Commission on the Status of Women Fifty-seventh session (4 - 15 March 2013)

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The fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013.

new icon Report on the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women

» News and announcements
» Participants
» Bureau
» Themes
» Webcast
» Organization of the session
        Statements
        General discussion
        Interactive events
» Agreed conclusions
» Resolutions
» Documentation
» Side events
» Preparations
» Feature stories

      

News and announcements (scroll down to see more)


Participants

Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world attended the session. For more information on NGO participation, please click here.

Provisional list of delegations to the fifty-seventh session of the CSW (E/CN.6/2013/INF/1).



Bureau

The Bureau for the 56th and 57th sessions comprised the following members:

  • H.E. Ms. Marjon V. Kamara (Liberia) of the African States Group, Chair
  • Ms. Ana Marie Hernando (Philippines) of the Asia-Pacific States Group, Vice-Chair
  • Ms. Irina Velichko (Belarus) of the Eastern European States Group, Vice-Chair
  • H.E. Mr. Carlos Garcia Gonzalez (El Salvador) of the Latin American and Caribbean States Group, Vice-Chair
  • Mr. Filippo Cinti (Italy), Western European and other States Group, Vice-Chair

Themes

Priority theme:
Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls

Review theme:
The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS (agreed conclusions from the fifty-third session)

Emerging issue:
Key gender equality issues to be reflected in the post-2015 development framework

Preview on the priority theme of 2014:
Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls


Organization of the session

In accordance with its multi-year programme of work (ECOSOC resolution 2009/15), the Commission's two-week session included the following activities: Organization of work
» First week   » Second week  Print view

First week 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 1-3 p.m. 3-6 p.m.
Monday 4 March - Opening of the session
- Election of officers (Item 1)
- Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters (Item 2)
- Introduction of documents
(Item 3 as a whole)

General discussion (Item 3)
(opens)
Review of the implementation of the BPfA and the outcome of the 23rd special session of the GA - sharing of experiences and good practices on implementation of the Platform for Action, with a view to overcoming remaining obstacles and new challenges

1 p.m.: deadline for inscription on list of speakers for the general discussion

Webcast Archived Webcast

High-level round table on the priority theme
(in two parallel meetings)


Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls (Item 3 (a) (i))

Webcast Archived Webcast (Round table A)
Webcast Archived Webcast (Round table B)
Tuesday 5 March General discussion (Item 3)
(continued)

Webcast Archived Webcast
  Panel 1
Priority theme


Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls

Focus: prevention of violence against women and girls

Webcast Archived Webcast
Wednesday 6 March General discussion (Item 3)
(continued)

Webcast Archived Webcast
Preparatory panel for 2014:

Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls

Webcast Archived Webcast
Panel 2
Priority theme


Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls

Focus: multi-sectoral services and responses for violence against women and girls

Webcast Archived Webcast
Thursday 7 March General discussion (Item 3)
(continued)

in parallel with

Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations

Webcast Archived Webcast
  Panel 3
Emerging issue


Key gender equality issues to be reflected in the post-2015 development framework

Webcast Archived Webcast
Friday 8 March
International Women’s Day
[10 a.m. to 12 p.m.]


followed by

Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations

Webcast Archived Webcast
Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations

Second week 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 1-3 p.m. 3-6 p.m.
Monday 11 March General discussion (Item 3)
(continued)

in parallel with

Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations

Webcast Archived Webcast
General discussion (Item 3)
(concludes)

in parallel with

Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations

Webcast Archived Webcast
Tuesday 12 March Panel 4
Review theme


Evaluation of progress in the implementation of the agreed conclusions of CSW53 on “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS”

Focus: gender norms and stereotypes, socialization and unequal power relations; sharing and balancing life-work responsibilities

Webcast Archived Webcast
  3 p.m.: deadline for submission of draft proposals (i.e., draft resolutions / decisions)

Panel 5
Review theme


Evaluation of progress in the implementation of the agreed conclusions of CSW53 on “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS”

Focus: caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS; recognizing and valuing unpaid care work

Webcast Archived Webcast
Wednesday 13 March Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations
Closed meeting to consider the report of the Working Group on Communications (Item 4)

followed by

Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations
Thursday 14 March Follow-up to the Economic and Social Council resolutions and decisions (Item 5) - introduction and discussion

Introduction of draft proposals

followed by

Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations
  Agreed conclusions:
Informal consultations
Friday 15 March Action on draft proposals Action on draft proposals and other outstanding issues
Provisional agenda for the 58th session of CSW (Item 6)
Adoption of the report of the CSW on its 57th session (Item 7)
Closure of the 57th session

Opening of 58th session
Election of Bureau



 

Statements

Opening statements

Other statements


General discussion

Regional Groups

Member States

Permanent Observers

UN entities:

Intergovernmental organizations:

Other entities:

Non-governmental organizations:


Interactive events

Priority theme

Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls

High-level round table A
Webcast Archived Webcast

Monday, 4 March 2013, 3 - 6 p.m.
Conference Room 2, North Lawn Building

List of delegations

Discussion guide


High-level round table B
Webcast Archived Webcast

Monday, 4 March 2013, 3 - 6 p.m.
ECOSOC Chamber, North Lawn Building

List of delegations

Discussion guide


Panel 1
Prevention of violence against women and girls
Webcast Archived Webcast

Tuesday, 5 March 2013, 3 - 6 p.m.
Conference room 2, North Lawn Building

Secretary-General’s report on prevention of violence against women and girls

Panellists

  • Ms. Mervat El-Tallawy (Egypt), President, National Council of Women
    Prevention of violence against women in constitution and nation-building processes [Paper]
  • Ms. Pinar Ilkkaracan (Turkey), Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education and Counseling, Bosphorus University
    Sexual and reproductive health and rights and the prevention of violence against women [Paper ]
  • Ms. Liina Kanter (Estonia), Head, Department of Gender Equality, Ministry of Social Affairs
    Addressing gender inequality and discrimination to prevent violence against women and girls [Paper]
  • Ms. Marai Larasi (United Kingdom), Executive Director, Imkaan
    Report of the expert group meeting on prevention of violence against women and girls [Paper ]
  • Ms. Claudia Garcia Moreno Esteva, Team Leader, Sexual Health, Gender, Reproductive Rights and Adolescence, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization
    A holistic approach to the prevention of violence against women and girls [Presentation ]

Panel 2
Multisectoral services and responses for women and girls subjected to violence
Webcast Archived Webcast

Wednesday, 6 March 2013, 3 - 6 p.m.
Conference room 2, North Lawn Building

Secretary-General’s report on multisectoral services and responses for women and girls subjected to violence

Panellists

  • Ms. Eva Giberti (Argentina), Programme Coordinator, Victims of Violence, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights
  • Victim-centered approaches to multisectoral services and responses [ Paper ]
  • Ms. Akima Thomas (United Kingdom), Clinical Director, Women and Girls Network
    Providing services from holistic perspective and standards for service provision [ Paper | Presentation ]
  • Ms. Rashida Manjoo, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
  • The need for a holistic response in the quest to eliminate violence against women and girls [Paper ]
  • Ms. Betty Timba (Zambia), Divisional Coordinator, Community Services, Zambia Police
    Establishing coordinated multisectoral responses – the Case of Zambia [ Paper | Presentation ]
  • Ms. Luisa Marcal (East Timor), Coordinator, Fatin Hakmatek
    Establishing coordinated multisectoral responses – the Case of Timor Leste [ Paper | Presentation ]

Emerging issue


Panel 3
Key gender equality issues to be reflected in the post-2015 development framework
Webcast Archived Webcast

Thursday, 7 March 2013, 3 - 6 p.m.
Conference room 2, North Lawn Building

Panellists

  • Ms. Amina Mohammed (unable to attend), Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on post-2015 development planning [Background note]
    The post-2015 development agenda: Processes and opportunities
  • Mr. John Hendra, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Programme, UN Women, and Co-Chair, UNDG Task Force on MDGs [Paper]
    Gender equality and women’s rights at the center of the post-2015 development agenda
  • Ms. Anita Nayar (India/USA), Executive Committee Member, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) [Paper]
    Gender equality and the post-2015 development framework: Perspectives from civil society
  • Discussant: Ms. Caren Grown (USA), Economist in Residence, American University, and Senior Gender Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development

Review theme

The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS (agreed conclusions from the fifty-third session)


Panel 4
Gender norms and stereotypes, socialization and unequal power relations
Sharing and balancing life-work responsibilities
Webcast Archived Webcast

Tuesday, 12 March 2013, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Conference Room 2, North Lawn Building

Panellists

Theme: Gender norms and stereotypes, socialization and unequal power relations

  • Ms. Fatou Sow Sarr (Senegal), Director of the Gender Laboratory, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar
    Breaking new grounds on Gender Norms and stereotypes in Senegal [Paper | Presentation]
  • Mr. Warren Feek (New Zealand), Executive Director, The Communication Initiative, Canada
    Role of the media in overcoming gender stereotypes [ Paper | Presentation]
  • Discussant: Mr. Luis Mora, Chief of Gender, Human Rights and Culture Branch, UNFPA

Theme: Sharing and balancing life-work responsibilities

  • Mr. Niclas Jarvklo (Sweden), Secretary, Government Committee on Men and Gender Equality
    Parental leave policy, evolution, lessons learned [ Paper | Presentation]
  • Ms. Lucia Zachariášová (Czech Republic), Head of the Gender Equality Unit, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
    Public investment in women caregiving role [Paper | Presentation]
  • Discussant: Ms. Renata Kaczmarska, Focal Point on the Family, Division for Social Policy, DESA

 

Panel 5
Caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS
Recognizing and valuing unpaid care work
Webcast Archived Webcast

Tuesday, 12 March 2013, 3 - 6 p.m.
Conference room 2, North Lawn Building

Panellists

Theme: Caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS

  • Ms. Violet Shivutse (Kenya), Founder and Director, Shibuye Community Health Workers, and Focal Point Leader, GROOTS Kenya [Paper]
    Compensation for Contributions” advocacy and efforts of grassroots caregivers in Kenya
  • Ms. Baby Rivona (Indonesia), National Coordinator, Ikatan Perempuan Positif Indonesia (IPPI - Indonesian Positive Women Network) [Presentation]
    Progress in addressing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for women living with HIV
  • Discussant: Ms. Jantine Jacobi, Chief, Gender Division, UNAIDS Secretariat

Theme: Recognizing and valuing unpaid care work

  • Mr. Francisco Guillén Martín (Mexico), Deputy Director, National Accounts, INEGI (National Statistics Office)
    Satellite accounts of unpaid work in Mexico: Care and support at home [ Paper | Presentation]
  • Ms. Souad Triki (Tunisia), Economist, Gender and Development Expert and retired Senior Lecturer, University of Tunisia [Paper]
    Time Use Survey data from 2005 that has translated into concrete public policy in Tunisia
  • Discussant: Ms. Paz Lopez, Technical Adviser, UN Women Mexico

Other panels


Panel on the priority theme of CSW58 (2014)
Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls
Webcast Archived Webcast

Wednesday, 6 March 2013, 1.15 - 2.45 p.m.
Conference Room 2, North Lawn Building

Panellists

  • Ms. Michelle Bachelet United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director [ Opening Remarks ]
  • Ms. Naila Kabeer (Bangladesh), Professor of Development Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London University [ Paper | Presentation ]
    Gender equality and poverty eradication: what has worked for women and girls?
  • Ms. Carole Presern (UK), Director, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health Secretariat (PMNCH) [ Presentation ]
    The Health MDGs: What works for women and girls?  What hasn’t worked? and What’s next? [ Paper ]
  • Ms. Lyla Mehta (India), Research Fellow, Knowledge Technology and Society Team, Institute of Development Studies, and Adjunct Professor at Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
    Ensuring women’s and girls’ rights to water and sanitation [ Paper | Presentation ]


Agreed conclusions

The outcome of the Commission’s consideration of the priority theme takes the form of agreed conclusions, negotiated by all States.

The Commission on the Status of Women adopted agreed conclusions on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls on 15 March 2013.

Agreed conclusions CSW57: Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
Extracted from E/2013/27-E/CN.6/2013/11


Resolutions

The Commission on the Status of Women adopted a draft resolution on situation of and assistance to Palestinian women, by a recorded vote, and a draft resolution on future organization and methods of work of the Commission on the Status of Women, for action by the UN Economic and Social Council. These draft resolutions will be included in the report of the Commission.


Side events

The programme of side events or activities organized outside the formal programme of the session of the Commission provided an excellent opportunity for Member States, United Nations entities and NGOs to discuss themes of the Commission and other critical gender equality issues.
» CSW57 side events


Preparations

Latin American and Caribbean Ministerial CSW Preparatory Meeting
On 11 February, at the invitation of the Government of El Salvador and UN Women, a regional consultation took place in San Salvador prior to the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Ministers and High Level Authorities from national mechanisms responsible for the promotion of the rights and empowerment of women in Latin America and the Caribbean adopted a declaration on eliminating and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls.
» San Salvador Declaration ( Spanish | English )
» Concept note
» Programme

Africa Ministerial CSW Preparatory Meeting
From 14 to 16 January 2013, UN Women, in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), convened a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ministers responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and senior government officials from Africa met to prepare for the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women on the priority theme “Elimination and Prevention of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls”.
» Addis Ababa Declaration

Stakeholders’ Forum
On 13 and 14 December 2012, UN Women convened a forum to engage a range of stakeholders in the preparations for CSW57 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
» UN Women Executive Director, Michelle Bachelet, closing remarks
» UN Women Deputy Executive Director, Lakshmi Puri, opening remarks
» Concept note
» Programme
» Report

Expert Group Meeting
In preparation for the fifty-seventh session, UN Women, in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), convened an Expert Group Meeting on prevention of violence against women and girls, on 17 to 20 September 2012, in Bangkok, Thailand.
» Report of the Expert Group Meeting on prevention of violence against women and girls
» More information

Online discussion
UN Women also organized an online discussion on the priority theme from 23 July to 3 August 2012.
» Report on the online discussion on eliminating violence against women and girls: gaps, challenges and strategic directions in prevention and multisectoral services and responses
English | French | Spanish

Preparatory expert panel
A preparatory expert panel on the priority theme was held during the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on 29 February 2012.
» Watch the video
» More information


Feature stories

UN Women works with women and men around the world to prevent violence against women and girls. To read their stories, watch videos, find related news stories, speeches and more, click here. You can also visit our special In Focus section on Ending Violence against Women.
» Visit UN Women’s In Focus section on Ending Violence against Women

 
Webcast
In focus: Stop violence against women