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EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Commission on the Status of Women: Follow-up to Fourth World Conference on Women and to 23rd UNGA special session entitled "Women 2000"

Statement on behalf of the European Union, by Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of the Federal Republic of Germany, under Agenda Item 3 (Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference and to the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century) of the 51st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, New York

Madam Chair,

1. It is my privilege and honour to address this Commission on behalf of the European Union.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

3. The European Union considers equality between women and men as a fundamental principle and an integral and inseparable component of human rights. The EU reaffirms that the human rights of women are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. The human rights of women include their right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence, in accordance with the agreement reached by the international community at Beijing.

4. Therefore, the full implementation of the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, of the Convention on the rights of the child, of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Beijing + 5 Political Declaration and Outcome Document passed by the twenty-third Special Session of the General Assembly, the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the 2005 World Summit Outcome and the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can only be achieved on the basis of values and patterns of behaviour that constitute the real prerequisite for gender equality.

5. These include, in particular

6. In the European Union, girls already enjoy equality with boys in legal terms. However, the social reality requires special attention. Discrimination comes across in many different ways and has changed in recent years throughout Europe.

7. In this regard allow me to highlight just a few aspects: A report under preparation in the EU shows that schooling of girls is largely on a par with that of boys, and girls, in fact, often attain an even higher level of formal education than boys. However, in virtually all countries there persists a marked gender-specific segregation in educational choices, vocational training and on the labour market due to persisting gender stereotypes, including stereotypes in the textbooks and curricula. This not only represents a waste of human resources that no country, nor the EU, can afford, but also an impediment and infringement of the human rights of girls and boys.

8. Vocational choices for girls and young women continue to concentrate on a few professions, traditionally regarded as feminine professions, which are low remunerated, especially in the health care field, education and social services where men are underrepresented. In some others, such as technical and engineer professions, women continue to be underrepresented. In compliance with the commitment to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Council of the European Union will adopt conclusions on indicators to monitor this important aspect in the EU.

9. Another issue that deeply concerns us is that of violence against girls. Violence against girls has many faces ranging from child labour and domestic slavery, battering, forced and early marriages often resulting in early pregnancies, harmful traditional practices, honour killings, and various forms of sexual violence, including trafficking in girls, child prostitution, and child pornography - to name just some of the most obvious manifestations of violence. Violence against girls is closely related to the issue of violence against women and reflects a perception of female persons being inferior to men and boys resulting in a weaker status in society.

10. The EU welcomes the excellent Study of the Secretary General on all forms of violence against women. The comprehensive resolution of the General Assembly on the intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women present a strong platform for intensified action on all levels and by all stakeholders. In view of the significant gaps that remain worldwide in the full implementation of international standards and commitments on violence against women, the Commission on the Status of Women has a particular responsibility to build on the momentum generated and, inter alia, to identify new approaches for addressing such challenges.

11. On a national basis we witness that a growing number of UN-Member-States have enacted action plans and legislative measures against domestic violence, which give better protection to victims and bring those who perpetrate this violence to justice such as anti-violence laws, and also against trafficking in human beings and harmful traditional practices, which violate human rights of many girls, including in Europe.

12. In this context, the European Union organised in January 2006 a conference on "joint action of member States against harmful traditional practices", including forced marriage, female genital mutilation and killings in the name of honour. During this conference the EU member States committed themselves to intensify their mutual work as partners in order to identify challenges and to agree on actions and initiatives to eliminate all kinds of harmful traditional practices.

13. Many children are victims of domestic violence. The consequences for their later life are serious as the report of the Secretary General on the issue on violence against women points out. The risk of becoming a victim of domestic violence in adult life is much higher for women who witnessed domestic violence against their mothers as a child. Therefore early intervention schemes must address this problem.

14. With the introduction of the EU 'Daphne Programme' in 1997 we have seen an improvement in partnership working and cross border co-ordination to combat violence against children, young people and women. The Programme also promotes and ensures the Europe-wide exchange of good practice amongst statutory agencies, NGOs and other key organisations. So far DAPHNE has financed more than 460 projects and will continue to do so for the period 2007-2013 with an increased budget from 10 million to 16 million EUR a year.

15. Combating violence against women and girls is also on the agenda of the Council of Europe with its current "Campaign to Combat Violence Against Women, Inculding Domestic Violence". The EU also supports the OSCE activities in relation to gender mainstreaming, women in conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation and the fight against sexual exploitation of children.

16. The life situation of many women and girls is characterised by multiple discrimination or disadvantages. The empowerment of disabled or migrant girls and women is therefore an important issue on our agenda.

17. On 13th December 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, so that the ratification process can start in 2007. The European Union welcomes the efforts made in this new Human Rights Convention, in order to consistently focus on the life realities of women and men.

18. Strengthening the participation of migrant women in society and politics and special promotion in the world of work are decisive prerequisites if we seek to improve the life situation of migrant girls and women and the broad-based acceptance of gender equality in their communities.

19. The European Union has declared 2007 the 'European Year of Equal Opportunities for All'. This year will seek to make people in the EU more aware of their rights to enjoy equal treatment and a life free of discrimination. Focus will be on the discrimination some individuals suffer owing to their race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

Madam Chair,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

20. In line with the internationally agreed goal on managing for development results the Commission on the Status of Women breaks new ground with its objective to review the extent to which the agreed conclusions of 2004 on the 'role of men and boys in achieving gender equality' have been implemented in the Member States.

21. The CSW meeting three years ago has stimulated discussion in the EU. For example in December 2006 the Council of the European Union adopted its own conclusions on men and gender equality.

22. We are concerned that the current structures of public and private life continue to be characterised by gender stereotypes. This applies to education, training and the labour market, to the distribution of opportunities to exert political and economic influence, to influence culture and the media and also to the distribution of tasks and responsibilities between women and men in the family.

23. Against this background the European Commission developed a 'Roadmap for Equality between Women and Men 2006 to 2010'. The Roadmap aims among others for a better reconciliation between work, private and family life for both women and men. This is also one of the objectives of the Gender Equality Pact that EU Heads of States and Governments adopted one year ago.

24. The equal participation of women and men both in the labour market and in domestic tasks, childcare and care for dependent people is indispensable for the development of society.

Several European countries have subsequently introduced new forms of transfer payments during the family starting phase.

25. Gender equality policy and strategies can only be successful if both women and men work towards the genuine equality of opportunities for women and men and the empowerment of women. Therefore, new actions in a wide range of areas to increase men's role in the empowerment of women are needed.

26. The participation of men and boys in achieving gender equality must be consistent with the empowerment of women and girls, and resources for gender equality initiatives for men and boys should not compromise equal opportunity initiatives and resources for women and girls.

Madam Chair,

27. The EU calls for all partners to focus on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 on 'Women, Peace and Security'. The Resolution created the prerequisites for recognising that women's and girl's enjoyment of human rights be safeguarded in conflict situations. The UN-Peacebuilding Commission and the associated Peacebuilding Fund and Peacebuilding Support office provide an important opportunity for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 and for strengthening women's roles in post-conflict Peacebuilding.

28. In November 2006, the Council of the EU adopted conclusions, inter alia, aiming at further improving the gender balance in the European security and defence policy and the full integration of gender equality and Human Rights in the planning and conduct of all missions and operations.

29. Equally, the Council stressed that a gender perspective needs to be fully integrated in peace building and that all reconstruction efforts should draw on the knowledge and expertise of women's groups and networks within the community. The Council encouraged the development of targeted EU activities to promote gender equality and the role of women in post-conflict situations and, in this context, stressed the importance of actively supporting women's participation in civic education and political processes, including right to vote and stand as candidates in elections.

30. In addition to the Council, the European Parliament issued in 2006 an important reference resolution on the situation of women in armed conflicts and their role in the reconstruction and democratic process in post-conflict countries.

31. Additionally the EU is working closely together with the Mediterranean neighbours (EUROMED) to strengthen the role of women in society - in peace as well as in conflict. In 2007, in cooperation with UNIFEM and ILO, the Commission will launch a new programme aiming to build gender capacity of authorities, parliamentarians and civil society in our partner countries worldwide.

32. With its thematic programme "Investing in People" 2007-2013 the European Commission has committed itself to further complement already existing development interventions at country level by 33. In the context of this thematic programme the EU will also for the first time place the interests of young people and children at the centre of European action. Another particularly relevant financing instrument is the new European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights.

34. With the EU-Africa Strategy "Towards a Euro-African pact to accelerate Africa's development" the European Commission committed itself in 2005 to promote Gender Equality and invest in women's empowerment, taking into account Sexual and Reproductive Health in order to combat the feminisation of poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In this regard, the EU continues to call for and supports effective implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

35. With the "Operational conclusions of the joint African Union - European Union Task Force" the EU further concretised its commitment in 2006 and agreed among others to further the cooperation of the two organizations on the implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa and on the activities related to the ratification and implementation of the AU Protocol on Women's Rights in Africa.

Madam Chair,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

36. CEDAW with its 185 member states has reached a record number of ratifications. The EU applauds the efficient working procedures of the Committee that have reduced backlog in examining state reports. The EU also looks forward to the continued systematic and interactive cooperation between the CEDAW Committee and the Commission on the Status of Women.

Mme. Chair,

37. Allow me to mention one issue not officially on the CSW-Agenda, but nevertheless of considerable importance to all of us. I am referring to the recommendations of the High Level Panel on Systemwide Coherence and their reference to "Gender equality and women's empowerment".

38. Based on the international community's commitments as laid out particularly in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Gender equality and women's empowerment are an important policy area as well as essential cross-sectorial dimensions of international cooperation within the UN system. In order to ensure that these topics are duly applied within the international community's efforts towards achieving sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals, a strong political driving force for gender equality and women's empowerment is needed. The UN gender architecture must therefore be strengthened with a view to both normative and operative concerns.

39. In the same vein, the issue of gender based violence - both prevention and response - needs to be integrated into UN emergency response systems. Evidence has shown that where there has not been a concerted effort to recognise and address gender based violence at early stages of responding to an emergency it becomes very difficult to do so at a later stage. In not highlighting and addressing gender based violence, agencies can become complicit in perpetuating the impunity surrounding such violence. Thus, a strengthened UN gender architecture must also take both normative and operative concerns in relation to gender based violence into full consideration.

40. In this sense, the EU supports the Panel Members' proposal on consolidating the UN' existing gender entities to focus in their effectiveness and in the improvement of women's lives around the world.

41. Finally, I do not wish to pass up this opportunity to mention the diverse and successful work of the NGOs and other stakeholders whose advocacy and grassroots work can often provide unbureaucratic and targeted relief and assistance. We are extremely grateful for your suggestions and initiatives and your dedicated work towards achieving gender equality.

42. The EU hopes that the European Institute for Gender Equality which will take up its work this year, will be successful in supporting and enhancing the Community institutions and Member States in promoting equality of women and men, girls and boys, in all fields of policy. One essential task of the Institute will be the collection of statistics which can support the EU to periodically review and thus refine national and European gender policies.

43. I wish to conclude this with the promise that the EU will make every effort to contribute to constructive debates in order to secure a good outcome.

Thank you very much for your attention.

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