GEAR Program
Interaction Program on the
GEAR (Gender Equality Architecture Reform) Campaign
August 27, 2009, Kathmandu
(Jointly organized by Saathi/SACGE and National Commission for Women)
An interaction program on GEAR (Gender Equality Architecture Reform) Campaign was held on 27th August 2009. In the program, Secretary for Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Welfare and Secretary for Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been invited as special guests while the chair of the National Commission for Women had chaired the program. Present at the program were representatives from NGOs, women parliamentarians and the media. The program primarily aimed to provide update on GEAR Campaign activities and the upcoming 63rd session of the UN General Assembly and thereby, garner a wider support for the consensus on the creation of a new UN gender equality entity.
In response to the query put forth, Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that the entity proposed by the resolution would be an overarching body and it would not affect the work of the existing entities rather it would have an autonomous status and will also have presence in the Executive Board Meeting. He also said, though UN will develop all basic policies and guidelines, the entities themselves will be responsible for its implementation.
The program started with a brief overview on GEAR Campaign by Country Coordinator for South Asian Campaign for Gender Equality, Dr. Chandra Bhadra. She said that the campaign had been initiated in Nepal in April 2006. Later it took the form of South Asian Campaign for Gender Equality (SACGE) which is now the south Asian focal point for GEAR campaign. She also talked about the importance of the GEAR Campaign, which calls for the establishment of a consolidated, stronger and fully funded entity for women.
It was followed by a presentation by Bandana Rana regional coordinator of SACGE on the latest updates on GEAR activities and the upcoming 63rd session of UN General Assembly which is working towards adopting a resolution on the creation of a new gender equality entity. Talking about the GEAR activities, Ms. Bandana Rana, recalled the meeting with the Co-Chair of the Coherence Panel Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad in 2006 and the signature campaign carried out following the meeting.
She also briefly talked about the current state of gender mainstreaming at the UN, structural/ resource constraints of agencies focused exclusively on women's issues, UN Reform Background, the GEAR Campaign and its key demands, present status, and its importance at national level. She also stated that at present investment in women is minimum within the UN.
Then, she briefly informed about the recent report of the system wide coherence co chairs of Namibia and Spain highlighting what has been recommended in the resolution particularly focusing on the composite entity. She urged that Nepal and other South Asian countries should strongly support the recommendations made in the resolution during the 63rd general assembly which will conclude on 14 September. She finally concluded the presentation with what positive difference will the new GEAR make at the national level.
Following the latest updates on the GEAR Campaign, Mr. Gyanchandra Acharya Secretary for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ms Bindra Hada, Secretary for the Ministry for Women expressed their commitments to endorse the resolution on the creation of the new gender equality entity in the upcoming 63rd UN GA. The Foreign Secretary even committed to send a written directive to the UN mission of Nepal in New York.
Following the remarks, the floor was opened for a while. There was a query regarding whether the existing entities -DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM would be more effective if it remains as it is rather than consolidating them into the one entity.
In response to the query put forth, Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that the entity proposed by the resolution would be an overarching body and it would not affect the work of the existing entities rather it would have an autonomous status and will also have presence in the Executive Board Meeting. He also said, though UN will develop all basic policies and guidelines, the entities themselves will be responsible for its implementation.
Adding to the remarks, Ms Rana said the proposed entity would establish a link between program and policy and would have a significant field presence.
Finally, giving concluding remarks, Ms. Nainkala Thapa chair of the National Commission for Women said that the program was very informative. Further she stressed on the need to sensitize parliamentarians especially members of newly formed women committee as well as women members of major political parties so that they will be able to raise the issue in the parliament. Besides, she suggested that the campaign should be taken massively, series of sensitization programs involving gender focal points of UN, NGOs as well as concerned agencies and media should be held. She concluded the program by thanking SACGE for initiating the campaign and reiterated the commitment on behalf of the commission to support the campaign.