************************************************************** The material posted here was provided to the Division for the Advancement of Women by the Government in response to a note verbale. It is being made available in electronic format in the form received. In cases where it was not possible at this time to reproduce charts and tables supplied, these can be obtained by contacting the Division for the Advancement of Women directly. ************************************************************** BOTSWANA DRAFT - NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION Women's Affairs Division Department of Culture & Social Welfare Ministry of Labour And Home Affairs Material contained in this publication is not subject to copyright. It may be freely reproduced provided acknowledgement is given to the Government of Botswana. Address your enquiries to: The Coordinator Women's Affairs Division Department of Culture and Social Welfare Private Bag 00185 GABORONE TELEPHONE: (00267) 309222 FACSIMILE: (00267) 309227 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This document is a result of close collaboration and consultation involving the public, Women's Non-Governmental Organisations Coalition, women's Non-Governmental Organisations and groups in general, Social and Community Development Department, Local Authorities, other government departments, National Preparatory Committee for the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Women's Affairs Division of the Department of Culture and Social Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs. NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION "The implementation of the Platform for Action will remain ineffective and in effectual like, the Nairobi Forward- Looking Strategies, unless governments draw specific plans and adopt meaningful strategies for implementation through national Plans of Action " Honourable B.K. Temane On the occasion of Government, NGOs and Donor Community Briefing, 12 December 1995 "The Platform for Action in my view represents a solid theoretical framework as well as a blueprint for the enhancement of the status of women. It also outlines concrete ways for a total integration of women in the national development process. The Platform for Action essentially has to be translated into workable programmes and projects based on the proclamations of the National Plans of Action. " First Lady, Lady Olebile Masire Official Closing of the Southern Africa Sub-regional Workshop 27-30 November 1995 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 CURRENT SITUATION IN BOTSWANA 3.0 PLATFORM FOR ACTION - SUMMARY 4.0 NATIONAL PL AN OF ACTION 5.0 STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS 5.1.0 WOMEN AND POVERTY 5.1.1 Review, adopt and maintain macroeconomic policies and development strategies that address the needs and efforts of women in poverty 5.1.2 Revise laws and administrative practices to ensure women's equal rights and access to economic resources 5.1.3 Provide women with access to savings and credit mechanisms and institutions 5.2.0 WOMEN IN POWER AND DECISION MAKING 5.2.1 Take measures to ensure women's equal access to and full participation in power structures and decision-making 5.3.0 EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF WOMEN 5.3.1 Ensure equal access to education 5.3.2 Eradicate illiteracy among women 5.3.3 Improve women's access to vocational training, science and technology, and continuing education. 5.3.4 Develop non-discriminatory education and training 5.3.5 Allocate sufficient resources for and monitor the implementation of educational reforms 5.3.6 Promote life-long education and training for girls and women 5.4.0 WOMEN AND HEALTH 5.4.1 Increase women's access throughout the life cycle to appropriate, affordable and quality health care, information and related services 5.4.2 Strengthen preventive programmes that promote women's health 5.4.3 Undertake gender-sensitive initiatives that address sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health issues 5.4.4 Promote research and disseminate information on women's health 5.4.5 Increase resources and monitor follow-up for women's health 5.5.0 THE GIRL CHILD 5.5.1 Eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl child 5.5.2 Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against girls 5.5.3 Promote and protect the rights of the girl child and increase awareness of her needs and potential 5.5.4 Eliminate discrimination against girls in education, skills development and training 5.5.5 Eliminate discrimination against girls in health and nutrition 5.5.6 Eliminate the economic exploitation of child labour and protect young girls at work 5.5.7 Eradicate violence against the girl child 5.5.8 Promote the girl child's awareness of and participation in social, economic and political life 5.5.9 Strengthen the role of the family in improving the status of the girl child 5.6.0 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 5.6.1 Take integrated measures to prevent and eliminate violence against women 5.6.2 Study the causes and consequences of violence against women and the effectiveness of preventive measures 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action were adopted by Governments attending the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women as a blueprint for women's empowerment and advancement. 1.2 The Platform for Action is the express recognition by Governments that the status of women has advanced in some important respects in the past decade but that progress has been uneven, inequalities between women and men have persisted and major obstacles remain, with serious consequences for the well-being of all people. 1.3 It also indicates unreserved dedication and commitment to addressing these constraints and obstacles and thus enhancing further the empowerment and advancement of women all over the world. The Platform for Action further notes that this requires urgent action in the spirit of determination, hope, cooperation and solidarity, now and to carry us forward into the next century. Governments reaffirmed their commitment to: 1.4 Ensure the full implementation of the human rights of women and of the girl child as an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms: 1.5 Build on consensus and progress made at previous United Nations conferences and summits on - Women in Nairobi ( 1985), Children in New York (1990), Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (19923, Human Rights in Vienna (1993), Population and Development in Cairo (1994) and Social Development in Copenhagen (1995); with the objectives of achieving Equality, Development and Peace; 1.6 Achieve the full and effective implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women; 1.7 The empowerment and advancement of women, including the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, thus contributing to the moral, ethical, spiritual and intellectual needs of women and men, individually or in community with others and thereby guaranteeing them the possibility of realizing their full potential in society and shaping their lives in accordance with their own aspirations. Governments stated their determination to: 1.8 Ensure the full enjoyment by women and the girl child of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and take effective action against violations of these rights and freedoms; 1.9 Eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and the girl child, and remove all obstacles to gender equality and the advancement and empowerment of women; 1.10 Encourage men to participate fully in all actions towards equality; 1.11 Ensure the success of the Platform for Action which will require a strong commitment on the part of Governments, international organizations and institutions at all levels. They stated their deep conviction that socio-economic development, and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development, which is the framework for efforts to achieve a higher quality of life for all people and the equitable social development that recognizes empowering the poor, particularly women living in poverty, to utilize environmental resources sustainably which is a necessary foundation for sustainable development. It was further stated that the success of the Platform for Action will also require adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels as well as new and additional resources to the developing countries from all available funding mechanisms, a commitment to equal rights, equal responsibilities and equal opportunities and to the equal participation of women and men in all national, regional and international bodies as well as policy-making processes; the establishment or strengthening of mechanisms at all levels for accountability to the world's women. 2.0 CURRENT SITUATION IN BOTSWANA 2.1 Recent studies of educational trends in Botswana reflect an improvement in relative opportunities and participation of girls and women in schooling and training. Another area where significant progress has been made is the removal of gender stereotypes from curriculum materials. However there is need to strengthen career guidance and counselling so as to widen awareness on possible career choices available to women as there is an observed tendency for women to opt for traditional female-dominated courses or opt for lower level qualifications that is to say certificates or diplomas less familiar in other fields of study. At the moment it is not easy to determine the exact degree and nature of women' s involvement due to the fact that information that is available is not gender desegregated in most instances. 2.2 Commendable progress has been made towards improving the quality of women's health in areas where they are most vulnerable. Examples are the Maternal and Child Health as well as the Family Planning programmes. Collaboration on basic issues such as food, shelter, clean water, sanitation, etc.; has contributed positively towards the welfare of women. Nonetheless there still remains the challenge of sharing critical health information with all women in Botswana to enable them to exercise their full right when making choices relating to their personal health and welfare. 2.3 Following the amendment of the Citizenship Act (1995) and the Mines Act (1995), efforts continue to remove legal obstacles that obstruct the full integration of women in the development process. As a matter of fact women married under community of property are discriminated against by legal provisions such as the Married Persons Property Act which gives marital power to the husband and makes him sole administrator of the family property. Other examples of discriminatory provisions in marriage under community of property are the Penal Code which decrees the woman to be the only person who can steal from property jointly owned by her and her husband, thereby implying unequal access to joint property. The Companies Act prohibits a woman from accepting directorship of a company without her husband's consent. A consultancy to review laws affecting the status of women in Botswana is expected to report on its findings and make recommendations for redress before the end of 1996. There is need to recognise the dynamic nature of society and therefore note as a consequence, the need for continued appraisal and review of all systems that govern operations within the society. 2.4 A close consideration of women's involvement in power-sharing and decision making processes in Botswana indicates that the participation of women is significantly lower than that of men. It would appear however, that the recent global move towards an enhanced involvement of women at all levels of decision-making has made an impact in Botswana. For instance, there are more women now in the House of Parliament, the executive level of civil service and more women now sit on Boards of Directors. There is need to develop strategies to enlist and ensure the full and representative participation of women in the total development process. 2.5 Studies on the poverty situation in Botswana have indicated a high correlation with female-headed households. It has been observed that income levels are lowest among the rural population, more especially the female headed households. Studies have further indicated a high probability above average number of offspring, thus taking away from the almost non-existent family resources. This situation is likely to lead to premature termination of schooling due to factors such as teenage pregnancy or substance abuse - thus the vicious cycle of poverty is created. Government schemes and programmes that are now in place do not seem to be consumer friendly. There is need to review all government policies intended to empower Botswana economically, especially women, to ensure that they derive maximum assistance and benefit. 3.0 PLATFORM FOR ACTION - SUMMARY 3.1 As an agenda for women's empowerment, the Platform for Action aims at accelerating the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and at removing all the obstacles to women's active participation in all spheres of public and private life through a full and equal share in economic, social, cultural and political decision making processes. Therefore the principle of shared power and responsibility should be established between women and men at home, in the workplace and in the wider national and international communities. Equality between women and men is a matter of human rights and condition for social justice. It is also a necessary and fundamental prerequisite for equality, development and peace. A transformed partnership based on equality between women and men is a condition for people-centred sustainable development. A sustained and long term commitment is essential, so that women and men can work together for themselves, for their children and for society to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. 3.2 Most of the goals set out in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women have not been achieved. Barriers to women's empowerment remain, despite the efforts of Governments, as well as non governmental organizations and women and men everywhere. Vast political, economic and ecological crises persist in many parts of the world. These situations, combined with systematic or de facto discrimination, violations of and failure to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all women, and their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, are but a few of the impediments encountered since the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, (Nairobi, 1985). 3.3 A review of progress since the Nairobi Conference highlights special concerns - areas of particular urgency that stand out as priorities for action. All actors should focus action and resources on the strategic objectives relating to the critical areas of concern which are necessarily interrelated, interdependent and of high priority. There is a need for these actors to develop and implement mechanisms of accountability for all the areas of concern. 3.4 The Platform for Action lists the following as Critical Areas of Concern: - 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 decision-making 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's 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. 4.0. NATlONAL PLAN OF ACTION 4.1 As a global blueprint for the empowerment of women and a charter for their integration in the total development process, the Platform for Action sets a stage for various countries to develop national plans of action that will steer all national and community based activities geared towards improving the welfare of women. 4.2 A series of consultative meetings was held to familiarize women in Botswana with critical areas of concern as out-lined in the Platform for Action. More importantly Botswana women were involved in the identification and prioritization of these areas that are critical in the national context. Information is provided below on the consultative meetings: ------------------------------------------------------------ REGION DATE ------------------------------------------------------------ 1. National Seminar 9-11 March 1994 (All districts) Oasis Motel, Gaborone 2. Central Region (including 1-3 September 1994 all the subdistricts) Lotsane Senior Secondary School, Palapye 3. Gantsi (including all 24-26 October 1994 the sub-districts) Kuru Development Trust, D'kar-Gantsi 4. Northern Region (including 24-26 April 1995 North-West Francistown and Tutume) Dukwi Community Junior Secondary School, Dukwi 5. Southern Region (including 26-28 June 1995 Jwaneng, Lobatse, Southern and Kweneng) Ramatea, Kanye 6. National Seminar (All Districts) 7-9 August 1995 Boipuso Hall, Gaborone 7. Central Region 14 August 1995 (Follow up to the September 1994 workshop) Lotsane Senior Secondary School, Palapye -------------------------------------------------------------- Critical Areas of Concern for Botswana were identified and prioritised as follows: 4.3.1 Women and Poverty (The persistent and increasing burden of. poverty on women). 4.3.2 Women in Power and Decision-making (Inequality between men and women in the sharing of power and decision-making at all levels). 4.3.3 Education and Training of women (Inequality and inadequacies in and unequal access to education and training). 4.3.4 Women and Health (Inequality and inadequacies in and unequal access to health care and related services). 4.3.5 The Girl child (Persistent discrimination against and violation of the rights of the girl child). 4.3.6 Violence against women. 4.4 Further consultations on the National Plan of Action reviewed existing structures that could be used, and those that need to be created or further developed in order to put in place a framework for an implementation process that would directly address the identified critical areas of concern. An outline of implementation strategies, envisaged implementing agencies and time frames is given below in the following section of this document. 5.0 STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS The National Plan of Action is outlined below with strategic objectives and actions to be taken by Government, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities mass media, relevant international organisations including United Nations bodies and donor agencies. 5.1.0 WOMEN AND POVERTY In order to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development, women and men must participate fully and equally in the formulation of macroeconomic and social policies and strategies for the eradication of poverty. The eradication of poverty cannot be accomplished through anti-poverty programmes alone but will require democratic participation and changes in economic structures in order to ensure access for all women to resources, opportunities and public services. Women's poverty is directly related to the absence of economic opportunities and autonomy, lack of access to economic resources, including credit, land ownership and inheritance; lack of access to education and support services and their minimal participation in the decision-making process. The productive capacity of women should be increased through access to capital, resources, credit, land, technology, information, technical assistance and training so as to raise their income and improve their nutrition, education, health care and status within the household. The release of women's productive potential is pivotal to breaking the cycle of poverty so that women can share fully in the benefits of development and in the products of their own labour. Sustainable development and economic growth that is both sustained and sustainable are possible only through improving the economic, social, political, legal and cultural status of women. Equitable social development that recognises empowering the poor, particularly women, to utilise environmental resources sustainably is a necessary formulation for sustainable development The following strategies and actions need to be adopted in order to alleviate and subsequently eradicate poverty among women. 5.1.1 Review, adopt and maintain macroeconomic policies and development strategies that address the needs and efforts of women in poverty Government to: 5.1.1.1 Review and modify, with the full and equal participation of women, macroeconomic and social policies; 5.1.1.2 Analyse, from a gender perspective, policies and programmes with respect to their impact on poverty, on inequality and particularly on women, and adjust them appropriately to promote more equitable distribution of productive assets, wealth, opportunities, income and services; 5.1.1.3 Pursue and implement sound and stable macroeconomic and sectoral policies that are designed and monitored with the full and equal participation of women, encourage broad-based sustained economic growth, address the structural causes of poverty, and are geared towards eradicating poverty and reducing gender-based inequality within the overall framework of achieving people centred sustainable development; 5.1.1.4 Restructure and target the allocation of public expenditures to promote women's economic opportunities and equal access to productive resources and to address the basic social, educational and health needs of women, particularly those living in poverty; 5.1.1.5 Develop the agricultural sector to ensure household and national food security and food self-sufficiency, by allocating the necessary financial technical and human resources; 5.1.1.6 Formulate and implement specific economic, social, agricultural and related policies in support of female-headed households; 5.1.1.7 Develop and implement anti-poverty programmes, including employment schemes, that improve access to food for women living in poverty - including through the use of appropriate pricing and distribution mechanisms; 5.1.1.8 Introduce measures to integrate or reintegrate women living in poverty and socially marginalised women into productive employment and the economic mainstream; 5.1.1.9 Enable women to obtain affordable housing and remove all obstacles to land access, 5.1.1.10 Formulate and implement policies and programmes that enhance the access of women agricultural and fisheries producers (including subsistence farmers and producers, especially in rural areas) to financial, technical, extension and marketing services; provide access to and control of land as well as appropriate infrastructure and technology in order to increase women's incomes and promote household food security and, where appropriate, encourage the development of producer - owned market - based cooperatives; 5.1.1.11. Ensure access to free or low-cost legal services, including legal literacy, especially designed to reach women living in poverty; 5.1.1.12 Take particular measures to promote and strengthen policies and programmes for indigenous women with their full participation and respect for their cultural diversity to enable them to identify opportunities and see the possibility of choice in the development process in order to eradicate the poverty that affects them. Multilateral financial and development institutions to: 5.1.1.13 Mobilise new and additional financial resources that are both adequate and predictable with a view to contributing towards the goal of poverty eradication and targeting women living in poverty; 5.1.1.14 Ensure a more systematic strengthening of gender perspectives and their integration into the design and implementation of lending programmes, including structural adjustment and economic recovery programmes; 5.1.1.15 Mobilise all parties involved in the development process, to improve the effectiveness of anti-poverty programmes directed towards the poorest and most disadvantaged groups of women; 5.1.1.16 Lobby and establish monitoring mechanisms, as appropriate, and engage in relevant activities to ensure the implementation of the recommendations on poverty eradication as outlined in the National Plan of Action and aim to ensure accountability and transparency from the state and private sectors; 5.1.1.17 Cooperate with government and private sector in the development of a comprehensive national strategy for improving health, education and social services to ensure that women of all ages living in poverty have full access to such services; 5.1.1.18 Contribute to the development of education, training and retraining policies to ensure the acquisition of a wide ranging skills for women to meet new demands, in cooperation with government, employers, social partners and relevant parties, 5.1.1.19 Mobilise to protect women's right to full and equal access to economic resources - including the right to inheritance, ownership of land and other property. 5.1.2 Revise laws and administrative practices to ensure women's equal rights and access to economic resources Government to: 5.1.2.1 Ensure access to free or low-cost legal services including legal literacy, especially designed to reach women living in poverty; 5.1.2.2 Undertake legislative and administrative reforms to give women full and equal access to economic resources; 5.1.2.3 Consider ratification of international conventions that aim at poverty alleviation; 5.1.3 Provide women with access to savings and credit mechanisms and institutions Government to: 5.1.3.1 Enhance access of disadvantaged women to financial services by strengthening links between formal banks and intermediary lending organisations through legislative support, training for women and institutional strengthening; 5.1.3.2 Support innovative lending practices and integration of credit and women's services as well as training, and provide credit facilities to rural women; 5.1.3.3 Use credit and savings methodologies that are effective in reaching women in poverty and innovative in reducing transaction costs and redefining risk; 5.1.3.4 Simplify banking practices and procedures; 5.1.3.5 Ensure the participation and joint ownership where possible, of women clients in the decision-making of institutions providing credit and financial services; 5.1.3.6 Create or improve lending facilities for women, including young women: who lack access to traditional sources of collateral. Development organisations to: 5.1.3.7 Increase support for programmes and projects designed to promote sustainable and productive entrepreneurial activities for income generation among disadvantaged women living in poverty; 5.1.3.8 Develop gender-based methodologies and conduct research to address the feminization of poverty Government, intergovernmental organisations, academic and research institutions and private sector to: 5.1.3.8 Develop conceptual and practical methodologies for incorporating gender perspectives into all aspects of economic policy-making. 5. 1.3.9 Apply these methodologies in conducting gender - impact analyses of all policies and programmes, and; disseminate the research findings. Statistical organisations to. 5. 1.3.10 Collect gender and age-desegregated data on poverty and all aspects of economic activity and develop statistical indicators to facilitate the assessment of economic performance from a gender perspective; 5.1.3.1 1 Devise suitable statistical means to fully recognise and expose the contribution of women to the national economy, including their contribution in the unremunerated and domestic sectors, and examine the relationship of women's unremunerated work to the incidence of and their vulnerability to poverty. 5.2.0 WOMEN IN POWER AND DECISION MAKING The empowerment and autonomy of women and improvement of women's social, economic and political status is essential for the achievement of both transparent and accountable government and administration and sustainable development in all areas of life. The power relations that prevent women from leading fulfilling lives operate at many levels of society, from the most personal to the highly public. Achieving the goal of equal participation of women and men in decision-making will provide a balance that more accurately reflects the composition of society and is needed in order to strengthen democracy and promote its proper functioning. Women's equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women's interests to be taken into account. Without the active participation of women and the incorporation of women's perspective at all levels of decision-making, the goals of equality, development and peace cannot be achieved. Women may be discouraged from seeking political office by discriminatory attitudes and practices, family and child-care responsibilities, and the high cost of seeking and holding public office. Women in politics and decision-making positions in government and legislative bodies contribute to redefining political priorities, placing new items on the political agenda that reflect and address women's gender-specific concerns, values and experiences, and providing new perspectives on mainstream political issues. Inequality in the public arena can often start with discriminatory attitudes and practices and unequal power relations between women and men within the family. The unequal division of labour and responsibilities within households based on unequal power relations also limits women's potential to find the time and develop the skills required for participation in decision-making in wider public fora. A more equal sharing of those responsibilities between women and men not only provides a better quality of life for women and their daughters but also enhances their opportunities to shape and design public policy, practice and expenditure so that their interests may be recognized and addressed. Non- formal networks and patterns of decision-making at the local community level that reflect a dominant male ethos restrict women's ability to participate equally in political, economic and social life. The equitable distribution of power and decision-making at all levels is dependent on Governments and other actors undertaking statistical gender analysis and main streaming a gender perspective in policy development and the implementation of programmes. Equality in decision-making is essential to the implementation of programmes and to the empowerment of women. In addressing the inequality between women and men in the sharing of power and decision-making at all levels, governments and other actors should promote an active and visible policy of main streaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes so that before decisions are taken, an analysis is made of the effects on women and men, respectively. The following strategies and actions need to be adopted in order to balance the sharing of power and decision-making between women and men. 5.2.1 Take measures to ensure women's equal access to and full participation in power structures and decision-making Government to: 5.2.1.1 Commit itself to establishing the goals of gender balance in governmental bodies and committees, as well as in public administrative entities, and in the judiciary; 5.2.1.2 Take measures to integrate women in elective and non- elective public positions in the same proportion and at the same levels as men; 5.2.1.3 Monitor and evaluate progress regularly in the representation of women at all levels in various decision-making positions in the public and private sectors, and disseminate data on the number of women and men employed at various levels in Government; ensure that women and men have equal access to the full range of public appointments and set up mechanisms within governmental structures for monitoring progress in this field; 5.2.1.4 Support non-governmental organizations and research institutes that conduct studies on women's participation in and impact on decision-making and the decision-making environment; 5.2.1.5 Encourage greater involvement of indigenous women in decision making at all levels; 5.2.1.6 Encourage and, where appropriate, ensure that government-funded organizations adopt non-discriminatory policies and practices in order to increase the number and raise the position of women in their organizations; 5.2.1.7 Recognize that shared work and parental responsibilities between women and men promote women's increased participation in public life, and take appropriate measures to achieve this, including measures to reconcile family and professional life; 5.2.1.8 Aim at obtaining gender balance in the lists of national candidates nominated for election or appointment to United Nations bodies and other specialised agencies and organisations. Political parties to: 5.2.1.9 Examine party structures and procedures to remove all barriers that directly or indirectly discriminate against the participation of women; 5.2.1.10 Develop initiatives that allow women to participate fully in all internal policy-making structures as well as appointive and electoral nominating processes. Government, national bodies, the private sector, politicalparties, trade unions, employers, organizations, research and academic institutions, subregional and regional bodies and non-governmental and international organizations to: 5.2.1.11 Take positive action to build a critical mass of women leaders, executives and managers in strategic decision-making positions; 5.2.1.12 Review the criteria for recruitment and appointment to advisory and decision-making bodies and promotion to senior positions to ensure that such criteria are relevant and do not discriminate against women; 5.2.1.13 Encourage efforts by non-governmental organizations, trade unions and the private sector to achieve equality between women and men in their ranks, including equal participation in their decisionmaking bodies and in negotiations in all areas and at all levels; 5.2.1.14 Develop communications strategies to promote public debate on the new roles of women and men in society, and in the family; 5.2.1.15 Develop career advancement programmes for women of all ages that iriclude career planning, tracking, mentoring, coaching, training and retraining. 5.2.1.16 Aim at and support gender balance in the composition of delegations to the United Nations and other international fora. Women's organizations, non-governmental organizations, trade unions, social partners, producers, and industrial and professional organizations to. 5.2.1 .17 Build and strengthen solidarity among women through information, education and sensitization activities; 5.2.1.18 Advocate at all levels to enable women to influence political, economic and social decisions, processes and systems, and work towards seeking accountability from elected representatives on their commitment to gender concerns; 5.2.1.19 Establish, consistent with data protection legislation, databases on women and their qualification for use in appointing women to senior decision-making and advisory positions nationally and internationally . Governments, national bodies, the private sector, political parties, trade unions, employers' organizations, subregional and regional bodies, nongovernmental and international organizations and educational institutions to. 5.2.1.20 Provide leadership and self-esteem training to assist women and girls, to strengthen their self-esteem and to encourage them to take decision-making positions; 5.2.1.21 Have transparent criteria for decision-making positions and ensure that the selectinz bodies have a gender-balanced composition; 5.2.1.22 Create a system of mentoring for inexperienced women and, in particular, offer training in areas such as leadership and decisionmaking, public speaking and self-assertion, as well as in political campaigning; 5.2.1.23 Provide gender-sensitive training for women and men to promote non-discriminatory working relationships and respect for diversity in work and management styles; 5.2.1 .24 Develop mechanisms and training to encourage women to participate in the electoral process, political activities and other leadership areas. 5.3.0 EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF WOMEN Education is a human right and an essential tool for achieving the goals of equality, development and peace. Non-discriminatory education benefits both girls and boys and thus ultimately contributes to more equal relationships between women and men. Equality of access to and attainment of educational qualifications is necessary if more women are to become agents of change. Literacy of women is an important key to improving health, nutrition and education in the family and to empowering women to participate in decision- making in society. Investing in formal and non-forma~ education and training for girls and women, with its exceptionally high social and economic return, has proved to be one of the best means of achieving sustainable development and economic growth that is both sustained and sustainable. Creation of an educational and social environment, in which women and men, girls and boys, are treated equally and encouraged to achieve their full potential, respecting their freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, and where educational resources promote non-stereotyped images of women and men, would be effective in the elimination of the causes of discrimination against women and inequalities between women and men. Women should be enabled to benefit from an ongoing acquisition of knowledge and skills beyond those acquired during youth. This concept of lifelong learning includes knowledge and skills gained in formal education and training, as well as learning that occurs in informal ways, including volunteer activity, unremunerated work and traditional knowledge. Access for and retention of girls and women at all levels of education, including the higher level, and all academic areas is one of the factors of their continued progress in professional activities. Nevertheless, it can be noted that girls are still concentrated in a limited number of fields of study. In addressing unequal access to and inadequate educational opportunities, Government and other actors should promote an active and visible policy of main streaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes, so that, before decisions are taken, an analysis is made of the in effects on women and men respectively. The following strategies and actions need to be adopted in order to address education and training concerns of girls and women. 5.3.1 Ensure equal access to education Government to: 5.3.1 .1 Close the gender participation gap in secondary school education by the year 2005: 5.3.1.2 Eliminate gender disparities in access and participation to all areas of tertiary education by ensuring that women have equal access to career development, training, scholarships and fellowships, and by adopting positive action when appropriate; 5.3 .1.3 Create a gender-sensitive educational system in order to ensure equal educational and training opportunities and full and equal participation of women in educational administration and policy and decision-making; 5.3.1.4 Increase enrolment and retention rates of girls by allocating appropriate budgetary resources; by enlisting the support of parents and the community, as well as through campaigns, flexible school schedules and incentives; 5.3 .1.5 Improve the quality of education and equal opportunities for women and men in terms of access in order to ensure that women of all ages can acquire the knowledge, capacities, aptitudes, skills and ethical values needed to develop and to participate fully under equal conditions in the process of social, economic and political development; 5.3.1.6 Make available non-discriminatory and gender-sensitive professional school counselling and career education programmes to encourage girls to pursue academic and technical curricula in order to widen their future career opportunities. 5.3.2 Eradicate illiteracy among women Government, national, regional and international bodies, bilateral and multilateral donors and non-governmental organizations to. 5.3.2.1 Reduce the female illiteracy rate to at least half its 1990 level, with emphasis on rural women, internally displaced women and women with disabilities; 5.3.2.2 Encourage adult and family engagement in learning to promote total literacy for all people; 5.3.2.3 Promote, together with literacy, life skills and scientific and technological knowledge and work towards an expansion of the definition of literacy, taking into account current targets and benchmarks. 5.3.3 Improve women's access to vocational training, science and technology, and continuing education Government, in cooperation with employers, workers and trade unions, international and non-governmental organizations, including women 's and youth organizations, and educational institutions to: 5.3.3.1 Develop and implement education, training and retraining policies for women, especially young women and women re-entering the labour market, to provide skills to meet the needs of a changing socio-economic context for improving their employment opportunities; 5.3.3.2 Provide recognition to non-formal educational opportunities for girls and women in the educational system; 5.3.3.3 Provide information to women and girls on the availability and benefits of vocational training, training programmes in science and technology and programmes of continuing education; 5.3.3.4 Design educational and training programmes for women who are unemployed in order to provide them with new knowledge and skills that will enhance and broaden their employment opportunities, including self-employment, and development of their entrepreneurial skills; 5.3.3.5 Diversify vocational and technical training and improve access for and retention of girls and women in education and vocational training in such fields as science, mathematics, engineering, environmental sciences and technology, information technology and high technology, as well as management training; 5.3.3.6 Promote women's central role in food and agricultural research, extension and education programmes; 5.3.3.7 Encourage the adaptation of curricula and teaching materials, encourage a supportive training environment and take positive measures to promote training for the full range of occupational choices of non-traditional careers for women and men; 5.3.3.8 Develop curricula and teaching materials and formulate and take positive measures to ensure women better access to and participation as well as apprenticeship programmes in technical and scientific areas, especially areas where they are not represented or are under represented; 5.3.3.9 Increase training in technical, managerial, agricultural extension and marketing areas for women in agriculture, fisheries, industry and business, arts and crafts, to increase income-generating opportunities, women's participation in economic decision making, in particular through women' s organizations at the grass roots level, and their contribution to production, marketing, business, and science and technology. 5.3.4 Develop non-discriminatory education and training Government, educational authorities and other educational and academic institutions. 5.3.4.1 Elaborate recommendations and develop curricula, textbooks and teaching aids free of gender-based stereotypes for all levels of education; 5.3.4.2 Develop training programmes and materials for teachers and educators that raise awareness about the status, role and contribution of women and men in the family, promote equality, cooperation, mutual respect and shared responsibilities between girls and boys; 5.3.4.3 Develop training programmes and materials for teachers and educators that raise awareness of their own role in the educational process, to providing them with effective strategies for gender sensitive teaching; 5.3.4.4 Take positive measures to increase the proportion of women gaining access to educational policy and decision-making, particularly women teachers at all levels of education in academic disciplines that are traditionally male-dominated; 5.3.4.5 Support and develop gender studies and research at all levels of education, and apply them in the development of curricula; textbooks and teaching aids, and in teacher training; 5.3.4.6 Develop leadership training and opportunities for all women to encourage them to take leadership roles both as students and as adults in civil society; 5.3.4.7 Develop human rights education programmes that incorporate the gender dimension at all levels of education; 5.3.4.8 Remove legal, regulatory and social barriers, where appropriate, to sexual and reproductive health education within formal education programmes regarding women's health issues; 5.3.4.9 Encourage, with the guidance and support of their parents and in cooperation with educational staff and institutions, the elaboration of educational programmes for girls and boys and the creation of integrated services in order to raise awareness of their responsibilities and to help them to assume those responsibilities, taking into account the importance of such education and services to personal development and self-esteem, as well as the urgent need to avoid unwanted pregnancy, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, and such phenomena as sexual violence and abuse; 5.3.4.10 Ensure that gender equality and cultural, religious and other diversity are respected in educational institutions; 5.3.4.11 Promote education, training and relevant information programmes for rural and farming women through the use of affordable and appropriate technologies and the mass media - for example, radio programmes, cassettes and mobile units; 5.3.4.12 Provide non-formal education, especially for rural women, in order to realize their potential with regard to health, micro-enterprise, agriculture and legal rights; 5.3.4.13 Remove all barriers to access to formal education for pregnant adolescents and young mothers, and support the provision of child care and other support services where necessary. 5.3.5 Allocate sufficient resources for and monitor the implementation of educational reforms Government to 5.3.5.1 Provide the required budgetary resources to the educational sector, with reallocation within the educational sector to ensure increased funds for basic education, as appropriate; 5.3.5.2 Establish a mechanism at appropriate levels to monitor the implementation of educational reforms and measures in relevant ministries, and establish technical assistance programmes, as appropriate, to address issues raised by the monitoring efforts; Government and private and public institutions, foundations, research institutes and non-governmental organizations to: 5.3.5.3 When necessary, mobilize additional funds from private and public institutions, foundations, research institutes and non-governmental organizations to enable girls and women, as well as boys and men on an equal basis, to complete their education; 5.3.5.4 Provide funding for special programmes, such as programmes in mathematics, science and computer technology, to advance opportunities for all girls and women. Multilateral development institutions, including the World Bank regional development banks, bilateral donors and foundations to: 5.3.5.5 Increase funding for the education and training needs of girls and women as a priority in development assistance programmes; 5.3.5.6 Work with recipient government to ensure that funding for women's education is maintained or increased in structural adjustment and economic recovery programmes. International and intergovernmental organizations, especially the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. at the global level. 5.3.5.7 Contribute to the evaluation of progress achieved, using educational indicators to eliminate differences between women and men and boys and girls with regard to opportunities in education and training and the levels achieved in all fields, particularly in primary and literacy programmes; 5.3.5.8 Provide technical assistance and other resources upon request to developing countries to strengthen the capacity to monitor progress in closing the gap between women and men in education, training and research, and in levels of achievement in all fields, particularly basic education and the elimination of illiteracy. 5.3.6 Promote life-long education and training for girls and women. Government, educational institutions and communities to: 5.3.6.1 Ensure the availability of a broad range of educational and training programmes that lead to ongoing acquisition by women and girls of the knowledge and skills required for living in, contributing to and benefiting from their communities and the national; 5.3.6.2 Provide support for child care and other services to enable mothers to continue their schooling; 5.3.6.3 Create flexible education, training and retraining programmes for life-long learning that facilitate transitions between women's activities at all stages of their lives. 5.4.0 WOMEN AND HEALTH Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of diseases or infirmity. Women have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The enjoyment of this right is vital to their life and well-being and their ability to participate in all areas of public and private life. Women's health involves their emotional, social and physical well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Women's health involves their emotional, social and physical well-being and is determined by the social, political and economic context of their lives, as well as by biology. However, health and well-being elude the majority of women. Health policies and programmes often perpetuate gender stereotypes and fail to consider socio-economic disparities and other differences among women and may not fully take account of the lack of autonomy of women regarding their health. Women's right to the enjoyment of the highest standard of health must be secured throughout the whole life cycle in equality with men. Women are affected by many of the same health conditions as men, but women experience them differently. The prevalence among women of poverty and economic dependence, their experience of violence, negative attitudes towards women and girls, the limited power many women have over their sexual and reproductive lives and lack of influence in decision-making are social realities which have an adverse impact on their health. Lack of food and inequitable distribution of food for girls and women in the household, inadequate access to safe water, sanitation facilities and fuel supplies, particularly in rural and poor urban areas, and deficient housing conditions, all overburden women and their families and have a negative effect on their health. Good health is essential to leading a productive and fulfilling life, and the right of all women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their own fertility, is basic to their empowerment. Conditions that force girls into early marriage, pregnancy and child-bearing and subject them to harmful practices; pose grave health risks. Adolescent girls need access to necessary health and nutrition services as they mature. Counselling and access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for adolescents are still inadequate or lacking completely, and a young woman's right to privacy, confidentiality, respect and informed consent is often not considered. Adolescent girls are both biologically and psycho socially more vulnerable than boys to sexual abuse, violence and prostitution, and to the consequences of unprotected and premature sexual relations. The trend towards early sexual experiences, combined with a lack of information and services, increases the risk of unwanted and too early pregnancy, HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as unsafe abortions. Overall, for young women early marriage and early motherhood can severely curtail educational and employment opportunities and are likely to have a long-term, adverse impact on the quality of their lives and the lives of their children. Reproductive health implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. Implicit in this condition are the right of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant. Reproductive health care is defined as the constellation of methods, techniques and services that contribute to reproductive health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health problems. It also includes sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and personal relations, and not merely counselling and care related to reproductive health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health problems. It also includes sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and personal relations, and not merely counselling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases. Equal relationships between women and men in matters of sexual relations and reproduction, including full respect for the integrity of the person, require mutual respect, consent and shared responsibility for sexual behaviour and its consequences. Further, women are subject to particular health risks due to inadequate responsiveness and lack of services to meet health needs related to pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity of women. Unsafe abortions threaten the lives of a large number of women, representing a grave public health problem as it is primarily the poorest and youngest who take the highest risk. Most of these deaths, health problems and injuries are preventable through improved access to adequate health-care services, including safe and effective family planning methods and emergency obstetric care, recognizing the right of women and men to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health care services. The neglect of women's reproductive rights severely limits their opportunities in public and private life, including opportunities for education and economic and political empowerment. The ability of women to control their own fertility forms an important basis for the enjoyment of other rights. Shared responsibility between women and men in matters related to sexual and reproductive behaviour is also essential to improving women's health. HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, the transmission of which is sometimes a consequence of sexual violence, are having a devastating effect on women' s health, particularly the health of adolescent girls and young women. They often do not have the power to insist on safe and responsible sex practices and have little access to information and services for prevention and treatment. Women, who represent half of all adults newly infected with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, have emphasized that social vulnerability and the unequal power relationships between women and men are obstacles to safe sex, in their efforts to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The consequences of HIV/AIDS reach beyond women's health to their role as mothers and caregivers and their contribution to the economic support of their families. The social, developmental and health consequences of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases need to be seen from a gender perspective. Mental disorders related to marginalization, powerlessness and poverty, along with overwork and stress and the growing incidence of domestic violence as well as substance abuse, are among other health issues of growing concern to women. Women throughout the world, especially young women, are increasing their use of tobacco with serious effects on their health and that of their children. Occupational health issues are also growing in importance, as a large number of women work in low-paid jobs in either the formal or the informal labour market under tedious and unhealthy conditions, and the number is rising. Cancers of the breast and cervix and other cancers of the reproductive system, as well as infertility affect growing numbers of women and may be preventable, or curable if detected early. With the increase in life expectancy and the growing number of older women, their health concerns require particular attention. The long-term health prospects of women are influenced by changes at menopause, which, in combination with life-long conditions and other factors, such as poor nutrition and lack of physical activity, may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Other diseases of aging and the interrelationships of aging and disability among women also need particular attention. Statistical data on health are often not systematically collected, disaggregated and analysed by age, sex and socio-economic status and by established demographic criteria used to serve the interests and solve the problems of subgroups, with particular emphasis on the vulnerable and marginalized and other relevant variables. Recent and reliable data on the mortality and morbidity of women and conditions and diseases particularly affecting women are seldom available. Relatively little is known about how social and economic factors affect the health of girls and women of all ages, about the provision of health services to girls and women and the patterns of their use of such services, and about the value of disease prevention and health promotion programmes for women. Subjects of importance to women's health have not been adequately researched and women's health research often lacks funding. The following strategies and actions need to be adopted to promote and mainstream gender perspectives in the planning and provision of health care. 5.4.1 Increase women's access throughout the life cycle to appropriate, affordable and quality health care, information and related services. Government, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and employers' and workers' organizations and with the support of international institutions to. 5.4.1.1 Reaffirm the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, protect and promote the attainment of this right for women and girls and incorporate it in national legislation, for example; review existing legislation, including health legislation, as well as policies, where necessary, to reflect a commitment to women's health and to ensure that they meet the changing roles and responsibilities of women wherever they reside; 5.4.1.2 Design and implement, in cooperation with women and community-based organizations, gender-sensitive health programmes that address the needs of women throughout their lives and take into account their multiple roles and responsibilities, the demands on their time, the special needs of rural women and women with disabilities and the diversity of women's needs arising from age and socio-economic and cultural differences, among others, include women, in the identification and planning of health care priorities and programmes, remove all barriers to women's health services and provide a broad range of health-care services; 5.4.1.3 Redesign health information, services and training for health workers so that they are gender-sensitive and reflect the user's perspectives with regard to interpersonal and communications skills and the user's right to privacy and confidentiality, these services, information and training should be based on a holistic approach; 5.4.1.4 Ensure that all health services and workers conform to human rights and to ethical, professional and gender-sensitive standards in the delivery of women's health services aimed at ensuring responsible, voluntary and informed consent; encourage the development, implementation and dissemination of codes of ethics guided by existing international codes of medical ethics as well as ethical principles that govern other health professionals; 5.4.1.5 Take all appropriate measures to eliminate harmful, medically unnecessary or coercive medical interventions, as well as inappropriate medication and over-medication of women, and ensure that all women are fully informed of their options, including likely benefits and potential side-effects, by properly trained personnel; 5.4.1.6 Strengthen and reorient health services, particularly primary health care, in order to ensure universal access to quality health services for women and girls and reduce ill health and maternal morbidity. 5.4.1.7 Recognize and deal with the health impact of unsafe abortion as a major public health concern; 5.4.1.8 Give particular attention to the needs of girls, especially the promotion of healthy behaviour, including physical activities; take specific measures for closing the gender gaps in morbidity and mortality where girls are disadvantaged; 5.4.1.9 Develop information, programmes and services to assist women to understand and adapt to changes associated with ageing and to address and treat the health needs of older women, paying particular attention to those who are physically or psychologically dependent; 5.4.1.10 Ensure that girls and women of all ages with any form of disability supportive services; 5.4.1.11 Integrate mental health services into primary health-care systems of other appropriate levels, develop supportive programmes and train primary health workers to recognize and care for girls and women of all ages who have experienced any form of violence especially domestic violence, sexual or any other form of abuse; 5.4.1.12 Promote public information on the benefits of breast-feeding; and enable mothers to breastfeed their infants by providing legal, economic, practical and emotional support; 5.4.1.13 Establish mechanisms to support and involve non-governmental organizations, in government policy-making, programme design, and implementation within the health sector and related sectors at all levels; 5.4.1.14 Support non-governmental organizations working on women's health and help develop networks aimed at improving coordination and collaboration between all sectors that affect health; 5.4.1.15 Provide improved access to appropriate treatment and rehabilitation services for women substance abusers and their families; 5.4.1.16 Promote and ensure household and national food security, as appropriate, and implement programmes aimed at improving the nutritional status of all girls and women; 5.4.1.17 Ensure the availability of and universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation and put in place effective public distribution systems as soon as nosebleed: 5.4.1.18 Ensure full and equal access to health-care infrastructure and services for indigenous women. 5.4.2 Strengthen preventive programmes that promote women's health Government, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, the mass media, the private sector and relevant international organizations, including United Nations bodies, as appropriate to: 5.4.2.1 Pursue social, human development, education and employment policies to eliminate poverty among women in order to reduce their susceptibility to ill-health and to improve their health; 5.4.2.2 Prepare and disseminate accessible information, through public health campaigns, the media, reliable counselling and the education system, designed to ensure that women and men, particularly young people, can acquire knowledge about their health, especially information on sexuality and reproduction; 5.4.2.3 Recognize the specific needs of adolescents and implement specific appropriate programmes, such as education and information on sexual and reproductive health issues and on sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; 5.4.2.4 Develop policies that reduce the disproportionate and increasing burden on women who have multiple roles within the family and the community by providing them with adequate support and programmes from health and social services; 5.4.2.5 Adopt regulations to ensure that the working conditions, including remuneration and promotion of women at all levels of the health system, are non-discriminatory and meet fair and professional standards to enable them to work effectively; 5.4.2.6 Ensure that health and nutritional information and training form an integral part of all adult literacy programmes and school curricula from the primary level; 5.4.2.7 Establish and/or strengthen programmes and services, including media campaigns, that address the prevention, early detection and treatment of breast, cervical and other cancers of the reproductive system; 5.4.2.8 Create awareness among women, health professionals, policy makers and the general public about the serious but preventable health hazards stemming from tobacco consumption and the need for regulatory and education measures to reduce smoking as important health promotion and disease prevention activities; 5.4.2.9 Adopt specific preventive measures to protect women, youth and children from any abuse - sexual abuse, exploitation, trafficking and violence, for example - including the formulation and enforcement of laws, and provide legal protection and medical and other assistance. 5.4.3 Undertake gender-sensitive initiatives that address sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health issues. Government, international bodies including relevant United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors and non-governmental organizations to: 5.4.3.1 Ensure the involvement of women, especially those infected with HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases or affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, in all decision-making relating to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; 5.4.3.2 Review and amend laws and combat practices, as appropriate, that may contribute to women's susceptibility to HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases, and implement legislation, policies and practices to protect women, adolescents and young girls from discrimination related to HIV/AIDS; 5.4.3.3 Recognize the extent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Botswana taking particularly into account its impact on women, with a view to ensuring that infected women do not suffer stigmatization and discrimination; 5.4.3.4 Develop gender-sensitive multi-sectoral programmes and strategies to end social subordination of women and girls and to ensure their social and economic empowerment and equality; facilitate promotion of programmes to educate and enable men to assume their responsibilities to prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; 5.4.3.5 Support and strengthen national capacity to create and improve gender-sensitive policies and programmes on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, including the provision of resources and facilities to women who find themselves the principal caregivers or economic support for those infected with HIV/AIDS or affected by the economic support for those infected with HIV/AIDS or affected by the pandemic, and the survivors, particularly children and older persons; 5.4.3.6 Assist women and their formal and informal organizations to establish and expand effective peer education and outreach programmes and to participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of HIV/AIDS programmes; 5.4.3.7 Give full attention to the promotion of mutually respectful and equitable gender relations and, in particular, to meeting the educational and service needs of adolescents to enable them to deal in a positive and responsible way with their sexuality; 5.4.3.8 Design specific programmes for men of all ages and male adolescents, aimed at providing complete and accurate information on safe and responsible sexual and reproductive behaviour, including voluntary, appropriate and effective male methods for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases through, abstinence and condom use; 5.4.3.9 Support programmes which acknowledge that the higher risk among women of contracting HIV is linked to high-risk behaviour, including intravenous substance use and substance-influenced unprotected and irresponsible sexual behaviour, and take appropriate preventive measures; 5.4.3.10 Support and expedite action-oriented research on affordable methods, controlled by women, to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, on strategies empowering women to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and on methods of care, support and treatment of women, ensuring their involvement in all aspects of such research. 5.4.4 Promote research and disseminate information on women's health Government, the United Nations system, health professions, research institutions, non-governmental organizations, donors, pharmaceutical industries and the mass media, as appropriate to. 5.4.4.1 Train researchers and introduce systems that allow for the use of data collected, analysed and disaggregated by, among Other factors, sex and age, other established demographic criteria and socio economic variables, in policy-making, as appropriate, planning, monitoring and evaluation; 5.4.4.2 Promote gender-sensitive and women-centred health research, treatment and technology and link traditional and indigenous knowledge with modern medicine, making information available to women to enable them to make informed and responsible decisions; 5.4.4.3 Increase the number of women in leadership positions in the health professions, including researchers and scientists, to achieve equality at the earliest possible date; 5.4.4.4 Increase financial and other support from all sources for preventive, appropriate biomedical, behavioural, epidemiological and health service research on women's health issues and for research on the social, economic and political causes of women's health problems, and their consequences, and age inequalities; 5.4.4.5 Inform women about the factors which increase the risks of developing cancers and infections of the reproductive tract, so that they can make informed decisions about their health; 5.4.4.6 Support health service systems and operations research to strengthen access and improve the quality of service delivery, to ensure appropriate support for women as health-care providers and to examine patterns with respect to the provision of health services to women and use of such services by women; 5.4.4.7 Acknowledge and encourage beneficial traditional health care, especially that practised by indigenous women, with a view to preserving and incorporating the value of traditional health care in the provision of health services, and support research directed towards achieving this aim; 5.4.4.8 Develop mechanisms to evaluate and disseminate available data and research findings to researchers, policy makers, health professionals and women's groups, among others; 5.4.4.9 Monitor human genome and related genetic research from the perspective of women's health and disseminate information and results of studies conducted in accordance with accepted ethical standards. 5.4.5 Increase resources and monitor follow-up for women's health Government at all levels and, where appropriate, in cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, especially women 's and youth organizations to: 5.4.5.1 Increase budgetary allocations for primary health care and social services, with adequate support for secondary and tertiary levels, and give special attention to the reproductive and sexual health of girls and women and give priority to health programmes in rural and poor urban areas; 5.4.5.2 Develop innovative approaches to funding health services through promoting community participation and local financing; increase, where necessary, budgetary allocations for community health centres and community- based programmes and services that address women's specific health needs; 5.4.5.3 Develop local health services, promoting the incorporation of gender-sensitive community-based participation and self-care and specially designed preventive health programmes; 5.4.5.4 Establish, as appropriate, ministerial and inter-ministerial mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of women's health policy and programme reforms and establish, as appropriate, high level focal points in national planning authorities responsible for monitoring to ensure that women's health concerns are main streamed in all relevant government agencies and programmes. Governments, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, international financial institutions, bilateral donors and the private sector, and appropriate to: 5.4.5.5 Provide appropriate material, financial and logistical assistance to youth non-governmental organizations in order to strengthen them to address youth concerns in the area of health, including sexual and reproductive health. 5.5.0 THE GIRL CHILD Girls are often treated as inferior and are socialized to put themselves last, thus undermining their self-esteem. Discrimination and neglect in childhood can initiate a lifelong downward spiral of deprivation and exclusion from the social mainstream. Initiatives should be taken to prepare girls to participate actively, effectively and equally with boys at all levels of social, economic, political and cultural leadership. Gender-biased educational processes, including curricula, educational materials and practices, teachers' attitudes and classroom interaction, reinforce existing gender inequalities. Girls are often not encouraged or given the opportunity to pursue scientific and technological training and education, which limits the knowledge they require for their daily lives and their employment opportunities. They are less encouraged than boys to participate in and learn about the social, economic and political functioning of society, with the result that they are not offered the same opportunities as boys to take part in decision-making processes. Early child-bearing is not only highly risky but continues to be an impediment to improvements in the educational, economic and social status of women in all parts of the world. Overall, early marriage and early motherhood can severely curtail educational and employment opportunities and are likely to have a long- term adverse impact on the quality of life for both mother and child. Girls are more vulnerable than boys to the consequences of unprotected and premature sexual relations. Girls often face pressures to engage in sexual activity. Due to such factors as their youth, social pressures, lack of protective laws, or failure to enforce laws, girls are more vulnerable to all kinds of violence, particularly sexual violence, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, trafficking, possibly the sale of their organs and tissues, and forced labour. The girl child with disabilities faces additional barriers and needs to be ensured nondiscrimination and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The following is an outline of strategies and actions that need to be taken in addressing issues concerning children and youth, in order to promote an active and visible policy of main streaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes so that girls have equal opportunity with boys in the development process. 5.5.1 Eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl child Government to: 5.5.1.1 Ensure full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child through the adoption of all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures and by fostering an enabling environment that encourages full respect for the rights of children; 5.5.1.2 Eliminate the injustice and obstacles in relation to inheritance faced by the girl child so that all children may enjoy their rights without discrimination, by inter alia, enacting, as appropriate, and enforcing legislation that guarantees equal right to succession and ensures equal rirht to inherit, regardless of the sex of the child; 5.5.1.3 Enact and strictly enforce laws to ensure that marriage is only entered into with the free and full consent of the intending spouses; 5.5.1.4 Develop and implement comprehensive policies, plans of action and programmes for the survival, protection, development and advancement of the girl child to promote and protect the full enjoyment of her human rights and to ensure equal opportunities for girls these plans should form an integral part of the total development process; 5.5.1.5 Ensure the desegregation by sex and age of all data and research related to children in the health. education and other sectors in order to include a gender perspective in planning, implementation monitoring and decision-making processes, of such programmes, particularly in regarding the advancement of the child 5.5.2 Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against girls Government to: 5.5.2.1 Encourage and support, as appropriate, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations in their efforts to promote changes in negative attitudes and practices towards girls. 5.5.2.2 Set up educational programmes and develop teaching materials and textbooks thaht will sensitize and inform adults about the harmful effects of certain traditional or customary practices on girl children; 5.5.2.3 Develop and adopt curricula, teaching materials and textbooks to improve the self-image, lives and work opportunities of girls, particularly in areas where women have traditionally been under- represented, such as mathematics, science and technology; 5.5.2.4 Take steps so that tradition and religion and their expressions are not a basis for discrimination against girls; Government and, as appropriate, international and non-governmental organizations to: 5.5.2.5 Promote an educational setting that eliminates all barriers that impede the schooling of married and/or pregnant girls and young mothers; 5.5.2.6 Encourage educational institutions and the media to adopt and project balanced and non-stereotyped images of girls and boys, and work to eliminate degrading and violent portrayals of the girl child; 5.5.2.7 Develop policies and programmes, giving priority to formal and informal education programmes that support girls and enable them to acquire knowledge, develop self-esteem and take respor;sibility for their own lives; and place special focus on programmes to educate women and men, especially parents, on the importance of girls' physical and mental health and well-being, including the elimination of discrimination against girls in food allocation, early marriage, violence against girls, child prostitution, sexual abuse, rape and incest. 5.5.3 Promote and protect the rights of the girl child and increase awareness of her needs and potential Government and international and non-governmental organisations to: 5.5.3 .1 Generate awareness of the disadvantaged situation of girls among policy makers, planners, administrators and implementors at all levels, as well as within households and communities; 5.5.3.2 Take appropriate measures in order to make the girl child, particularly the girl in difficult circumstances~ aware of her own potential and rights; 5.5.3.3 Educate women, men, girls and boys to promote girls' status and encourage them to work towards mutual respect and equal partnership between girls and boys; 5.5.3.4 Facilitate the equal provision of appropriate services and devices to girls with disabilities and provide their families with related support services, as appropriate. 5.5.4 Eliminate discrimination against girls in education, skills development and training Government to. 5.5.4.1 Take steps to integrate functional literacy and numeracy programmes, particularly for out-of-school girls in development programmes; 5.5.4.2 Promote human rights education in educational programmes and include in human rights education the fact that the human rights of women and the girl child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights; 5.5.4.3 Increase enrolment and improve retention rates of girls by allocating appropriate budgetary resources and by enlisting the support of the community and parents through campaigns and flexible school schedules, incentives, scholarships, access programmes for out-of school girls and other measures; 5.5.4.4 Develop training programmes and materials for teachers and educators, raising awareness about their own role in the educational process, with a view to providing them with effective strategies for gender-sensitive teaching; Government, international and non-governmental organizations to. 5.5.4.5 Provide education and skills training to increase girls' opportunities for employment and access to decision-making processes; 5.5.4.6 Provide education to increase girls' knowledge and skills related to the functioning of economic, financial and political systems; 5.5.4.7 Ensure access to appropriate education and skills-training for girl children with disabilities for their full participation in life; 5.5.4.6 Promote the full and equal participation of girls in extracurricular activities, such as sports, drama and cultural activities. 5.5.5 Eliminate discrimination against girls in health and nutrition Government, international and non-governmental organizations to: 5.5.5.1 Sensitize the girl child, parents, teachers and society concerning good general health and nutrition and raise awareness of the health dangers and other problems connected with early pregnancies; 5.5.5.2 Strengthen and reorient health education and health services, particularly primary health care programmes, including sexual and reproductive health, and design quality health programmes that meet the physical and mental needs of girls and that attend to the needs of young, expectant and nursing mothers; 5.5.5.3 Establish peer education and outreach programmes with a view to strengthening individual and collective action to reduce the vulnerability of girls to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; 5.5.5.4 Ensure education and dissemination of information to girls, especially adolescent girls, regarding the physiology of reproduction, reproductive and sexual health, responsible family planning practice, family life, reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection and AIDS prevention; 5.5.5.5 Develop information and training programmes for health planners and implementors on the special health needs of the girl child; 5.5.5.6 Take all the appropriate measures with a view to abolishing traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children. 5.5.6 Eliminate the economic exploitation of child labour and protect young girls at work. Government to: 5.5.6.1 Protect children from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. 5.5.6.2 Protect young girls at work, inter alia, through: i. A minimum age or ages for admission to employment ii. Strict monitoring of work conditions (respect for work time, prohibition of work by children not provided for by national legislation, and monitoring of hygiene and health conditions at work); iii. Application of social security coverage; iv. Establishment of continuous training and education; 5.5.6.3 Strengthen, where necessary, legislation governing the work of children and provide for appropriate penalties or other sanctions to ensure effective enforcement of the legislation. 5.5.7 Eradicate violence against the girl child Government, international and non-governmental organizations to. 5.5.7.1 Take effective actions and measures to enact and enforce legislation to protect the safety and security of girls from all forms of violence at work, including training programmes and support programmes, and take measures to eliminate incidents of sexual harassment of zirls in educational and other institutions: 5.5.7.2 Take appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the girl child, in the household and in society, from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse; 5.5.7.3 Undertake gender sensitization training for those involved in healing and rehabilitation and other assistance programmes for girls who are victims of violence and promote programmes of information, support and training for such girls; 5.5.7.4 Enact and enforce legislation protecting girls from all forms of violence, including incest, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child prostitution and develop age-appropriate safe and confidential programmes and medical, social and psychological support services to assist girls who are subjected to violence. 5.5.8 Promote the girl child's awareness of and participation in social, economic and political life. Government, international and non-governmental organizations to: 5.5.8.1 Provide access for girls to training, information and the media on social, cultural, economic and political issues and enable them to articulate their views; 5.5.8.2 Support non-governmental organizations, in particular youth non governmental organizations, in their efforts to promote the equality and participation of girls in society; 5.5.9 Strengthen the role of the family in improving the status of the girl child Government, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations to. 5.5.9.1 Formulate policies and programmes to help the family, in its supporting, educating and nurturing roles, with particular emphasis on the elimination of intra-family discrimination against the girl child; 5.5.9.2 Provide an environment conducive to the strengthening of the family, with a view to providing supportive and preventive measures which protect, respect and promote the potential-of the girl child; 5.5.9.3 Educate and encourage parents and caregivers to treat girls and boys equally and to ensure shared responsibilities between girls and boys in the family. 5.6.0 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace. Violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The long-standing failure to protect and promote those rights and freedoms in the case of violence against women is a matter of concern to all states and should be addressed. The term "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. Accordingly, violence against women encompasses but is not limited to the following: a) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry- related violence, marital rape, and other traditional practices harmful to women, non spousal violence and violence related to exploitation; b) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution; c) Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs. Acts or threats of violence, whether occurring within the home or in the community, or perpetrated or condoned by the State, instil fear and insecurity in women's lives and are obstacles to the achievement of equality and for development and peace. The fear of violence, including harassment, is a permanent constraint on the mobility of women and limits their access to resources and basic activities. Violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men. In many cases, violence against women and girls occurs in the family or within the home, where violence is often tolerated. The neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and rape of girl children and women by family members and other members of the household, as well as incidences of spousal and non-spousal abuse, often go unreported and are thus difficult to detect. Even when such violence is reported, there is often a failure to protect victims or punish perpetrators. Violence against women is exacerbated by social pressures, notably the shame of denouncing certain acts that have been perpetrated against women; women's lack of access to legal information, aid or protection; the lack of laws that effectively prohibit violence against women; failure to reform existing laws; inadequate efforts on the part of public authorities to promote awareness of and enforce existing laws; and the absence of educational and other means to address the causes and consequences of violence. Developing a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the challenging task of promoting families, communities and states that are free of violence against women is necessary and achievable. Equality, partnership between women and men and respect for human dignity must permeate all stages of the socialization process. Educational systems should promote self-respect, mutual respect, and cooperation between women and men. The absence of adequate gender-desegregated data and statistics on the incidence of violence makes the elaboration of programmes and monitoring of changes difficult. Lack of or inadequate documentation and research on domestic violence, sexual harassment and violence against women and girls in private and in public, including the workplace, impede efforts to design specific intervention strategies. Experience in a number of countries shows that women and men can be mobilized to overcome violence in all its forms and that effective public measures can be taken to address both the causes and the consequences of violence. Men's groups mobilizing against gender violence are necessary allies for change. Women may be vulnerable to violence perpetrated by persons in positions of authority in both conflict and non-conflict situations. Training of all officials in humanitarian and human rights laws and the punishment of perpetrators of violent acts against women would help to ensure that such violence does not take place at the hands of public officials in whom women should be able to place trust, including police and prison officials and security forces. The following strategies and actions need to be adopted in addressing violence against women, in order to promote an active and visible policy of main streaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes. 5.6.1 Take integrated measures to prevent and eliminate violence against women Government to: 5.6.1.1 Condemn violence against women and refrain from invoking any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid obligations with respect to its elimination; 5.6.1.2 Refrain from engaging in violence against women and exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and, in accordance with national legislation, punish acts of violence against women, whether those acts are perpetrated by the state or by private persons; 5.6.1.3 Enact and/or reinforce penal, civil, labour and administrative sanctions in domestic legislation to punish and redress the wrongs done to women and girls who are subjected to any form of violence, whether in the home, the workplace, the community or society; 5.6.1.4 Ratify, adopt and implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; 5.6.1.5 Promote an active and visible policy of main streaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes related to violence against women; actively encourage, support and implement measures and programmes aimed at increasing the knowledge and understanding of the causes, consequences and mechanisms of violence against women among those responsible for implementing these policies, such as law enforcement officers, police personnel and judicial, medical and social workers, and develop strategies to ensure that the revictimization of women victims of violence does not occur because of gender-insensitive laws or judicial or enforcement practices; 5.6.1.6 Formulate and implement, at all appropriate levels, plans of action to eliminate violence against women; 5.6.1.7 Adopt all appropriate measures, especially in the field of education, to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, and to eliminate prejudices, customary practices and all other practices based on the idea of the inferiority or superiority of either of the sexes and on stereotyped roles for men and women; 5.6.1.8 Create or strengthen institutional mechanisms so that women and girls can report acts of violence against them in a safe and confidential environment, free from the fear of penalties or retaliation, and file charges; 5.6.1.9 Ensure that women with disabilities have access to information and services in the field of violence against women. 5.6.1 .10 Allocate adequate resources within the government budget and mobilize community resources for activities related to the elimination of violence against women, including resources for the implementation of plans of action at all apropriate levels. Government, including local government, community organizations, non- governmental organizations, educational institutions, the public and private sectors, particularly enterprises, and the mass media, as appropriate to: 5.6.1.1 1 Provide well-funded shelters and relief support for girls and women subjected to violence, as well as medical, psychological and other counselling services and free or low-cost legal aid, where it is needed, as well as appropriate assistance to enable them to find a means of subsistence; 5.6.1.12 Organize, support and fund community-based education and training campaigns to raise awareness about violence against women as a violation of women's enjoyment of their human rights and mobilize local communities to use appropriate gender-sensitive traditional and innovative methods of conflict resolution; 5.6.1.13 Recognize, support and promote the fundamental role of intermediate institutions in the field of information and education related to abuse; 5.6.1.14 Disseminate information on the assistance available to women and families who are victims of violence: 5.6.1.15 Raise awareness of the responsibility of the media in promoting non-stereotyped images of women and men, as well as in eliminating patterns of media presentation that generate violence, and encourage those responsible for media content to establish professional guidelines and codes of conduct; also raise awareness of the important role of the media in informing and educating people about the causes and effects of violence against women and in stimulating public debate on the topic. Government, employers, trade unions, community and youth organizations and non-governmental organizations, as appropriate to. 5.1.1.16 Develop programmes and procedures to eliminate sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women in all educational institutions, workplaces and elsewhere: 5.1.1.17 Develop programmes and procedures to educate and raise awareness of acts of violence against women that constitute a crime and a violation of the human rights of women; 5.6.1.18 Develop counselling, healing and support programmes for girls, adolescents and young women who have been or are involved in abusive relationships, particularly those who live in homes or institutions where abuse occurs; 5.6.1.19 Take special measures to eliminate violence against women, particularly those in vulnerable situations, such as young women, refugee, displaced and internally displaced women, women with disabilities and women migrant workers, including enforcing any existing legislation and developing, as appropriate, new legislation for women migrant workers in both sending and receiving countries. 5.6.2 Study the causes and consequences of violence against women and the effectiveness of preventive measures Governments, regional organizations, the United Nations, other international organizations, research institutions, women 's and youth organizations and non- governmental organizations, as appropriate to: 5.6.2.1 Promote research, collect data and compile statistics, especially concerning domestic violence relating to the prevalence of different forms of violence against women, and encourage research into the causes, nature, seriousness and consequences of violence against women and the effectiveness of measures implemented to prevent and redress violence against women and disseminate findings of research and studies widely; 5.6.2.2 Support and initiate research on the impact of violence, such as rape, on women and girl children, and make the resulting information and statistics available to the public. 5.6.2.3 Encourage the media to examine the impact of gender role stereotypes, including those perpetuated by commercial advertisements which foster gender-based violence and inequalities, and how they are transmitted during the life cycle, and take measures to eliminate these negative images with a view to promoting a violence-free society.