is that we have accomplished a great deal . More girls are enrolled in school , more women hold political office , and more laws exist to protect vulnerable populations . Unfortunately , we have a long way yet to go . Sometimes by custom , sometimes by law , millions of women worldwide are still denied their rights . They are excluded from public life in their societies , subjected to violence or barred from getting an education , taking a job or driving a car . This is morally wrong . It offends our basic sense of justice and fairness . But it is unacceptable for another reason too because it keeps countries from making real progress in creating jobs , sparking economic growth and giving all their people an opportunity to create a better future . No country can advance when half its population is left behind . But when women are empowered to exercise their human rights and afforded equal opportunities , amazing things happen . The benefits don stop with an individual woman . They spread to entire communities and countries . Simply helping girls stay in school longer , for example , has a powerful effect . Birth rates drop . So does the number of young children who die . HIV infections , domestic violence and female cutting all decline . And , in nations divided by violent , the chances for lasting peace go up when women are part of the solution . Women play important roles as peacekeepers , as they did in Northern Ireland and . In short , women around the world sustain families , build communities and knit the social fabric together . ix

Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State Figure . Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton meets Burmese leader San in , Burma , in 2011 . awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ( 1991 ) spent nearly 20 years under house arrest . Released in 2010 , she has engaged with the ruling military junta on reforms . She and members of her National League for Democracy won parliamentary seats in 2012 . At the State Department , we believe elevating the status of women and girls in their societies is not only the right thing to do , it is also the smart thing to do . Women and girls are often a community greatest untapped resource , which makes investing in them a powerful and effective way to promote international development and our diplomatic agenda . We re working to address the issues that impede women progress and putting critical tools into women hands . For example , a cellphone can transform a woman life by giving her a way to safely

Women in the World Today , extended version xi deposit her savings or receive payments through mobile banking , or by helping her connect to markets outside her village . Yet many women lack access to cellphones and the benefits they offer , so we launched the partnership to reduce the gender gap in mobile technology . And the Global Alliance for Clean is providing a standard for safe , efficient , stoves to women . Clean will improve the health of women and their families , the quality of the air they breathe , as well as their economic conditions . Every time I travel , I meet extraordinary women who are driving change in their communities , often in the face of overwhelming obstacles . Women like in Pakistan , who only needed a 10 loan to start a business that today employs 30 women in her community . Or women like Sina Vann , a Cambodian who escaped sex slavery to become a freedom fighter for thousands of girls some as young as four who are held and sold against their will . I visited the rescue center that Sina runs in 2010 , and I was deeply touched by the courage and resilience I saw in those little girls . This book tells and Sina stories , and those of other women leaders , innovators , entrepreneurs , educators and politicians leading change in their communities . Women in the World Today shows how far we have come since 1995 . Each chapter reflects one of the 12 points in the action plan we developed in Beijing . It also explores what we need to do now , so that all countries can fully benefit from the wisdom , compassion and energy women bring to every aspect of society . I hope the stories you read here inspire you to take action in your community and help move us closer to that goal . It could be as simple as sharing stories of the women in this book and in your own life with others . You could volunteer with a women organization in your hometown or start your own project . Above all , you can make sure the girls in your life grow up feeling safe , valued and powerful . In Beijing , we envisioned a world where women and men have equal access to opportunities a world where women voices would be recognized and respected . We are still pursuing that vision , with more energy and enthusiasm than ever . Together , we can realize a future where women rights are unquestionably , unshakably and permanently recognized as full and equal human rights . Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was sworn in as the secretary of state of the United States on January 21 , 2009 . Secretary Clinton joined the State Department after nearly four decades in public service as an advocate , attorney , first lady and senator .

Overview Interview with Ambassador Solutions to Global Challenges Require Women Participation Interview with Ambassador Figure is the first for the State Departments Office of Global Women Issues .

Women in the World Today , extended version xiii In April 2009 , was appointed for global women issues by President Obama to promote women empowerment in foreign policy . She shares her passion for achieving the political , economic and social empowerment of women in this interview . You are the first for global women issues . Why are these issues so important to address now ?

Ambassador There is recognition today that we can not possibly solve our global challenges , whether they concern the environment , governance , economic policy or security , unless women are full participants . We have to move women issues from the margins to the mainstream and recognize that the issues are not only about women roles , but are about the kind of world we want to create . To the extent that women participate , succeed and help make a difference , everyone benefits men and women , boys and girls . Why is women participation so vital to the of all societies ?

There is a mountain of data that correlates investments in women to poverty reduction even to decreases in corruption which I think we need to take very seriously . Similarly , there are studies on the consequences of gender inequality . For example , the World Economic Forum puts out an annual report called the Gender Gap Report . It measures the progress of men and women in terms of economic participation and opportunity , educational attainment , political participation , health and survival . Where men and women are closer to equal achievement in all of those areas , those countries are far better off . Where that gap is wider , it a different story . This has been repeated in study after study . We have to pay attention to the hard data , and what the data tell us is this is the smart thing to do , to invest in women and provide them with opportunities to fully participate in their societies . In 1995 the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing . What did it accomplish , and is it still relevant ?

It brought together 189 countries to really look at the progress of women and specifically to adopt a Platform for Action . That Platform for Action focused on a number of critical areas , including women access to education , health care , economic and political participation women ability to be free from violence to have legal rights the girl child the role of women in conflict societies and the role of women in peace and security . It was a major , ambitious blueprint that the United States and 188 other countries signed on to , making commitments to go back to our own countries to chart progress for women and girls . That was significant then , and it continues to be extremely significant today . Fifteen years later , the Platform for Action is still the blueprint against which many of our countries , and others measure the advancement of women . There has been a lot of progress , but there still are challenges . Laws have been passed . They haven always been implemented , but much has changed for the better . Where has the most progress been made , and where does the world still have work to do ?

Girls education is in a much better place than it was when the Beijing Platform was adopted , but we are not where we need to be . While more and more girls are in primary school , we don have anywhere near the numbers with access to secondary education . Investing in a girl determines what her future will be like and her potential family future her economic possibilities , her health and her children education . More women are being elected to parliaments , but the numbers are still below what they should be , given that women make up half the population of the world and it is important to have their experiences and talents involved in . Economically , women are participating in more significant ways . for example , has had a transformative impact , lifting up the poorest of the poor and creating livelihoods so people can sustain themselves and their families . Laws have been passed dealing with violence against women , family law reform and other intractable issues . Now such laws must be better implemented and enforced . There is

xiv Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State a definite record of progress . Governments , civil society and those who have charted this path toward a better future can take justifiable pride in that , but we have to keep at it to reach our goals . What are the most important emerging global women issues ?

We still have an agenda to complete . We have to be more creative . One of the challenges is to bring new tools to the table , tools that do a better job enhancing economic progress . is one of the great financial tools , but we need broader financial inclusion savings and other ways that poor people can be insured against cataclysms of one kind or another . Financial tools can bring creative solutions , as can technology . I personally think that mobile technology has the potential to be as transformative as has been . Cellphones are more accessible to the poor . Cellphone applications are being developed to help improve health care . The cellphone is being used for banking , teaching literacy , safeguarding women from violence and creating economic opportunities . with Chairman and Officer Indra . There was and is an environmental component of the Beijing Agenda , but climate change itself was not specified . It is something that we have come to understand better in the time that elapsed since 1995 . Here again we see the role that women have to play , particularly in regions most severely affected by climate change and vulnerable to natural disasters such as drought or floods . We need to engage women as agents for adaptation and mitigation . One important example concerns . The black carbon emitted from dirty on which millions of poor people cook is detrimental to the health of millions of people . The Global Alliance for Clean is creating a market for , to help reduce the damaging health and environmental impacts of black carbon . It an economic empowerment issue because selling and maintaining is a new green industry , especially for women . Cooking is not the major contributor to climate change , but can address one aspect of it . What role must men play in ensuring women empowerment and advancement around the world ?

Women in the World Today , extended version Men have a central , critical , important role to play . Women progress has never come through women efforts alone . We can not possibly solve some of the most serious challenges that women confront the inequality of women around the globe , the scourge of violence against them unless men are involved in solutions . The way boys are raised , the image of what a man should be and how that presented , are opportunities to develop good habits in the next generation . We know the critical role that religious leaders who are mostly men can play . We need political will and enlightened male leaders at the highest levels of government , multilateral institutions and companies to become full participants in the advancement of women empowerment . The United States does not have a perfect record on women issues . Our Congress has a lower percentage of female elected officials than some foreign parliaments and has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women ( Domestic violence and human trafficking are issues in the United States . Is the United States in a position to lead the world on women empowerment ?

We have a lot of work to do at home , as every other country does . In no country in the world are men and women equal . But I think the fact that we address many of our problems or are working at addressing them does certainly resonate internationally . We ve created legislation to combat violence against women , which was first adopted in the . Our trafficking law wasn passed until 2000 , but we worked at it and it is a model for the world . It may help other countries to see the path we took to address the challenges , how we created , and why we set prevention , prosecution and protection as in the violence against women law and in the trafficking law ( Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 ) I often talk about the women who , in 1848 , traveled to that first equal rights convention in Seneca Falls , New York . And I often think of the diary of a young girl who looked back on the course that she chose to take , which was to get in a stagecoach , leave her home and to make that trip . She did it because in the United States at the time , women could not vote . She could not keep her meager earnings if she had meager earnings . She could not access formal education she could not get a divorce if she found herself in a terrible marriage . She knew life needed to be better and she went off on that journey to the equal rights convention not knowing , as she said , if anybody else would be on that road . Well , we know what progress our country has made . We are still on that road . Women everywhere are on that journey and we need each other . And just as importantly we need good men to join us as they , too , traveled to the Equal Rights Convention . We may be in different places on the journey . The United States has come a long way from 1848 , when that young woman decided to make the trip to Seneca Falls , but we still have a ways to go . All over the world , women who face difficult situations need to chart progress . So we re not perfect , but we work at these issues and in many ways we have succeeded and can help others address similar challenges .