PLATFORM NEWSLETTER           

The Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform

Working towards equality and peace for women on a local, national European and international level

58 Howard Street, Belfast BT1 6PJ

niwep@btconnect.com

www.niwep.org.uk    

October 1

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Local News

Job Vacancies

Two posts are available:

1.     Researcher on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual and Transgender Right by the Human Rights Watch based in New York

2. Gender Chief at United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)

For further information contact NIWEP website www.niwep.org.uk

CAJ Equality in Northern Ireland: the rhetoric and the reality

The Committee for the Administration for Justice (CAJ) launched its new report "Equality in Northern Ireland: the rhetoric and the reality" on 14th September. CAJ has raises concerns and attempts to stimulate a wider public debate on the continuing religious differentials in employment patterns, the hidden unemployed, housing allocations and waiting times, investment and procurement etc.

To see the press release please click here
To order the report please click here
or contact CAJ on +44-(0)28-90961122 or mail to info@caj.org.uk.

Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland

As reported in the last newsflash the Human Rights Consortium launched its advertising campaign which urges the government and politicians to "Take the Bill by the Horns" and establish the proposed roundtable forum on the Bill of Rights   To contact the Consortium on 02890 961128, email: info@billofrightsni.org, web: www.billofrightsni.org.

Water and Sewerage Charges Seminars

In April 2007 householders will receive water and sewerage charges.  The Department for Regional Development (DRD) to ensure the public is well informed about all aspects of the introduction of these new charges, this Autumn have a number of public awareness campaign will provide details of the likely level of charges, how they will be phased in and who is eligible for the Affordability Tariff. In addition an information guide will be delivered to every home and workplace in Northern Ireland.

A series of four information seminars have been scheduled.

You are cordially invited to attend one of the following seminars:

Please plan to arrive at 10.30 for refreshments. The seminars will begin at 11a.m.

At the seminar you will learn about how charges will be calculated and what processes are in place to protect consumers. A panel will be in attendance at each seminar to provide a brief presentation and to answer your questions.

Please RSVP to michaela.smyth@drdni.gov.uk.  Alternately, you may fax this letter, ticking the box next to your choice, to 02890 540029.  For more information please contact Michaela Smyth, 02890 540887.

New Age Discrimination Law

From 1 October 2006, it is unlawful for employers and others to discriminate on grounds of age in the areas of employment and training, including vocational training and further and higher education. Further information can be obtained from the Equality Commission Northern Ireland at website www.equalityni.org/ftp/AgeMF1.html

European News

.      Italian Training in non-traditional jobs for Afghan Women

As part of the effort to get Afghan women back on their economic feet, an Italian aid agency bypassed traditional skills such as sewing, cleaning and teaching and has focused instead on training women in the non-traditional, male-dominated jobs of catering, gem-cutting, mobile phone repair and production of solar lanterns.  To ensure access to training for women whose movements are restricted, the Italian agency located the training centre near their homes and worked with the local shura, elder community leaders, to get their approval and provide protection for the women.

The initial group of 60 women are now entrepreneurs in their own right or are part of cooperatives in these four work areas, thus enabling them to earn more than in the more traditional crafts work to which women tend to turn.  (Source:  Women's eNews, 8/4/06)

Latvia’s President tells UN why she is qualified to be the next Secretary General

As the General Assembly continued its annual debate one of the numerous national leaders taking the podium, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia, spoke of her own qualifications to serve as the next United Nations Secretary-General.

Pledging to address "the challenges posed by the UN reform and promoting human rights, freedom and democracy, including gender equality," she noted that no woman has ever served at the Organisation's helm.

She also pointed out that no Secretary-General has ever come from Eastern Europe, which "has a wealth of experience to share about its ability to effect radical changes and achieve progress in a remarkably brief period of time."

The Latvian leader, who had previously formally announced her candidacy for Secretary-General, linked her upbringing to the UN's aims. "Because of my own personal experience as a child of war and a refugee, having known fear, cold, loss and hunger in my time, I urge world leaders to save every child we can from such experiences," she said "Our common goal is to extend world wide the peace, freedom, and prosperity that so many nations have already achieved."

Commission confirms Bulgaria and Romania’s EU accession

The European Commission has recommended that Bulgaria and Romania should become full members of the European Union on 1 January 2007. In its final monitoring report on the preparedness of both countries, the Commission considers they will be in a position to take on the rights and obligations of EU membership.

However, the Commission has accompanied its recommendation with a package of measures to address the limited number of areas where further work will be necessary. These include judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organised crime and improvement of food safety.

Subject to the outstanding ratification processes in 4 EU countries, Bulgaria and Romania’s accession on 1 January 2007 will bring an additional 30 million people into the EU.

International News

UN Human Rights Council Hears of Violence Against Women

United Nations expert on violence against women today reported the problems faced by women in Russia, Iran, Mexico, Afghanistan and Sudan's Darfur region.

In Russia the adverse impact of political and economic transition had disproportionately affected women, Yakin Erturk, Special Rapporteur on
violence against women told the new enhanced UN Human Rights Council at its second session in Geneva.

In Iran, although the principle of equality was enshrined in the Constitution, gender inequality was a salient feature of Iranian society, while high levels of violence against women in Mexico were both a consequence and a symptom of widespread gender discrimination and inequality, she said.

The situation for women in Afghanistan remained dramatic, and severe violence against them was all pervasive while throughout Darfur, a surge in sexual violence continued, she added.

Ms. Erturk conducted missions to Russia, Iran, Mexico, and Afghanistan. Special Rapporteurs are unpaid and serve in an independent personal capacity.

Russian representative Valery Loshchinin said the report was politicized and not impartial - it gave the impression that there was a State policy of violence against women, which was occurring against a background of prevailing insecurity at large.  Those familiar with the contemporary reality in Russia and the role of women in society could not accept these affirmations, he added.

Iranian representative Ali Reza Moayeri said women in his country had achieved much over the last couple of decades, by way of strength, optimism and courage and what challenges lay ahead to overcome and go forward and wiping out all positive steps by allegations such as continuing reports of violations of women's human rights and restriction on political activities downgraded the report to a political statement.

The representative of Mexico, Pablo Macedo, said his country had undertaken many efforts for the promotion and protection of women's rights and after assessing the Rapporteur's recommendations, the Government would take further measures to improve the situation of women and reduce the rate of violence.

Afghan representative Assad Omer said his country was in reconstruction after more than 20 years of war, and five years in the dark and that the percentage of school attendance for young girls kept on growing since the ouster of the Taliban regime in 2001

More information can be obtained on the News Media site:

http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/7EEC2079D85E31F5C12571EF004FB052?OpenDocument

UN INSTRAW Guide on Women, Peace and Security (UN SCR 1325) Policy and Planning

UN INSTRAW launched a guide on women, peace and security policy and planning entitled "Securing Equality, Engendering Peace" the 21st of September - International Day of Peace. This guide focuses on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000) through creating national and organisational plans of action.

It provides a quick overview of gender action plans and planning theory, and then includes six concrete steps on developing women, peace and security action plans. A how-to guide full of examples and best practices, it is written with government policy-makers, NGO workers and UN employees in mind.  

The guide is available on INSTRAW's website (http://www.un-instraw.org)