* 1. [The Governments which came together at the Special Session of the General Assembly have, also through the Political Declaration, [and this outcomes document] reaffirmed their commitment to the goals and objectives contained in the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action adopted at the IV World Conference on Women in 1995, [as contained in the report of the Conference/(as a footnote)] The Declaration and Platform for Action set as goals gender equality, development and peace and constituted an agenda for the empowerment of women. The Governments reviewed and appraised progress in the implementation of the Platform for Action, recognised that the goals and commitments made in the Platform for Action have not full been implemented and achieved and have agreed upon further actions and initiatives at global, [regional], national and local levels to accelerate the implementation of the Platform for Action and to ensure that commitments for gender equality, development and peace are fully realised. [Regional preparatory meetings, under the auspices of the regional commissions, have also contributed to the preparations for the Special Session [Regional cooperation should be continued.], to ensure a regional perspective on implementation and follow-up.]]

* 2. The Beijing Platform for Action identified 12 critical areas for priority action to achieve the advancement and empowerment of women. The Commission on the Status of Women has reviewed progress in each of the 12 critical areas of concern and since 1996 has adopted agreed conclusions and recommendations for accelerated implementation. The Platform for Action, together with these agreed conclusions and recommendations, form the basis for further progress and accountability to the world’s women and [for] the full realisation of the human rights of women and girls and [their equal access to productive resources and economic independence for] the achievement of gender equality, development and peace in the 21^st century. [placement to be determined: and the elimination of all practices that discriminate against women [and inhibit their equal access to productive resources and economic independence]].

* 3. [The primary responsibility for full implementation of the Platform for Action as well as further actions and initiatives contained in these documents lies with Governments. In implementing and advancing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, [an integrated and balanced approach that encompasses policy, legislative and programme measures towards both development and equality for women and girls should be adopted.] [These measures] [This] must be supported by institutional arrangements, [allocation of sufficient resources,] [measurable goals], adequate data, targets and [monitoring mechanisms] [national accountability and follow-up mechanisms] [ allocation of sufficient resources ]. [The importance of action for increased co-operation at the international level, and the need for an enabling international environment for the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action should be fully recognised.] [a dual strategy should be adopted which combines mainstreaming a gender perspective into all legislation, policies and programmes with actions specifically targeted at women and girls. This approach should encompass policy, legislative and programme measures.] [Policies, legislation and programmes must respect and value the full diversity of women and recognise that many women face additional barriers because of such factors as their race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic class, or status as indigenous people, migrants, displaced people, refugees [or other status]]. Establishment of partnerships with civil society, including NGO’s and women’s groups is essential for the achievement of the goals of the Platform for Action. [The active involvement of men and boys in fulfilling the goals of the Platform of Action should be encouraged.] [Men should also be actively involved in promoting the Platform for Action.] Political will, accountability is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality, development and peace.]

* [alternative 3: The primary responsibility for full implementation of the Platform for Action as well as further actions and initiatives contained in these documents lies with Governments. In implementing and advancing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, an integrated and balanced approach should be adopted, which combines mainstreaming a gender perspective into all legislation, policies programmes with actions specifically targeted at empowerment of women and girls. This approach should encompass policy, legislative and programme measures. These measures must be supported by increased international cooperation, and an enabling environment at the international level as well as the allocation of sufficient resources. They should also be supported by institutional arrangements, adequate data, targets, national accountability, follow-up mechanisms, and measurable goals for the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. Establishment of partnerships with civil society, including NGO’s and women’s groups is essential for the achievement of the goals of the Platform for Action. Men should also be actively involved in promoting the Platform for Action. Political will, commitment and accountability is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality, development and peace.]

* [alternative 3: The primary responsibility for full implementation of the Platform for Action as well as further actions and initiatives contained in these documents lies with Governments. Political will and accountability is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality, development and peace. In implementing and taking forward the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a dual strategy should be adopted, which combines mainstreaming a gender perspective into all legislation, policies and programmes with actions specifically targeted at women and girls. They should also be supported by institutional arrangements, adequate data, targets, measurable goals, mechanisms for accountability, monitoring and follow-up for the full implementation of the Platform for Action. Policies, legislation and programmes must reflect and value the full diversity of women and recognise that many women face additional barriers because of such factors as race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic class, or status as indigenous people, migrants, displaced people or refugees. The importance of international cooperation and the need for an enabling environment at national and international levels as well as allocation of sufficient resources for the effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action should be fully recognised. Establishment of partnerships with civil society, including NGO’s and women’s groups is essential for the achievement of the goals of the Platform for Action. Men should also be actively involved in promoting the Platform for Action.]

* 4. Achievements: Considerable progress has been achieved in increasing recognition of gender dimensions of poverty [and gender equality as a prerequisite of poverty eradication.] Efforts have been made to integrate a gender perspective into poverty eradication policies and programmes. Progress has been made by pursuing a two-pronged approach of promoting employment and income-generating activities for women and providing access to basic social services, including education and health care. [Policies and programmes have been implemented to strengthen the family in performing its societal and developmental roles including the recognition of the vital role of women in the family and gender equality as essential to family well being.] Micro-credit and micro-financing for women have emerged as a successful strategy for economic empowerment. Policy development has taken account of the particular needs of female-headed households. Research has enhanced our understanding of the differing impacts of poverty on women and men, [move to "F. Women and the economy": including the relationship between remunerated and unremunerated work, and tools have been developed to assist with this assessment.]

* 5. Obstacles: [Many factors have contributed to widening economic inequality between women and men including [unfulfilled commitments to provide development assistance/delete] income inequality, unemployment and deepening of poverty levels of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. [including rural women, single mothers, indigenous women, migrant and refugee women, internally displaced women, women with disabilities and older women.] Debt burdens, [and high] military spending, [national and ethnic conflicts][armed conflict of international and non-international character] [sanctions, foreign occupation] and low levels of official development assistance as well as the lack of efficient use of resources, among other factors can hinder national efforts to combat poverty. [TURKEY: Women’s increasing burden of unpaid work and lack of remuneration of reproductive work. Insufficient legislative action and therefore lack of positive action and social protection policies to redress the gender segregation and gender-based pay inequalities in the labour market]. [EU: Unequal pay and gender segregation in the labour-market and] [TURKEY: Gender disparities in economic power-sharing and] Unequal access to [EU/TURKEY: and control over] capital, resources and labour markets as well as socio-cultural practices [JUSCANZ: and unequal distribution of unremunerated work between women and men] hinder women’s economic empowerment and exacerbate the feminization of poverty. [JUSCANZ delete: Structural adjustment programme have often meant budget cuts on basic social services, including education and health, aggravating illiteracy and maternal mortality of poor women.] [JUSCANZ: Structural adjustment measures have in some cases led to budget cuts in basic social services, including education and health, impeding efforts to improve women’s literacy and access to health care services.] [EU: The absence of appropriate indicators which track the feminization of poverty and] [JUSCANZ delete: The absence of data disaggregated by sex and age and analyses prevents the accurate assessment of unpaid work among women] [EU: and the development of efficient gender-oriented programmes in order to eradicate poverty. Inadequate wages for social work, largely shouldered by women, and the consequences for income-related social security systems result in the feminization of poverty.] [JUSCANZ: Continuing lack of recognition of the value of unremunerated work as well as lack of data and analyses for policy development have hindered efforts to effectively combat poverty. Armed conflict abounds in many of the poorest areas of the world, creating high levels of female-headed households in poverty.]]

[RUSSIAN FEDERATION 5 ter: Fundamental economic restructuring experienced by the countries with economies in transition has led to lack of resources for poverty-eradication programmes aimed at empowerment of women.]

* 6. Achievements: Progress was achieved in women’s and girls education and training at all levels especially where there was sufficient political commitment and resource allocation. Measures were taken in all regions to initiate alternative education and training systems to reach women and girls in indigenous communities and other disadvantaged and marginalized groups to encourage them to pursue all fields of study, in particular non-traditional fields of study, and to remove gender biases from education and training. AGREED

* 7. Obstacles: [Economic, social and cultural barriers at local and national levels in many countries contribute to lower enrolment and retention rates for girls than for boys.] In some countries, efforts to eradicate illiteracy and strengthen literacy among women and girls and to increase their access to all levels and types of education [particularly for pregnant adolescents and young mothers,] were constrained by the lack of [political will and] resources to improve educational infrastructure and undertake educational reforms; persisting gender discrimination and bias including in teacher training; gender-based occupational stereotyping in schools, institutions of further education and communities; lack of childcare facilities; persistent use of gender stereotypes in educational materials; and insufficient attention paid to the link between women’s enrolment in higher educational institutions and labour market dynamics. The remote location of some communities [and inadequate salaries and benefits] make attracting and retaining teaching professionals difficult and can result in lower quality education.

* [7 bis placement to be determined] Little progress has been made in eradicating illiteracy in some developing countries, aggravating women’s inequality at economic, social and political levels. In some of these countries the application of [economic reform policies have impacted on] [inappropriate design of] [structural adjustment policies has hit] the education sector [hard], since they resulted in declining investment in education infrastructure.

3. Women and health

*8. Achievements: Programmes have been implemented to create awareness among policy makers and planners on the need for health programmes to cover all aspects of women’s health throughout women’s life cycle. Achievements include: [placement to be determined: introduction of programmes creating awareness on the positive impact of breast feeding on infants’ health and nutrition and mothers’ health, and other programmes to combat malnutrition on pregnant and lactating mothers, including adolescent mothers;] increased attention to [sexual and] reproductive health and [sexual and] reproductive [rights] of women [as adopted in the report of the ICPD] and,] [as reaffirmed by Governments at the five year review of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) by the special session of the UN General Assembly in July 1999;] [increased knowledge and use of family planning [and] [including] contraceptive methods]; [increased awareness among men of their responsibility in family planning and contraceptive methods]; increased attention to sexually transmitted infections, and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection among women and girls; the introduction of a gender perspective in health and health related educational and physical activities, and gender-specific prevention and rehabilitation programmes on substance abuse, including tobacco, drugs and alcohol; increased attention to women’s mental health; and increased attention to health conditions at work, and environmental considerations; [increased awareness of the [particular unmet needs of women caused by] the unequal burden placed on [them] [women] as health care providers within families; increased recognition that gender balance at all levels of the health care system should be promoted.]

9. Obstacles: [JUSCANZ delete and replace with following JUSCANZ insertion:] [JUSCANZ Re-draft of para 9 based on Rev.1] The absence of a holistic approach to health [JUSCANZ: and health] care for women and girls throughout the life-cycle has constrained progress. [HOLY SEE: Endemic, communicable and chronic diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, continue to take a toll, especially on women.] [JUSCANZ: and In some countries, insufficient attention to the role of social and economic determinants of health] and was exacerbated by a lack of [JUSCANZ: gender-sensitive gender-specific] health research and technology, [EU: for instance regarding gender-specific symptoms and manifestations; insufficient gender [JUSCANZ: dimension sensitivity] in the provision of health information and services [JUSCANZ:, including those related to environmental and occupational health hazards; for women in many developing countries; [JUSCANZ: and a lack of] data disaggregated by sex and age and user-friendly indicators [JUSCANZ: by sex, age and other factors, as well as gender-relevant indicators.] [JUSCANZ: The predominant focus of health care systems on treating illness rather than maintaining optimal health also prevents a holistic approach.] [HOLY SEE: Poverty and Aa] shortage of financial and human resources, aggravated by [JUSCANZ: restructuring of the health sector [EU: in some cases,] [JUSCANZ: hads] resulted in [JUSCANZ: inadequate infrastructure and service delivery poor quality and insufficient health services, and has also led to reduced services for and less attention to the health of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups of women, including older women, indigenous women, migrant and refugee women, women with disabilities, women living in poverty, and rural women]. [EU: Barriers [JUSCANZ: such as a power imbalance in negotiating sexual activities,] and [JUSCANZ: failure of dialogue [JUSCANZ: lack of communication] between men and women, affect women’s access to health care and education, especially in relation to prevention.] The adjustment of legal regulations and programmes to international standards [EU: in particular in relation to sexual and reproductive health,] remained limited. [JUSCANZ: Progress in reducing high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity has been limited. There continues to be a lack of information about and access to other sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, as well as a lack of and screening and treatment for breast, cervical and ovarian cancers. There also continues to be inadequate research on and distribution of female-controlled contraceptive methods, such as the female condom and microbicides, that prevent unintended pregnancies and STDs, including HIV/AIDS. [EU: The testing and development of male contraceptives is still insufficient.][JUSCANZ: While some progress has been made, many countries have not reviewed laws containing punitive measures against women who have undergone illegal abortions. Many countries still do not provide those abortion services that are already allowed by law.]

D. Violence against women

10. Achievements: [JUSCANZ: There is increased awareness that violence against women and girls is not a private matter but a human rights violation and increased commitment to prevent and combat violence against women and girls. Improved policies and programmes have been developed including domestic violence being recognized as a criminal act in a number of countries, with an increased focus on holding the perpetrator accountable.] Governments have initiated policy reforms and mechanisms such as interdepartmental committees, [Mexico: national programmes,] guidelines and protocols [EU: and multidisciplinary, co-ordinated programmes] to address violence. Governments have also introduced or reformed laws to protect women [HOLY SEE: and girls] from various forms of violence, including sexual assault, [Mexico: marital rape,] harassment and trafficking, [EU: and laws to prosecute perpetrators]. [JUSCANZ: The international community is beginning to recognize violence against women as a serious health issue. Health care workers are seen to have a significant role to play to address this matter.] Progress has been made in [EU: research on the root causes of violence, as well as in] services for abused women, including shelters, hot lines [TURKEY: which are primarily provided by non-governmental organizations and not adequately funded], [US: emergency health services/HOLY SEE: delete] [HOLY SEE: provision of emergency health care and counseling] and [HOLY SEE delete: special police units] [HOLY SEE: police units with special training]. Education for law enforcement, [JUSCANZ delete: medical personnel] [JUSCANZ: health care providers] and welfare workers is being promoted. Educational materials for women and public awareness campaigns have been developed. [EU: Women’s movements and NGOs have had a crucial role in all these processes through awareness-raising campaigns, political pressure and direct provision of services to protect and empower women victims of violence.] [CROATIA: Successful cooperation has been achieved between governmental and non-governmental organizations in the field of preventing violence against women. Women's NGOs have an important role in the daily task of dealing with female victims of all forms of violence.] [JUSCANZ delete: The eradication of female genital mutilation has received international policy support, including the appointment of a Special Ambassador] [JUSCANZ: Many Governments have begun a process aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM) through educational and outreach programmes, as well as through adoption of legislative measures criminalizing the practice. A Special Ambassador focusing on the eradication of FGM has been appointed] by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). [JUSCANZ: There is new knowledge from research on gender roles, in particular on masculine roles, and of the situation of children growing up in families with violence.]

11. Obstacles: [EU/ JUSCANZ delete: A lack of understanding of the root causes of violence against women hinders efforts.] [EU: Insufficient preventive strategies that would address the root causes of violence against women hinder progress. There is a lack of programmes that would deal with the perpetrators and especially their inability to solve situations of conflict peacefully.] [JUSCANZ: While some of the root causes of violence against women and girls have been identified, including socio-cultural attitudes that reinforce women’s subordination in society, there has been slow progress in addressing these issues. There is an absence of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary approach to responding to violence which should include the health system, work places, the media, the education system, as well as the justice system. Domestic violence, including sexual violence in marriage, still treated as a private matter in some countries. Insufficient awareness of the consequences of domestic violence, how to prevent it, and the rights of victims.] Inadequate data on the various forms of violence [JUSCANZ delete: further] impede informed policy-making. [HOLY SEE delete: Socio-cultural attitudes and values] [HOLY SEE: Continued prevalence of harmful attitudes and traditional practices,] [JUSCANZ: economic inequality often] reinforce women’s subordinate place in society. [JUSCANZ: This makes women and girls vulnerable to many forms of violence, such as female genital mutilation, so-called honor crimes, rape, marital rape, incest, and forced marriages.]. Although improving, the response of legal officials, especially the criminal justice officials, is weak in many countries, while prevention strategies remain fragmented and reactive. [JUSCANZ: There is a lack of appropriate research, policies, and culturally appropriate programmes for particularly vulnerable groups of women, including indigenous women, lesbians, immigrant, refugee, and internally displaced women, and women with disabilities.]

12. Achievements: [EU delete: The statutes and rules of the International Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda and of the International Criminal Court, adopted in 1998,] [EU/ JUSCANZ: The statutes and rules of the Ad Hoc International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia and the statute of the International Criminal Court adopted in 1998] [JUSCANZ delete: incorporate gender concerns and gender-sensitive prosecutorial policies.] [JUSCANZ: recognize a range of acts of sexual and gender based violence as among the most serious crimes in international law. The need for [HOLY SEE delete: gender-specific] [HOLY SEE: gender-sensitive] procedures and methods in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes, and for the inclusion of women and gender-expertise in the staff and officers of these courts, is also recognized.] There is wider recognition that armed conflict has different impacts on women and men and that a gender-sensitive application of international human rights and humanitarian law [JUSCANZ delete: by the armed forces] is important [JUSCANZ: and has to be strengthened.][EU delete: and, can be strengthened through training.] Women’s [EU/ JUSCANZ delete: potential] contribution to [JUSCANZ: post-conflict,] peace-building, peacemaking and conflict resolution is [JUSCANZ: being increasingly] recognized. Guidelines for the protection of refugee women have been adopted and gender-based persecution has been accepted as a basis for refugee status in some countries. [HOLY SEE: There is increased recognition of the importance of the provision of physical and psychological support for refugee women part those who have suffered gender-specific abuse. Others have addressed the needs of refugee women, including mothers, with respect to basic health care and education and economic opportunities. Humanitarian relief agencies and civil society, including religious organizations and non-governmental organizations, have played a vital role in design and implementation of programmes to address the needs of women and girls, including refugees in conflict and post-conflict situations.] Civics courses on non-violent conflict resolution have been introduced. [JUSCANZ: There is greater recognition of the gender differentiated experiences of humanitarian emergencies and the need to integrate a gender perspective in the planning, design and implementation of humanitarian activities. Steps have been taken to reduce the availability and use of arms, in particular anti-personnel land mines, ][HOLY SEE: in particular anti-personnel landmines through the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction.]

13. Obstacles: [EU/JUSCANZ delete: The absence, at all levels, of women from decision-making positions related to peacekeeping, peace-building, post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction presents serious obstacles.] [JUSCANZ: The lack of women at all levels of decision-making positions hinders peacekeeping, peace-making and post-conflict peace-building. In particular no women are serving as special envoys or special representatives of the Secretary General.] The [HOLY SEE delete: changing] pattern of conflict, marked by [HOLY SEE: increased military spending,] the [JUSCANZ: deliberate] targeting of civilians, [JUSCANZ: including women, children and humanitarian personnel,] [HOLY SEE: the forced displacement of people, family disintegration, the recruitment of child soldiers, foreign occupation] and the [JUSCANZ delete: involvement][JUSCANZ: increased role] of non-State actors, has had an adverse impact on women and girls. [EU: Gender-based violence, including systematic rape and forced pregnancy, [HOLY SEE: which are defined as war crimes in Section 7.1 of the Statutes of the International Criminal Court,] is an increasingly used strategy in armed conflicts. Women are still particularly affected by the consequences of the use of anti-personnel mines. The limited participation of women, at all levels, in decision-making positions related to peace-keeping, peace-building, post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction presents serious obstacles. Lack of training of the different actors dealing with women in situations of armed conflict or refugees, as regards their specific problems, hinders their solution.] Wide access to weapons [HOLY SEE: including landmines], facilitated by the proliferation of and trade in arms, and particularly small arms, has [Mexico: not only] further aggravated armed conflicts, [Mexico: but has also encouraged the outbreak of new armed conflicts, or its persistence, in some parts of the world.][EU: which have a particularly damaging effect on women and families.] [JUSCANZ: There are continued violations of international humanitarian law, international refugee law and human rights, including continued violation of women’s human rights.]

F. Women and the economy

14. Achievements: [JUSCANZ: Some] Governments have [JUSCANZ delete: enacted] [JUSCANZ: introduced a variety of measures, including enacting] legislation to comply with [JUSCANZ: or promote where appropriate] international labour conventions that [JUSCANZ delete: promote] [JUSCANZ: address] women’s economic [EU: and social] rights, equal access to [EU: and control over] economic resources and equality in employment. [JUSCANZ: Increased participation of women in the labour market and subsequent gain in economic autonomy. Growing public awareness and support for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of a developing global economy. Increased opportunities to reach middle and higher level management positions in some countries.] Women’s share of employment has substantially increased, especially in the service sector. [JUSCANZ: Some] Governments have made provisions to address discriminatory and abusive behaviour in the workplace and to prevent unhealthy working conditions and have established funding mechanisms to promote women’s roles in entrepreneurship, [JUSCANZ: access to credit,] education [EU: and training, including scientific and technical skills] [EU delete: science, technical fields] and decision-making. Legislation [JUSCANZ: has been enacted and other measures have been taken] on maternity and [JUSCANZ delete: paternity] [JUSCANZ: parental] leave and child and family care benefits [JUSCANZ delete: has been enacted][JUSCANZ: by some governments] [Mexico: or strengthened] to address [JUSCANZ delete: women’s [EU: and men’s] multiple roles in the family and at work] [JUSCANZ: the need to reconcile employment and family responsibilities]. Research has been conducted on barriers to economic empowerment and access to new information technologies faced by women.

15. Obstacles: Benefits of the growing global economy have been unevenly distributed. [EU delete: creating] [EU: This has led to] wider economic disparities, [EU: further segregation in the labour market, atypical modes of employment, like temporary or casual work, with the difficulty of enforcing labour standards] [HOLY SEE: the feminization of poverty,] unsafe working environments and persistent [HOLY SEE: exploitation of child labour,] gender inequality, [EU: especially] [JUSCANZ: including] in the [JUSCANZ: formal and] informal economy and rural [JUSCANZ delete: sector][JUSCANZ: areas.] [JUSCANZ: The importance of a gender perspective in the development of macro-economic policy is still not widely recognized. The low presence of women in the formulation and execution of economic policy and their under-representation in decision-making bodies, including international financial institutions, is an aggravating factor.] Many women still work in the rural [JUSCANZ delete: sector][JUSCANZ: areas] and informal economy as subsistence producers, [EU: and in the service sector] with low levels of income and little [HOLY SEE: job and] social security. [EU/JUSCANZ delete: Women with comparable skills to men lag behind men in income and career mobility in the formal sector] [EU: Women with comparable skills to men are confronted with a gender wage gap and hit the glass-ceiling]. [JUSCANZ: In most countries, women with comparable skills to men lag behind men in income and career mobility in many occupational groups. In the formal sector, equal pay for women and men for equal work, or work of equal value, has not yet been realized. Gender discrimination in hiring and promotion, and sexual harassment in the work place persist.] [EU/JUSCANZ/Mexico delete: Few countries have legislated in favour of women’s ownership of land and other property.] [Mexico: In some countries, women’s rights to ownership of land and other forms of property and to inheritance is not recognized yet in national legislation.] [EU: There are still some countries that deny women’s equal rights to ownership and control of land and other property.] [JUSCANZ: There are some countries that still do not recognize women’s right to ownership of land and other property.] [EU/ JUSCANZ delete: Failure to recognize that women have both productive and reproductive roles has meant that women have greater responsibilities and burdens as well as more unpaid work.] [JUSCANZ: Failure to recognize that women are engaged in both productive and reproductive activities has meant that women’s higher workloads and unequal share of unpaid work have persisted. Funding cuts to healthcare and other institutional programmes have led to increased family responsibilities for women. Many women are subjected to pregnancy testing for employment, and face discrimination at work related to pregnancy.] [EU: Progression in the profession, in most cases, is still more difficult for women, due to the lack of structures and measures that take into account maternity and family responsibilities. [HOLY SEE delete: Persistent gender stereotyping may lead to a weak status of male workers as fathers and to an insufficient encouragement for men to reconcile professional and family responsibilities.] [ HOLY SEE: Due to persistent gender stereotyping, fathers have found it difficult to reconcile professional and family responsibilities. Some men who share family responsibilities and fulfill their role as fathers have experienced a perception of a lower standing in employment, and therefore discourages other men from taking on these roles.] Lack of family-friendly policies regarding the [HOLY SEE delete: organization of work] [HOLY SEE: employment] increases these difficulties. [HOLY SEE: Effective] Implementation of legislation and practical support systems is still inadequate. The combination of remunerated work and care-giving within [HOLY SEE delete: household] [HOLY SEE: family] and the community still leads to a disproportionate burden for women, as long as there is insufficient sharing of tasks and responsibilities with men. It is still also women who perform the larger part of unremunerated work.]

G. Women in power and decision-making

* 16. Achievements: There has been growing acceptance of the importance to society of the full participation of women in decision-making and power at all levels and in all fora, including inter-governmental, governmental, and non-governmental sectors. In some countries, women have also attained higher positions in these spheres. An increasing number of countries applied affirmative and positive action policies, including quota systems or voluntary agreements in some countries, measurable goals and targets, developed training programmes for women’s leadership and introduced measures to reconcile family and work responsibilities of both women and men. National mechanisms and machineries for the advancement of women as well as national and international networks of women politicians, parliamentarians, activists and professionals in various fields have been established or upgraded and strengthened. AGREED

* 17. Obstacles: Despite general acceptance of the need for a gender balance in decision-making bodies at all levels, a gap between de jure and de facto equality has persisted. Notwithstanding substantial improvements of de jure equality between women and men, the actual participation of women at the highest levels of national and international decision-making has not significantly changed since Beijing 1995. Women continue to be underrepresented at the legislative, ministerial and sub-ministerial levels, as well as at the highest levels of the corporate sector and other social and economic institutions. Traditionally assigned gender roles limit women’s choices in education and careers and compelled women to assume the burden for household responsibilities. Initiatives and programmes aimed at women’s increased participation in decision-making were hindered by a lack of: human and financial resources for training and advocacy for political careers; [gender-sensitive attitudes towards women and society, awareness of women to engage in decision-making in some cases]; accountability of elected officials and political parties for promoting gender equality and women’s participation in public life; [clear and transparent appointment and selection criteria for decision-making posts; social awareness of the importance of balanced participation of women and men in decision-making; willingness on the part of men to share power; sufficient dialogue and co-operation with women’s non-governmental organizations, along with the failure to adapt organizational and political structures to make them women friendly.]

H. Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women

18. Achievements: National machineries have been instituted or strengthened and recognized as the institutional base acting as "catalysts" for promoting gender equality, gender mainstreaming and monitoring of the implementation of the Platform for Action [and of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.] In many countries, progress has been achieved in terms of the visibility, status, outreach and coordination of activities of these machineries. Gender mainstreaming has been widely acknowledged as a strategy to enhance the impact of policies to promote gender equality. The goal of the strategy is to incorporate a gender perspective in all legislation, policies, programmes, and projects. These machineries, despite their limited financial resources, have made a significant contribution to the development of human resources in the field of gender studies and also contributed to the growing efforts for the generation and dissemination of data disaggregated by sex and age, gender-sensitive research and documentation. Within the UN system much progress has been made in the mainstreaming of a gender perspective including through the development of tools and the creation of gender focal points.

19. Obstacles: A lack of [strong political will,] adequate financial and human resources are the main obstacle confronting national machineries. This is further exacerbated by insufficient understanding of gender equality and gender mainstreaming among government structures, as well as prevailing gender stereotypes, discriminatory attitudes, competing government priorities and in some countries unclear mandates and marginalized location within the national government structures in addition to paucity of authority and insufficient links to civil society. The activities of the national machineries were also hindered by structural and communication problems within and among government agencies.

I. Human rights [JUSCANZ/G77: of women]

20. Achievements: Legal reforms have been undertaken and discriminatory provisions have been eliminated in civil, penal and personal status law governing marriage and family relations, [JUSCANZ: violence,] women’s property and ownership rights and women’s political, work and employment rights. [JUSCANZ: In a growing number of countries legal measures have been taken to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.] Steps have been taken to realize women’s de facto enjoyment of their human rights through the creation of an enabling environment, including the adoption of policy measures, the improvement of enforcement and monitoring mechanisms and the implementation of legal literacy and awareness campaigns, [EU: as well as the effort to eliminate harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation. Women’s NGOs have contributed to heighten awareness that women’s rights are human rights and to generate support for the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the statute of the International Criminal Court.] The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women has been ratified or acceded to by 165 countries [Mexico: and its full implementation has been promoted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The 54th session of the General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol of the Convention, which up to today has been signed by 25 States.] [JUSCANZ: The] Optional Protocol to the Convention [JUSCANZ: providing women with access to an international mechanism to claim violation of their rights] has been [EU delete: adopted and] [JUSCANZ: subsequently] signed by 25 States [JUSCANZ delete: parties]. [EU: Efforts have also been made to mainstream a gender perspective into the work of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and in the Commission on Human Rights.] [JUSCANZ: Progress has been made on mainstreaming the human rights of women and a gender perspective in the UN system; for example, this is now a regular agenda item at the UNCHR as well as being integrated into other agenda items.]

21. Obstacles: [G77: Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, ethnic cleansing, armed conflict and foreign occupation continue to cause threat to the enjoyment of women of their human rights and fundamental freedom.] [JUSCANZ: The goal of the universal ratification of CEDAW by the year 2000 has not been met. There continues to be a large number of reservations to CEDAW, some of which are against the object and purpose of the convention or otherwise incompatible with international law. There is a continued gap between existing legal standards and their application in practice.] [Mexico: The persistence of traditional and stereotyped attitudes, has favored that] Discriminatory legislation still exists and family, civil and penal codes, [EU: as well as labour laws,] [JUSCANZ delete: are still not fully gender sensitive] [JUSCANZ:. still have not fully integrated a gender perspective.] [JUSCANZ:. In a number of countries women still lack equality in fundamental areas like land ownership, child custody, and inheritance rights.] [EU: In some countries, gender discrimination has even been enforced by law.] Legislative and regulatory gaps [EU delete: persist, perpetuating] [EU: as well as lack of implementation and enforcement, perpetuate] de jure as well as de facto inequality and discrimination. [G77: In many countries,] Women have insufficient access to the law, resulting from [JUSCANZ: illiteracy,] lack of legal literacy, [EU: information] and resources, insensitivity and gender bias of [G77: and lack of awareness of women’s human rights by] law enforcement officials and the judiciary and the persistence of [HOLY SEE: harmful] traditional and [HOLY SEE: negative] stereotypical attitudes. [EU: There is still a lack of awareness of the human [HOLY SEE: dignity and] rights of women.] [JUSCANZ: There is a lack of protection of women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and non-recognition of women’s and girls’ reproductive rights as human rights as included in the Beijing Platform for Action, paragraph 95. Some women continue to encounter barriers to justice and enjoyment of their human rights because of such factors as their race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic status, or status as indigenous people, migrants, displaced people or refugees or other status.] [HOLY SEE: Some women continue to encounter barriers to their right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health. Some women also face barriers to the enjoyment of their reproductive rights, which embrace certain human rights as outlined in the Platform for Action.]

J. Women and the media

22. Achievements: [EU/ JUSCANZ delete: The placement of women in various] [EU: Women have achieved some] high level decision-making positions [EU/JUSCANZ delete: has taken place][JUSCANZ: . The] establishment of local, national and international women’s media networks has [JUSCANZ delete: ensured][JUSCANZ: contributed to] global information dissemination, exchange of views and support to women's groups active in media work. The development of information and communication technologies, especially the Internet, has provided improved communication opportunities [for the empowerment of women and girls] [JUSCANZ delete: and has influenced the participation of women in the media] [JUSCANZ: which enabled an increasing number of women to contribute to knowledge sharing, networking and electronic commerce activities]. The number of women’s media organizations and programmes has increased, facilitating the aims of increased participation and promotion of positive portrayals of women in the media. Progress has been made to combat negative images of women by establishing professional guidelines and voluntary codes of conduct encouraging fair gender portrayal and the use of non-sexist language in media programmes.

23. Obstacles: [JUSCANZ delete: Women are still not employed in sufficient numbers in key decision-making positions to influence media policy.] Negative images of women, stereotyped portrayals and pornography have increased in some instances, and [JUSCANZ/Mexico delete: journalists] [JUSCANZ: areas of journalism] [Mexico: media professionals] remain [JUSCANZ delete: who are] biased against women. [JUSCANZ delete: The field of information and communications technologies is based on male norms [EU delete: and Western culture.] [HOLY SEE: Poverty, the lack of access and opportunities, illiteracy and] [EU delete: Language barriers, prevent some women from using the Internet.] Development of and access to Internet infrastructure is limited [EU: particularly for women] and depends on political will, cooperative efforts and financial resources. [JUSCANZ: Women are still are not employed in sufficient numbers in key decision-making positions to influence media policy.]

K. Women and the environment

24. Achievements: [EU/JUSCANZ/G77: Some] National environment policies and programmes have incorporated gender perspectives. Women’s participation in decision-making [JUSCANZ/G77: in some cases] has been enhanced, with more women assuming high-level and other posts in environmental agencies. Governments have formed partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). [Mexico delete: In recognition of the link between poverty, [JUSCANZ: health] and environmental degradation,] [Mexico: Likewise, in recognition that overcoming poverty is a pre-condition to advance towards the sustainable development and to revert the tendencies of the environmental degradation,] Governments have included income-generation activities for women, as well as training in natural resource management and environmental protection [JUSCANZ: and have begun research on the impact of the environment on women’s health]. Projects have been launched to preserve and utilize women’s traditional knowledge in the management of natural resources. [JUSCANZ: The traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous women, is increasingly seen as the foundation for widespread practice by younger generations of sustainable development and preservation of bio-diversity.]

25. Obstacles: [JUSCANZ delete: There is a lack of public awareness about environmental issues and of the benefits of gender equality for promoting environmental protection.] [JUSCANZ: Women’s lack of access to technical skills, resources and information and the lack of information about environmental risks faced by women has impeded progress in environmental decision-making. Research, action and public awareness remain limited regarding the differential impacts and implications for women and men of environmental problems and their proposed solutions.] Environmental policies and programmes [JUSCANZ delete: lack a gender perspective and fail to account for women’s roles and contributions to environmental sustainability.] [JUSCANZ: often fail to account for women’s integral role in promoting sustainable and ecologically sound consumption and production patterns and approaches to natural resource management.] The shortage of women [JUSCANZ: including indigenous and rural women] in the formulation and execution of environmental policy and their under-representation in decision-making bodies [JUSCANZ delete: is an aggravating factor.] [JUSCANZ: and an absence of deliberate strategies and institutional mechanisms to assess and address environmental risks faced by women are aggravating factors.]

L. The girl child

26. Achievements: [HOLY SEE: Some] Progress was made in primary and, to a lesser extent, in secondary and tertiary education for girls, owing to [JUSCANZ delete: the creation of more gender-sensitive school environments] [JUSCANZ: schools becoming more responsive to the [HOLY SEE: particular] needs of girls and boys], support mechanisms for pregnant girls and teenage mothers, increased non-formal education opportunities [JUSCANZ: including through sport, drama, and cultural activities] and enhanced attendance at science and technology classes. Increased attention was given to the health of the girl child, including the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. An increasing number of countries introduced legislation to ban female genital mutilation and imposed heavier penalties [JUSCANZ delete: on sex abusers and those involved in the commercial sexual exploitation of [HOLY SEE: children, especially] the girl child.] [JUSCANZ: on those involved in sexual abuse, trafficking, and exploitation of the girl child, including for commercial ends .]

27. Obstacles: [G77: The persistence of poverty and [JUSCANZ delete: Traditional] discriminatory attitudes [G77 delete: against] [G77: towards] women and girls, [JUSCANZ: including stereotypical roles] [EU: persisting forms of child labour, including domestic child labour] and inadequate awareness of the specific situation of the girl child, [G77: for example, domestic responsibilities [EU: lack of finance] which] often prevent her from pursuing [G77: or completing her] education, [G77: and training thus contributing] [EU: have] contributed to a lack of opportunities [G77: and possibilities] for girls to [JUSCANZ: develop self esteem and life skills necessary to] become self-reliant and independent. [G77: adults in the future.] [HOLY SEE: The lack of proper parental support and guidance,] [EU: Harmful traditional practices, including early and forced marriage, sexual exploitation and violence often result in unwanted pregnancies and/or HIV/AIDS, which may also lead to expulsion from school and educational training institutes.] Programmes were hindered by [JUSCANZ delete: a lack of] [JUSCANZ: an insufficient allocation of] financial and human resources, [JUSCANZ: a lack of] statistical data disaggregated by sex and age and technical capacity. There were few established national mechanisms to implement policies and programmes for the [G77: promotion of the] girl child and [G77: and on the other hand] coordination among responsible institutions was insufficient. [G77: The increased awareness of the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents has not yet resulted in sufficient provision of necessary information and services.] [JUSCANZ: Counteracting some of the advances in legal protection, there is increased sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of the girl child due to the false assumption to avoid infection with HIV/AIDS. Adolescents continue to lack [HOLY SEE: the education and service needs to enable them to deal in a positive and responsible way with their sexuality, taking into account the rights of the child to access to information, privacy, confidentiality, respect and informed consent, as well as the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents and legal guardians to provide in a legal manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.] [HOLY SEE delete: access to sexual and reproductive health information, education, and services needed to address, inter alia, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The socialization of children and young people has not been addressed, such that boys and men, and often girls and women, continue to believe the latter are subordinate thus perpetuating existing inequality.]]

III. Current challenges affecting the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action

* 28. The review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action occurred in a rapidly changing global context. Since 1995, a number of issues have gained prominence and acquired new dimensions which pose additional challenges to the full and accelerated implementation of the Platform in order to realize gender equality, development and peace by Governments, intergovernmental bodies, international organizations, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations as appropriate. [The implication of these current challenges and trends for gender equality need to be analyzed thoroughly. Insufficient political commitment to gender equality at all levels and insufficiently applied methods for assessing progress, as well as limitations in terms of mainstreaming gender concerns, still continue to hamper progress in implementing the Platform for Action.]

29. The globalization process has [JUSCANZ delete: caused] [JUSCANZ: been characterized by] policy shifts in favour of more open trade and financial flows, privatization of state-owned enterprises [JUSCANZ delete: and lower public spending][JUSCANZ Insert: changing roles of the public sector]. This change has transformed patterns of production [EU delete: and accelerated technological advances in communication.] [EU: and affected the lives of women, both as workers and as consumers, while increasing inequality. Until now, the gender impact of changes aiming at a better balance between economic, employment and social policies and sustainable development has not yet been systematically monitored.] [JUSCANZ delete: Globalization has also affected cultural values, life styles, advertising and the media.] [JUSCANZ: Increased international integration as a result of globalization has also had cultural, political, and social impacts.] [EU delete sentence: Momentous political changes, including new forms of governance, [JUSCANZ: growth of international civil society] and more universal realization of human rights has accompanied these trends.] While globalization has brought greater economic opportunities and autonomy to [Mexico delete: some women, others have become more vulnerable.] [Mexico: women in some countries, this process had negative impacts on the lives and situation of women, in particular those of the least economically developed regions.] Although in many countries the level of participation of the female labour force has risen, the increases in employment [JUSCANZ: often] have not been matched by improvements in [JUSCANZ: wages, promotions and] working conditions [JUSCANZ: or marked decreases in the level of women’s poverty. In some cases the majority of these new entrants are women who are employed in low paid, part-time, contingent and contract jobs marked by insecurity and by safety and health hazards; these new entrants are often among the first to lose their jobs and the last to be rehired.] [JUSCANZ: Large differences continue to persist with respect to quality, conditions, and pay in female and male dominated sectors.] [EU: and standard labour legislation is not applied to all workers.] [JUSCANZ delete sentence: [EU delete: Most] [EU: Many] women continue to be employed in low paid, part-time jobs marked by insecurity and by safety and health hazards.] [JUSCANZ delete sentence: [EU: In many countries] Women continue to be among the first to lose jobs and the last to be rehired.]

*30. Increasing disparities in the economic situation among and within countries, coupled with a growing economic interdependence and dependence of States on external factors as well as the financial crises have, in recent years, altered prospects of growth and caused economic instability in many countries, with a heavy impact on the lives of women. These have affected the ability of States to provide social protection and social security as well as funding for the implementation of the Platform for Action. [Such difficulties are also reflected in the shift of the cost of social reproduction and other welfare provisions from the public sector to the household.] [The decreasing levels of funding available through international cooperation has further marginalized and excluded most developing countries and many countries with economies in transition within which women are amongst the poorest and most vulnerable.] [The agreed target of 0.7 per cent of the gross national product of developed countries for overall development assistance has not been achieved, although more, but not sufficient, funding has been allocated for women’s programmes.] [These factors, combined with family disintegration, have contributed to the increasing feminization of poverty which has undermined efforts to achieve gender equality.] [However, in the effort to develop coherent poverty reduction strategies, and in cooperation with other multilateral, governmental and non-governmental actors, the international financial institutions are giving increased attention to the incorporation of a gender perspective.] Limited funding at the state-level makes it imperative that innovative approaches to the allocation of existing resources be employed, not only by Governments but also by their partners in the NGO and private sectors. One such innovation is the gender analysis of public budgets which is emerging as an important tool for determining the differential impact of expenditures on women and men to help ensure equitable use of existing resources. This analysis is crucial to promote gender equality [and ensures equitable use of existing resources.] [It is also imperative to give increased attention to strengthening the family and the traditional support systems it provides.]