The Asia Pacific Caucus Members reported that the negotiations of the outcome document are tough and difficult. The negotiations on the outcome document between government delegates are closed sessions (except on Friday last week).
- Another issue noted was the (shrunken and) shrinking space available to NGO’s during CSW.
- How to influence and impact UN Women at regional and national level?
- Consultation of UN Women that occurred in Nepal and Pakistan were ‘limited and limiting’
- Preparation for CSW next year and the theme of Rural Women.
- The caucus is preparing a statement to be sent to UN women – Michelle Bachelet, GEAR Campaign, and other members of UN Women before the strategic planning get going... The Caucus wishes to express concern in a proactive way.
Marita's Update
01, March 2011
BELOVED FAMILY & FRIENDS...
This in part is my small contribution at the UN CSW 55th Session, on behalf of IPPI and Kalinga Ministry US & Philippines. The agreed outcome document (with proposals from various governments and lobbied by NGOs) on the priority theme this year is not available in the website as of yet, for a reason that creates a concern and has not been clarified yet to over 348 non-governmental organizations represented at the UN. I have the privilege of receiving a draft copy of this crucial outcome document in the email however, through the kindness and generosity of a male delegate from the Philippine Government that also invited my input. What a blessing indeed and my deepest gratitude to my government.
PROPOSAL FOR THE AGREED DRAFT CONCLUSION: k) (Page 12 in the original 17-page draft with proposals--now over 22 pp)
"Formally recognize women's prior learning gained from unpaid and/or informal work, to facilitate access to training and employment opportunities, particularly for women who INTERRUPTED their education or employment..."
(or please incorporate in any appropriate paragraph in the draft document to which this brief proposal may apply)
RATIONALE FOR PROPOSAL: (for further articulation in the UN language and format): TO MITIGATE & DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN VOLUNTARY & INVOLUNTARY INTERRUPTION OF A GIRL-CHILD'S EDUCATION
PROPOSAL: To ensure inclusion of, such that the issue of trafficking/prostitution is not hidden or lost in the vast category of VAW-Violence Against Women in any part of the UN 55th CSW outcome document or in the MDG (Millenium Development Goal) Goal 2 on Universal Education.
The lives of trafficked/prostituted children are the most severely INTERRUPTED (involuntary interruption) at every level, particularly in education, which increases vulnerability to all forms of gender-based abuse, violence and exploitation and becomes a precursor to trafficking and prostitution.Without or with little education, the chance of escaping prostitution for instance is very slim if not impossible. The challenge goes beyond keeping the girl-child in school or her right to be in school to challenging the multiple factors for her getting pulled-out of school. A comprehensive mechanism for monitoring must be incorporated to ensure the access of every girl-child to education and the successful completion of credentials, thus pushing forward equality both in access and outcome or what the CEDAW refers to as substantive equality.
To those already victimized, there is a need for full and/or mandatory access to informal education or attainment of equivalency credentials to mitigate the life-long adverse impact of involuntary interruption of a girl-child's education precipitated by especially difficult circumstances.
BACKGROUND. In our ten-year experience on the ground rescuing and restoring young women trafficked into prostitution in Asia, our field teams discovered that over 95% of those we reach and serve are young women who interrupted their education at age 8 or 9 (primary second/third grade) due to extreme poverty and family dysfunction.
This kind of INVOLUNTARY INTERRUPTION for instance increases level of vulnerability to incestual abuse committed by fathers/stepfathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, house guests, extended clan, as young girls quit school and coerced to stay home to babysit one sibling after another. Again, this is a precursor to increased vulnerability to trafficking and prostitution as desperate child runs away from home to escape multi-levels of abuse from sexual to burdensome housework, material and emotional deprivation, oppression, etc.
Having said that, the MDG Goal #2 of universal primary education cannot be over emphasized in conjunction with trafficking and prostitution. Or as plain as no young girl (or boy) should be outside the school classroom during prescribed school hours and instigating sensitivity of school officials and teachers to sudden dropouts or unexplained absences.
Gender implication: Parental education crucial to mitigate the culture-based practice and notion that first grade education (goal is merely learn to write name) is sufficient particularly for the girl-child.
BEST PRACTICE/SUCCESS STORIES. We are on our third batch of A.L.S. (Alternative Learning System), a government program towards the attainment of elementary and high school credentials. On the first day of screening for our Batch 1, a middle-aged prostituted woman broke down in tears. The first activity for her was to write her name. Having no experience of formal school whatsoever, she is unable to write her own name.
One of our first female graduates (ALS Batch 1), a former prostitute now works successfully at this call center in Manila while another received a scholarship to go to college. The success stories are not few.
Respectfully,
Dr. Marita De Guzman Viloria
Research & Development Practitioner
Representing the International Public Policy Institute (IPPI)
In consultative status with the United Nations
At the UN CSW 55th Session
and Kalinga Ministry, Philippines & US A development program with victims of trafficking and prostitution
Marita De Guzman Viloria
aboutfacesalon@yahoo.com
Kalinga Ministry Making a Crossover
D.I.G.N.I.D.A.D., a multi-livelihood venture
by Heart & Hands