BEYOND BEIJING
THE NEW ZEALAND WAY
KEI TUA O BEIJING KOTE AHUA
MAHI A AOTEAROA
NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S RESPONSE TO THE PLATFORM FOR ACTION
FROM THE UN FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
COLLECTED AND COLLATED BY THE NEW ZEALAND NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANISATIONS COORDINATING COMMlTTEE
JULY 1996
SUPPORTED BY NZ SUFFRAGE TRUST, ECNZ, TOYOTA NZ, TAMPAX,
DEANE APPAREL, SAATCHI & SAATCHI
Acknowledgements
The NZ NGO Coordinating Committee acknowledges with
considerable gratitude the generous sponsorship of many
organisations, companies and individuals:
The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Trust provided an
initial grant which made it possible for the establishment of
the NGO Coordinating Committee and the work that it has been
able to do to inform women in New Zealand of the issues to be
discussed at the UN Fourth World Conference in Beijing,
reporting back to them, and collecting their responses at
workshops held in 21 centres over a period of six months on the
issues relevant to them as they strive to achieve equality,
development and peace.
Electricity Corporation of New Zealand, ECNZ, enabled us
to mount the Women of New Zealand Display which was taken to
the Forum in Beijing. Later, augmented by material related to
the Platform For Action, it was taken to 21 New Zealand
centres.
Toyota New Zealand supplied us with a Hiace Van which with
unfailing reliability carried the display from Invercargill to
Whangarei and back to Wellington.
Tampax enabled us to employ a coordinator to travel with
the display for the six months that it was on the road.
Deane Apparel outfitted 40 women who travelled with the
display to China and also presented workshops at the forum.
Saatchi & Saatchi provided professional advice on the
development of the display, Telecom supplied essential
communication equipment so that contact could be maintained
between the display coordinator, the venues and the committee,
Fletcher Challenge China provided invaluable advice and
assistance, Carter Holt Harvey lent us display frames for the
New Zealand part of the tour, Wilson and Horton assisted with
the publication of a booklet in four languages which was taken
to China with the display, and the Jack Shallcrass Trust gave
money to assist in the production of the display and workshop
material.
The members of the NGO Coordinating Committee who, through
their gift of so much unpaid work, made the whole concept
possible.
The display coordinator Brenda Baxter, the women 's groups
in 2 ] centres-NCW, BPW, UNIFEM, Soroptimists, WEL-who hosted
the display and the workshops.
The Minister of Women's Affairs, the Hon Jenny Shipley,
and the Ministry of Women's Affairs for their encouragement and
support.
The hundreds of women who, unpaid, gave freely of their
time and energies so that this document could reflect how it is
for them.
ISBN 0-473-04061-1
NZ NGO Coordinating Committee
18 Cairnhill Street
Dunedin
New Zealand
Printed by Tablet Print, Dunedin
The material in this book can be reproduced on condition that
the source is acknowledged.
Disclaimer
Every attempt has been made to accurately represent the
opinions expressed by the women throughout New Zealand who
attended the workshops. It represents the views expressed by
the majority and may not necessarily cover fully every
individual's contribution to equality, development and peace
for the women of New Zealand and their families.
Contents
New Zealand Women
Preparation for and Response to the World Conference on Women
1995
Beijing: Equality, Peace and Development a summary of an
address by the Ministry of Women's Affairs
A summary of the Beijing Platform for Action
Major issues from the workshops
Issues papers
A Women and poverty
B Education and training of women
C Women and health
D Women and violence
E Women and armed conflict
F Women and the economy
G Women in power and decision-making
H Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
I Human rights of women
J Women and the media
K Women and the environment
L The girl child
Appendix 1: NZ NGO Coordinating Committee. 1993
Appendix 2: Beyond Beijing display and workshop tour
Appendix 3: Coordinator's report
Appendix 4: Acronyms used in the text
Appendix 5: Workshops-Issues Questions
New Zealand Women
Preparation for and Response to the World Conference on Women
1995
Equality, Development and Peace have, since the first UN World
Conference at Mexico in 1975, been the dominant themes of the
four United Nations Conferences on women. After 20 years of
words there has been a growing demand for the recognition of
women's needs to be converted into actions by governments,
organisations, communities and individuals-actions which will
take women forward to the realisation of these goals. The Third
UN World Conference in Nairobi in 1985 produced the Nairobi
Forward Looking Strategies-a substantial document detailing the
issues that needed to be addressed. The planned outcome from
the Fourth World Conference in Beijing in 1995 \vas a Platform
For Action.
The New Zealand Non-Governmental Organisations'
Coordinating Committee's preparations for the 1995 conference
began in New Zealand in May 1993 when the Ministry of Women's
Affairs invited women from non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) to a consultation meeting to identify New Zealand's
response to the requirements of the Nairobi Forward Looking
Strategies. One of the end results of this consultation was the
identification of shortcomings in the system of preparing for
conferences, reporting back to women, setting targets, and the
monitoring of the outcomes. As a consequence the New Zealand
Non-Governmental Organisations' Coordinating Committee was
formed to coordinate the distribution of information and
prepare for the Beijing Forum and Conference, to consult with
women and identify the issues of concern to them, to liaise
with the Ministry of Women's Affairs, to report back on the
Platform For Action and, after consultation, to recommend
future actions for New Zealand women.
The National Council of Women provided strong support for
the committee by providing four members, including the
convenor. Other committee members consisted of the president or
appointed representative of the following organisations:
Women's Division Federated Farmers (WDFF), Maori Women's
Welfare League (MWWL), Young Women's Christian Association
(YWCA), NZ Federation of University Women, (NZFUW), Business
and Professional Women (BPW), United Nations Association (UNA),
Disabled Person's Assembly (DPA), United Nations Development
Fund for Women (UNIFEM), PACIFICA, NZ University Students'
Association (NZUSA), NZ Nursing Council (see Appendix 1)
The committee began with $ 1700 in funds derived from fund
raising, and donations from NCW, WDFF, YWCA and UNA. In 1994
the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Trust provided the
committee with $35 555 nett and Maori women with $11 101 nett
to facilitate their work. These funds have been used within New
Zealand for consultation before and after the Beijing Forum and
Conference and to print the outcomes. Without these generous
grants this would not have been possible.
Pre-conference consultation
In October to November 1994 the committee organised forums in
Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North, Hamilton.
Auckland and Balclutha. These were attended by 350 to 400 women
from sixty-six organisations who clearly articulated the issues
of concern to them. The outcomes were collated and distributed
in the document, 'Preparations for the Development of an NGO
Platform for Action for New Zealand Women'. The committee was
invited by the Minister of Women's Affairs, the Hon Jenny
Shipley, to discuss with her government support for a
delegation of New Zealand women to attend the forum and the
conference. As result of this, two NGO women, Areta Koopu
(president, MWWL) and Marie Aubin (convenor of the NZ NGO
Coordinating Committee) were appointed to the government
delegation to the conference and fully funded. Eight other
women-Janet Hesketh, Margaret Millard, Josie Dolan, Aroha
Terry, Radha Balakrishnan, Karen Bisdee, Colleen Singleton and
Margaret Wilson-were part funded to attend the forum.
Women's Forum, Beijing, 1995
At least 100 New Zealand women attended the forum associated
with the conference and at Huairou, 50 kilometers from Beijing,
participated with about 30 000 other women and some men in
workshops, activities, discussions, debates, shared experiences
and sought solutions. The NZ NGO Coordinating Committee took to
Beijing an impressive display, entitled Women of New Zealand
Working Together, which a sub-committee based in Wellington had
put together. This was accompanied by workshops which were well
presented and well received. The Jack Shallcrass Trust provided
some financial assistance for the workshops. Deane Apparel
generously outfitted, with smart suits, the 40 women involved
in the planning and presentation.
Women of New Zealand Working Together display
The display illustrates how grass-roots New Zealand women have
effected legislative and attitudinal change. It covers: women
in parliament, women in public life, Maori women, women in
education (with particular reference to the development of
pre-school education), women in the economy (with the focus on
unpaid work and pay equity), women opposing family violence,
and women and peace (specifically related to a nuclear-free
Pacific). Explanatory booklets, in English, French, Chinese and
Spanish, were printed to accompany the display; Wilson and
Horton's sponsorship is gratefully acknowledged.
The generous major sponsorship of ECNZ, and the expert
advice of Saatchi and Saatchi made the production of the
display and its transportation to China possible. Fletcher
Challenge, China, provided the personnel whose 'on-the-spot'
advice and assistance proved essential.
The Fourth World Conference
This was attended by government representatives and accredited
non-government organisations. It was the culmination of nearly
two years of discussion and negotiation the outcome of which is
the Beijing Platform For Action-- a document which the
signatories are expected to implement.
Post-conference actions in New Zealand
In 1996, the NGO Coordinating Committee organised a report back
to New Zealand women through a programme of planned activities
over a six-month period in twenty-one centres throughout New
Zealand. Once again the generosity of ECNZ enabled us to
augment the display with a visual representation of the
outcomes from Beijing and, with assistance also from Tampax, to
employ Brenda Baxter (who had attended the forum) as a
coordinator to travel with the display and to oversee the
workshops. Carter Holt Harvey generously provided extra display
frames. An excellent Hiace van was generously supplied by
Toyota NZ who followed our progress with genuine interest.
The display was mounted for three days each week and
weekend workshops were held in Kapiti, Nelson, Greymouth,
Invercargill, Dunedin, Timaru, Christchurch, Blenheim,
Wellington, Masterton, Gisborne, Rotorua, Tauranga, West
Auckland, North Shore, Whangarei, Te Atatu marae, Hamilton, New
Plymouth and Palmerston North, and a special session at
Alexandra. A total of 1303 women attended these workshops and
made enthusiastic contributions. The committee appointed a lead
organisation at each centre to take responsibility for the
local arrangements. We are indebted to the hard work and
commitment from the women of NCW, BPW, Soroptilnists, UNIFEM,
Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL), and Tu Wahine for their hard
work and generous support.
The results of this consultation process are printed in
this book. 'I he twelve issues of poverty, education and
training, health, power and decision-making. the economy,
violence, institutional mechanisms, the media, the environment,
human rights, armed conflict, the girl child, as they relate to
women in New Zealand, are covered here. The material is a
collation of the knowledge, opinions and perceptions of the
women who attended the workshops. The actions recommended are
those that they wanted articulated. Maori women and their views
have been part of the consultation process. Their material will
appear in an appropriate separate format which they will
choose.
What now?
This book- Beyond Beijing:-the New Zealand Way-is the
culmination of the objectives that the NZ NGO Coordinating
Committee established in 1993. We gave women the opportunity to
articulate their needs and invited them to offer solutions.
This is their record of how it is for them. It is a key
document, a benchmark of how it is for some women in New
Zealand in 1996. But the women want more than a record of their
words. They want actions. They want action from the systems of
government, they want action from organisations. they want
action from the community and from individuals. Collectively
they will be pressuring for change which will move them and
their families further along the roads to equality, development
and peace.
We will distribute this wisdom widely, but ultimately it
will be the commitment and purpose of those who take up the
cause which will determine the end result.
Marie Aubin
Convenor
NZ NGO Coordinating Committee
July 1996
Beijing: Equality, Peace and Development
A summary of an address by the Ministry of Women's Affairs to
the NGO post-Beijing display and workshop tour
The Ministry of Women's Affairs task with the tour was to
provide background on the Beijing Conference and the Platform
for Action: and to set the Beijing Conference into context for
us in New Zealand.
What was achieved at Beijing?
The question we are now most often asked is 'What was achieved
at Beijing?'
The main outcome of the conference was agreement on the
wording of a Platform for Action. The twelve key areas
addressed by the Platform for Action are poverty; education;
health; violence; armed conflict; economic structures;
political power and decision making; mechanisms; human rights;
media; environment; and the girt child.
A key achievement of Beijing was how so much was agreed
upon quietly and efficiently by the representatives of
governments from diverse religious, cultural anal economic
systems.
However, there were controversial issues including:
inheritance; punitive measures against women who have had
illegal abortions; sexual rights; sexual orientation;
environment; nuclear weapons; and, parental rights and
responsibilities.
The meaning of the Platform for Action for New Zealand
The biggest challenge now facing us is how we respond to the
challenges of the Platform for Action.
The government has already announced that the Ministry of
Women's Affairs has been asked to work with other government
agencies on the following key areas from the Platform for
Action: mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development
of all policies and programmes; information on women's unpaid
work and its application to policy development; the gender pay
gap; the need for more and better data collection about all
aspects of women's lives; the recommendations which apply
specifically to Maori women and girls as indigenous people; and
enhancing women's role in decision making, including through a
government commitment to 'gender balance' on all
government-appointed committees, boards and other relevant
official bodies.
Already the ministry has published The Fall Picture which
is a user-friendly guide to using gender analysis whenever and
wherever policy is being developed. It's a tool that assists us
to identify and examine the very real differences in the lives
of women and men.
Conclusion
Through the NGO tour, we have been provided with information
which will help us to identify the key priority areas for New
Zealand women and provide advice on the major social and
economic issues affecting New Zealand women.
The report from these workshops will, therefore, he a key
document for the Ministry of Women's Affairs to consider as we
prepare the New Zealand Government's response to the Platform.
The full ministry address to the NGO tour and Beijinsg and
Beyond: the Report of the New Zealand delegation to the Fourth
United Nations World Conference on Women can be obtained from:
Corporate Relations Unit, Ministry of Women's Affairs
PO Box 10 049, Wellington
tel: 04-473 4112,
fax: 04-473 0961,
e-mail: mwa@mwa.govt.nz
A summary of the Beijing Platform for Action
The Platform for Action agreed to by governments attending the
Fourth World Conference for Women, held in Beijing in September
1995, is a document of about 150 pages. The Report of the
Conference, which includes reports of the general proceedings
as well as the Platform for Action, was sent by the Minister of
Women's Affairs to many women's organisations in late 1995.
This discussion document draws on the material in that
document, but has been modified to provide a platform for
discussion that is relevant to New Zealand women in the l 990s.
It has been prepared by members of the NZ NGO Coordinating
Committee in order to assist the discussion and to help in
understanding the essential content of the platform. We
strongly recommend that the Platform for Action be studied in
full, and that it should be recognised that the material
presented here has been simplified.
Other material will be available from other sources such
as the Ministry of Women's Affairs, and we suggest that all
such resources be fully used.
CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS
The conference adopted a declaration, known as the Beijing
Declaration, and within the Platform for Action agreed on a
mission statement, a global framework, critical areas of
concern, and strategic objectives and actions. This discussion
document includes extracts and precis from all these sections.
The numbers used are those used in the Report of the
Conference.
From the Beijing Declaration
GOVERNMENTS
3 are determined to advance the goals of equality
development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest
of all humanity
5 recognise that progress in the advancement of the status
of women has been uneven, that inequalities between women and
men have persisted and major obstacles remain with serious
consequences for the well-being of all people
6 recognise, too, that this is exacerbated by increasing
poverty, affecting the lives of the majority of the world's
people, in particular women and children
7 dedicate themselves to addressing the constraints and
obstacles in order to further advance and empower women all
over the world.
Governments reaffirm their commitment to:
8 the equal rights and inherent human dignity of women and
men as enshrined in the UN Charter and many UN Conventions
9 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
11 achieve the full and effective implementation of the
Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies and the decisions of other
UN Conferences and Summits
12 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.
Governments are convinced that:
13 women's empowerment and their full participation on the
basis of equality in all spheres of society are fundamental for
the achievement of equality, development and peace
14 women's rights are human rights
15 equal rights, opportunities and access to resources,
equal sharing of responsibilities for the family by men and
women, and a harmonious partnership between them are critical
to their well-being and that of their families, as well as to
the consolidation of democracy
16 eradication of poverty, based on sustained economic
growth, social development. environmental protection and social
justice requires the involvement of women in economic and
social development and equal opportunities and the full and
equal participation of women and men as agents and
beneficiaries of people-centred sustainable development
17 the explicit recognition and reaffirmation of the right
of all women to control all aspects of their health,
particularly their own fertility, is basic to their empowerment
18 local, national, regional and global peace is
attainable and is inextricably linked with the advancement of
women
19 it is essential to design, implement and monitor, with
the full participation of women, effective, efficient and
mutually reinforcing gender-sensitive policies and programmes
at all levels
20 the participation of all sectors of civil society,
particularly women's groups and networks and other
non-governmental organisations and community-based
organisations in cooperation with governments are important to
the effective implementation and follow-up of the Platform for
Action.
Governments are determined to:
22 intensify efforts and actions to achieve the goals of
the Forward Looking Strategies by the end of the century
23 take effective action against violations of the full
enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by women
and the girl child
24 take all necessary measures to eliminate all forms of
discrimination against women and the girl child
25 encourage men to participate fully in all actions
towards equality
26 promote women's economic independence, including
employment and eradication of the increasing burden of poverty,
by addressing the structural causes of poverty through changes
in economic structures, ensuring equal access for all women to
productive resources, opportunities and public services
27 promote people-centred sustainable development,
including growth through the provision of basic education,
life-long education, literacy and training, and primary health
care for girls and women
28 take positive steps to ensure peace and. recognising
the leading role women have played, work towards general and
complete disarmament and a comprehensive nuclear-test ban
treaty
29 prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against
women and girls
30 ensure equal access to and equal treatment of women and
men in education and health care
31 promote and protect all human rights of women and girls
32 ensure women's equal access to economic resources,
including land, credit, science and technology, vocational
training, information, communication and markets
36-38 to implement and ensure the success of the Platform
for Action.
I MISSION STATEMENT
1 The Platform for Action is an agenda for women's empowerment.
It aims at accelerating the implementation of the Nairobi
Forward-Looking Strategies 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 decislon making.
The principle of shared power and responsibility should be
established between women and women 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 a condition for social justice and a necessary and
fundamental prerequisite for equality development and peace.
2 The Platform for Action reaffirms the Principles of the
Vienna Declaration that the human rights of women and the girl
child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of
universal human rights.
3 The Platform for Action emphasises that women share common
concerns that can be addressed only by working together and in
partnership with men towards the common goal of gender equality
around the world.
4 The Platform for Action requires immediate and concerted
action by all to create a peaceful, just and humane world, and
recognises that broad-based and sustained economic growth in
the context of sustainable development is necessary to sustain
social development and social justice.
5 The success of the Platform for Action will require a strong
commitment on the part of governments, international
organisations, and institutions at all levels.
II GLOBAL FRAMEWORK
This chapter outlines the state of the world as it moves into
the twenty-first century. Issues covered include:
7,8,9 References to UN declarations and statements, including
the Charter of the UN, the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women, agreements reached at
conferences and summits on children, the environment and
development, human rights, population and development, and
social development.
10 the profound changes in all aspects of society that have
taken place in the world over the past ten years have both
positive and negative effects on women.
11 Although the Cold War has ended and international relations
have improved generally, there are still wars of aggression,
armed conflicts, colonial and others forms of domination and
occupation, civil wars and terrorism.
13 Excessive military expenditure has reduced the resources
available for social development.
Many developing countries have undertaken structural adjustment
policies, often poorly designed and implemented with
detrimental effects on social development. The number of people
living in poverty has increased disproportionately in most
developing countries.
Accelerated economic growth, although necessary for social
development, does not by itself improve the quality of life of
the population.
15 The popular participation of women as full and equal
partners with men in key decision making, particularly in
politics, has not yet been achieved.
16 Widespread economic recession, as well as political
instability in some regions, has set back development goals in
many countries, leading to the expansion of unspeakable
poverty. Of the more than one billion people living in abject
poverty, women are an overwhelming majority.
17 Only a new era of international cooperation between
governments and peoples - based on a spirit of partnership, an
equitable, international, social and economic environment and a
radical transformation of the relationship between women and
men to one of full and equal partnership - will enable the
world to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
19 Economic recession in many developed and developing
countries, as well as ongoing restructuring in countries with
economies in transition, has had a disproportionately negative
impact on women's employment. Many women enter the labour
market in underpaid and undervalued jobs, seeking to improve
household income; others migrate for the same purpose. Without
any reduction in their other responsibilities, this has
increased the total burden of work for women.
21 women are key contributors to economies and to combating
poverty through both paid and unpaid work -at home, in the
community and in the workplace. Growing numbers of women have
achieved economic independence through gainful employment.
22 One-quarter of all households worldwide are headed by women.
Family disintegration, population movements between urban and
rural areas within countries, international migration, war and
internal displacements have all contributed to the rise of
female-headed households.
23 Women are increasingly establishing themselves as central
actors in a variety of capacities in the movements for peace.
24 Religion, though, conscience and belief may, and can,
contribute to fulfilling women's and men's moral, ethical and
spiritual needs and to realising their full potential in
society. However, it is acknowledge that any form of extremism
may have a negative impact on women and can lead to violence
and discrimination.
26 The growing strength of the non-governmental sector,
particularly of women's organisations and feminist groups, has
become a driving force for change.
29 Women play a critical role in the family, which is the basic
unit of society and as such should be strengthened. The family
is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support.
The rights, capabilities and responsibilities of family members
must be respected. Women make a great contribution to the
welfare of the family and to the development of society, which
is still not recognised or considered in its full importance.
The upbringing of children requires shared responsibility of
parents, women and men, and of society as a whole. Maternity,
motherhood, parenting and the role of women in procreation must
not be a basis for discrimination. Recognition should also be
given to the role women have in caring for other members of
their family.
30 While the rate of growth of the world's population is
declining, the population is at an all-time high in absolute
numbers.
32 The past decade has seen a growing recognition of the
distinct interests and concerns of indigenous women, whose
identity, cultural traditions and forms of social organisation
enhance and strengthen the communities in which they live.
33. In the past twenty years there has been an explosion in the
field of communications -such as computer technology,
satellite, cable television-all leading to the continuing
increase of global access to information. The media have great
potential to promote the advancement of women and the equality
of women and men by portraying women and men in a
non-stereotypical, diverse and balance manner, and by
respecting the dignity and worth of the human person.
34, 35 Environmental degradation often has a more direct impact
on women, particularly rural and indigenous women whose
livelihood and daily subsistence depends directly on
sustainable ecosystems. Poverty and environmental degradation
are closely interrelated.
37 The rate of sexually transmitted diseases, including
HIV/AIDS, is increasing at an alarming rate among women and
girls, especially in developing countries.
38. Discrimination against women begins at the earliest stages
of life and must therefore be addressed from then onwards.
40. Half the world's population is under the age of 25 and more
than 85 percent of these live in developing countries. There
must be a commitment to promote a world in which every child is
free from injustice, oppression and inequality and free to
develop her/his own potential. The principle of equality of
women and men must be integral to the socialisation process.
IV STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS
For each section of the discussion on the twelve critical areas
of concern, the problems are diagnosed in the introduction.
This is followed by strategic objectives and the concrete
actions to be taken by various sectors of society in order to
achieve the objectives. The intention is to improve the
situation of all women, with special attention given to groups
that are the most disadvantaged.
We have concentrated on the objectives and actions, and
encourage you to read the Beijing Platform for Action to
understand more fully the background for the proposals.
Questions have been prepared to assist, in the words of
the Minister of Women's Affairs, 'in ensuring that women NGOs
are able to have input into Government policy'. We have not
listed all actions, only those which seem appropriate for New
Zealand.
Many of the proposed actions are already in operation in this
country, and any questions or requests for comment on these
have been omitted. But it is important to become aware of them,
through reading the whole Platform for Action, so that
standards and expectations are not lessened.
Not all the objectives have questions attached. Comment on
others was invited. We do need to remember women in developing
countries who do not have the freedoms and advantages of New
Zealand women, and be prepared to urge our government to take
appropriate actions for assistance to such countries.
Some of the issues are raised in numbered sections,
because there are matters that are important in various
critical areas. There are therefore, repetition of questions,
or very similar questions in different sections.
We urged that all twelve critical areas of concern were
discussed and, while we realised that this could be difficult,
it was important that a wide range of views on all the issues
was gathered, so that this process will effectively represent
women's views to the government and provide a valid basis for
the work of women's NGOs in the next few years.
Major issues from the workshops
A number of common themes have emerged from the discussions in
workshops. Although the specific workshop topics were
disparate. there are underlying matters of concern that can be
addressed in general terms. These demonstrate the
inter-relationship of all issues-for example, poverty causes
limited access to both education and health, and poor nutrition
creates ill-health and hinders learning; a limited ability to
learn leads to lack of knowledge, difficulties in finding
necessary information, and thus to lack in confidence and self
esteem.
Many of the concerns expressed are the result of attitudes
that are still prevalent in society as a whole, and are
therefore more difficult to alter than matters that need law
changes. But if women and men work to change the nature of New
Zealand society, if the contribution made by women is fairly
recognised and their role given due importance, the whole of
society will be enriched.
The issues have been set into categories, without prioritising.
STRUCTURAL ISSUES
Society's systems still shut out women, ignoring the reality of
women's lives. This shows in areas, such as the non-recognition
of acquired skills and prior learning, and in continuing
difficulties in accessing finance, which affect and limit many
women's lives. A greater inclusion of women at all levels of
decision-making, in both the private and public sectors, will
help to alter established systems.
Lack of information also continues to be a major
limitation: finding out where to find the information that is
necessary to function effectively is extremely difficult.
Information should be available in easily understood forms and
central locations, or be easily accessed by well known paths.
Barriers to the court system are still considerable. These
include not knowing what is required, and not being able to
understand legal language and the costs involved, especially in
family and domestic issues. Although legal aid gives immediate
assistance to women most in need, eligibility is low and
repayment costs considerable.
The government must be prepared to meets its social
responsibilities, especially in health, education and housing.
Government decisions that have pushed essential support
services into the community without adequate finance have added
to the difficulties women are facing.
The role of the Ministry of Women's Affairs must be
extended. Its visibility and brief must be increased, and it
must consult more with women. The Nominations Service should be
further developed and publicised and its information made
available to organisations other than government bodies.
ATTITUDINAL ISSUES
There is an urgent need for changes in attitude to the status
of women, in both private and public. Only then will the
present unacceptable expectations of men's ownership anal use
of women, and the levels of sexual abuse and sexual harassment
diminish. It should be noted that the freer acceptance of
pornography and prostitution may reinforce the concept that
women exist for men's use.
The importance of the media in reinforcing attitudes must
be recognized. Its part in educating society, and in providing
role models for and about women are crucial. The realities of
women's lives need to be more visible in all sectors of the
media.
The vital role of parents must be given more recognition
especially the need for quality education for parenting.
Society as a whole needs to become family-friendly, by
recognising the importance of good parenting and welcoming
children into workplaces, businesses and commercial centres.
Unpaid work, done by both women and men, must be
recognized as an essential part of the economy, not as an
optional extra.
MONITORING AND RESEARCH
There must be better research into women's issues, preferably
by an independent centre (which would also gather information
on other relevant research being done). Research should include
studies of the social impacts of government policies and gender
issues; other activities should include the monitoring of all
research to check that gender issues have been considered.
There must be ongoing monitoring of progress looking at
responses t particular issues, the overall effectiveness of
programmes and the results of legislation. Women and women's
organisations have a responsibility to work towards
implementation of the Platform for Action and to undertake
monitoring roles.
MINORITY GROUPS
The role and rights of indigenous women and women with special
needs must be supported. Their particular needs for access to
information and to appropriate services must be recognized, and
their contribution to all aspects of monitoring the Platform
for Action included in all reports.
Issues papers
A Women and poverty
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
The persistent and increasing burden -of poverty on women.
Women's reality is often hidden with dire consequences. Women's
perspective and reality is ignored because of their lack of
political power. Government needs to ;get out to people to
record women's stories, to review policies. The increase of
poverty must be acknowledged by the government, the media and
the community.
Those who are poor have no energy to be political. The
gaps between rich and poor, and between perception and reality,
and between decision makers and consumers must be addressed.
There must be increased participation in decision making-in
home, business, and the structure of society.
The outcome of policies on education, health, housing and
social welfare are unhelpful to women in poverty-in fact, they
may cause poverty. Violence in many cases exacerbated poverty.
The poverty trap and the stigma of poverty makes it almost
impossible for individuals to act in a political way.
There is insufficient acknowledgement of the
hidden/invisible numbers of those in poverty-who don't go to
food banks, doctors etc. The basic philosophy of individualism
that permeates our society is unsupportive of women's
responsibilities and work. (See Appendix 5 for Workshop-Issues
Questions)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
A1 Review, adopt and maintain macroeconomics policies and
develop strategies
that address the needs and efforts of women in poverty.
A clear message was that poverty is relative, depending on
where you are-that is, local community versus national versus
international. It can be defined as not having enough to meet
your own and your family's needs: food, shelter, health,
education. Poorness was not perceived until examples were
given. Examples of powerlessness-scavenging for clothes etc.
Poverty is having no or limited choices.
We require basic rights and adequate income to meet
health, housing, education, food, clothing, water. When we are
denied any of these basic rights and adequate income, there is
poverty. Thus poverty is seen as a lack of the basic needs of
housing, food, education, health, and economic security.
One concept discussed was that of the 'misery-go-round'
where, without these basic rights, the individual's and/or the
family's participation in community and society is jeopardised.
Their sense of belonging to the community and their well-being
is put at risk.
It was also affirmed that poverty is not an issue about
morality (ie, how monies are spent) or charity, but an issue
for the community as a whole to grapple with.
One common concern was that people often do not take up
available benefits either because they are unaware of their
entitlements or because the system is inhibiting and demeaning,
or that access is difficult.
Government agencies have a responsibility to make people
aware of their financial entitlements and to intrude as little
as possible in peoples' lives.
There should be a greater focus on reducing abatement rates on
benefits (particularly the domestic purposes and unemployment
benefits) to allow beneficiaries to keep more of what they earn
in part-time work and there should be more money for women's
basic living needs and a greater overlap between benefits and
wages in order to assist women, particularly those with
dependents, to make the transition back into the workforce.
The issue of property ownership by women was raised.
Food was another area of concern, particularly: the need
to educate groups within the community to prepare and/or grow
food (cost effective at an early stage), the importance and
proliferation of takeaways, the dependence of community
involvement in assisting others, the increasing numbers of food
banks, the increasing numbers of incidences of theft of food.
There were issues raised in regard to adequate income
assistance for clothing.
The specific needs of women as caregivers are not taken
into account in government policies. Accessible and affordable
childcare helps women move out of the poverty trap into
education, further training and work. There should be free
day-care provided for children whose mothers are on low
incomes, and there should be government-funded after-school
care for children available.
The cost of education disadvantages women who want to
better their employment prospects. We need to plan to ensure
that we are turning out appropriately educated people from our
training institutions. Schools should broaden their emphasis on
the life-skills education for young people including social
skills, budgeting and coping with different pressures. The lack
of acknowledgment of the skills and value of teachers was seen
as symptomatic. Mothers must educate boys to share fully in
relationships and parenting.
The issue of truancy was raised with the call for the
reintroduction of truancy officers.
Affordable housing was a major issue. Housing New Zealand
should develop a mission statement with social aims as a
priority. The market rent policy of state housing has resulted
in raised rents in both private and public sectors. There is a
shortage of affordable and adequate housing. State housing
stock should be built up, income-related rents should be
reinstated, and low interest loans for first-home buyers
reinstated. Housing for those with special needs, especially
for older women, was also seen as a priority. Communal housing
should be encouraged.
Poor Maori women need Pakeha support. The perception is of
power belonging to white people; it is important to share the
resources and power. Maori women are more marginalised, an
issue which must be addressed. Indigenous women need health and
education assistance to bring them level with other women.
A2 Revise laws and administration practices to ensure women's
equal rights and access to economic resources.
There was a sense that the New Right policies and market
policies have acted to the detriment of women in general.
Concerns were expressed about the Business Round Table ('get
rid of Businessmen's Round Table', 'the poor should unite to
counteract the high profile of Round Table decisions'). The
focus on individualism that permeates our society is
unsupportive of women's responsibilities and work. Winners in
the present scheme are takers-not winners for anyone else.
Persistent external debt problems, restructuring
programmes and environmental degradation have not only
undermined the capacity of women to meet their basic needs but
have contributed to their poverty.
There should be exposure and review of discriminatory
practices against women under the Employment Contracts Act. The
act should be repealed or amended: its influence is extending
well beyond employment. Minimum conditions are required.
The economic value of women's work in the voluntary sector
needs to be measured and acknowledged.
Women are exploited through excessive access to credit.
The reliability on community spirit to support the
impoverished is not an automatic guarantee that the wealthy
will become philanthropists.
Land and water should be owned by New Zealand. We have
clean water, but the threat of commercialisation of supply
impacts on rent and rates. The public needs to be educated
about conservation of supply.
A3 Provide women with access to savings and credit mechanisms
and institutions. The closure of banks in rural areas and
community areas was seen as disadvantaging many women.
There should be exposure of, and a review of,
discriminatory practices against women by financial
institutions.
Most women were in favour of the establishment of women's
banks.
A4 Develop gender-based methodologies and conduct research to
address feminisation of poverty.
Women need to prod and push the government to review its
policies. Feedback must be given to the government at all
levels to ensure accurate information is available on the
reality of poverty for women. Motivation is required to access
resources and make submissions. There should be more openness
and improved communication between government legislators and
policy makers and the women who are directly affected by social
policies that maintain the persistent and increasing burden of
poverty. Different policies and values are needed from those
prescribed by market forces. Women must develop strategies that
use our collective political leverage.
There needs to be much wider publicity and dissemination
of information about proposed new policies to allow more time
and consultation for feedback for women particularly at
grass-roots level. Existing organisations could be used in this
wider publicity and feedback.
A monthly women's forum or a community workers' forum to
highlight women's issues was suggested. Women should support
and affirm each] other in commenting on and challenging
government policies which contribute to the feminisation of
poverty.
The Ministry of Women's Affairs is no k>ngel seen as
accessible by ordinary women -doubts were raised as to whether
it was strongly advising the government and monitoring
legislation on the effects on low-income women in particular.
The lack of research and statistics was recognised. There is a
need to identify a clear poverty line. Statistical information
must be available to measure women's poverty -that is,
gender-based poverty-and publicised as a key issue, as a first
step in redressing the situation. Poverty issues among younger
people (particularly women) was identified as another area of
concern to be researched-for example, areas such as the impact
of university fees and loans. All government departments must
be encouraged to develop social aims and a body such as a
social audit ministry or unit should be established to monitor,
audit and hold accountable these departments to gender-based
policies. There should be a national survey of women's lives,
focusing particularly on incomes and the amount of paid and
unpaid work done by women. The government needs to acknowledge
and respond to reports on poverty already submitted. The
National Council of Women needs to research problems of women
at the lower socio-economic levels.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to demonstrate its commitment to gender
equity and social harmony by:
- reviewing the economic and social effects on women of all
benefits
- increasing the level of benefits relative to 1991
- increasing the levels of family support
- using a rebate system to recompense women for their unpaid
work at home
- reviewing the economic and social effects on women of all its
policies
- increasing resources to community groups and voluntary
organisations
- researching the adequacy of the GRI and superannuation for
women
- increasing access to credit so women can set up businesses
- revising the Reserve Bank Act
- abolishing GST
- changing from free-market ideology to a more equitable
system.
The government is asked to acknowledge the existence and extent
of poverty in New Zealand by:
- implementing policy and laws which address the macroeconomics
of poverty
- revising laws and administration practices to ensure women's
equal rights and access to economic resources
- improving its consultation procedures about proposed social
policies which affect women
- taking the specific role of women as caregivers into account
- insisting all government departments have social aims
- establishing a social audit ministry or unit to monitor,
audit and hold accountable these departments.
The government is asked to recognise the specific role women
play within the economy by:
- reviewing the Matrimonial Property Act to ensure equality for
women and children and de facto and same-sex relationships
- providing and funding accessible, affordable childcare and
after-school care
- providing education and support for caregivers.
The government is asked to recognise the importance of equal
access to education by:
- providing free education for all making schools safer
- addressing the loss of uniform standards and the zoning of
schools that may result in ghettoisation of particular schools
- supporting women who wish to be retrained.
The government is asked to increase women's employment
opportunities by:
- increasing access to job-skills training encouraging
upskilling
- repealing the Employment Contracts Act
- re-establishing a commission and legislation on pay equity
- recognising that women are carrying the long-term burden of
unremunerated work
- revising remuneration for caregivers
- addressing hindrances to women gaining paid employment (eg,
the poverty trap for those on benefits; abatement levels;
expenses relating to employment; and childcare subsidies and
facilities.
The government is asked to review health policies by:
- reinstating free access to health care for those below the
poverty threshold
- funding public hospitals adequately.
The government is asked to revise its housing policies by:
- accepting it has a statutory responsibility to provide
affordable housing for people in need
- re-establishing subsidised income-related rental housing
- reinstating low-interest loans for first-home buyers
- building up state housing stock.
The government is asked to provide continuity of resources for
development programmes for Maori women which are relevant to
their needs
The government is asked to support research into women's
economic situation by:
- implementing the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights which has already been signed at Copenhagen
- funding and promoting a national survey of women's lives to
identify women's
needs, their present contributions to the paid and unpaid
workforce and income
issues
- improving the collection of gender-based information
- researching the links between poverty and achievement and
socialisation.
By organisations
Organisations are asked to work towards gender equity in
economic status by:
- lobbying the government through collective action (and making
use of the expertise of NCW, Maori Women's Welfare League and
PACIFICA in this area)
- supporting projects that address women's poverty
- combining information and working together rather than
competing for support and funding
- participating in a community workers' forum
- developing gender-based policies-eg, superannuation for women
- publicising issues such as feminisation of poverty in local
news media
- providing community radio, TV and newspapers with information
on where people can access services
- encouraging inter-generational collaboration
- reviewing access and attitudes to all women
- identifying and working to banish scapegoat activity
- exposing racism and judgemental attitudes in government
agencies
- supporting women in positions of power
- challenging the Business Roundtable's monetarist ideology
- developing a code of practice for banks and institutions that
includes gender sensitivity
- lobbying for changes to protect women in de facto and
single-sex relationships
- researching the needs of women in such areas as sports
fields, community centres
- establishing a national NGO data base with access to all.
Banks and lending institutions are asked to recognise the
special financial circumstances
of women by:
- clearly explaining all options-eg, joint accounts,
transaction costs etc.
- supporting the establishment of a women's bank
- easing access to overdrafts for low-income women
- recognising women's needs as individuals rather than partners
of men
- revising credit rating systems revising the criteria for
loans
- supporting women's self-help projects
- reducing transaction costs (women have more frequent small
transactions)
- using a positive marital credit rating when a wife is
separated.
Telecom and Clear are asked to recognise the disadvantaged by
reducing phone rentals to those in need and providing
freephones where necessary.
By individuals
Each person is asked to address the issue of women and poverty
by:
- lobbying members of parliament about issues which affect
women's economic status
- making individual submissions to select committees
- getting involved in local body politics
- developing awareness of the different situations of women in
their own communities
- participating fully in family decision-making (finance,
housing, education, medical, recreation etc)
- sharing skills and benefits to empower those without the
confidence to maximise opportunities (eg, older women are asked
to mentor younger women in their organisations and fields of
expertise)
- supporting women s development programmes
- gaining knowledge on how to access credit and its true costs
- supporting ethical banking.
Mothers are asked to educate sons in equal sharing of expenses,
household duties and running of the household.
B Education and training of women
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to
education and training.
The most critical areas of concern identified at all venues
were associated with government policies, which are perceived
as being directed towards the privatisation of education
through increasing user-pays and the encouragement of
competition between schools. This is seen as eroding New
Zealanders' rights to free education, the encouragement of
inequalities in and unequal access to education and training
for all New Zealanders, with particularly serious repercussions
for women and girls, Maori and Pacific Islands people and those
on low incomes. (See Appendix 5 for Workshop-Issues Questions)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
B1 What forms of discrimination still exist in our education
system?
Poverty and the increasing amounts of money that parents and
students are required to find to access quality education were
consistently identified as major discriminatory factors. They
prevent the unhindered education of families and the
opportunity of movement into non-traditional roles, and they
prevent women from extending their own education. They engender
discrimination that is subtle rather than overt, and is
associated with attitudes and expectations as well as the
ability to pay.
Access for all to early childhood education is seen as
highly desirable as it is here that the value of education is
set for the future. Children who are denied access to quality
early childhood education, through cost and/or availability,
are being discriminated against.
Inequalities in the quality of parenting was frequently
mentioned. Poverty, social attitudes to mothering and the
failure to recognise parenting as unpaid work of value to
society were given as reasons. The Parents as First Teachers
scheme was seen as being less effective than work done by
Plunket. Children who have been inadequately parented seldom
thrive in the education system and are therefore disadvantaged.
The high cost of tertiary education, both through the fee
structure and loan schemes, are barriers to accessing learning
for low-income families and for women and girls. The ability of
women to pay back loans is influenced by the fact that they
earn less than males and if they take time out to have children
then the loans accumulate interest and the debt burden
increases. Women wishing to continue their own education are
often unable to do so.
Maori and Pacific Islands students' levels of attainment
are still unsatisfactorily low. Some identified this as the
result of the insensitivity of educators; others thought that
families see girls as minders of other members of the family,
making it difficult for them to give time to their education.
There is a perceived need for more Kura Kaupapa and whanau
support so that they can access education in their own cultures
and languages.
Migrant and refugee women are seen as being particularly
poorly served by the inadequate educational opportunities
available to them.
Large class sizes continue to discriminate against those
with learning difficulties.
Rural students are perceived as becoming increasingly
disadvantaged by their geographical isolation.
The perceived failure to monitor the education reforms and
the effectiveness of the implementation of EEO policies was a
matter of concern as the perception is that girls and women are
being disadvantaged.
1 What needs to be done to provide better education and
training for pregnant adolescents and young mothers?
There was a limited response to this question but those who
commented were in agreement that the following were necessary.
Affordable and accessible childcare as well as the funding
of Plunket to enable them to have good support. Some even
suggested that childcare centres should be attached to high
schools. It was noted that many young women under the age of 19
years are solo parents.
Second-chance education with initial confidence-building
courses for their self-esteem.
Counsellors in all intermediate and high schools.
2 What can we do to assist young women to realise the
importance of tertiary education?
Much was said about the impact of government policies on the
ability of young women to access tertiary education. The high
fee level is a disincentive for women, particularly as they
earn less than men when they enter the workforce. This means
that holiday and part-time jobs are lower paid than those of
their male counterparts and they therefore need to work longer
hours for the same reward.
This disadvantage continues to exist when loans need to be
repaid and it is exacerbated by the fact that if women take
time out to have a family interest continues to accrue on loans
and the debt burden increases. Some parts of the country
expressed concern at the growing number of young people in paid
work for long hours after school. Many are girls saving to pay
for tertiary education. Some research needs to be done on the
impact of this on their performance in school. The cost of
tertiary education needs to be lowered as the perception is
that while the importance of it is recognised it is seen as
unaffordable by many.
Extra support, higher expectations and mentors are
essential requirements for Maori and Pacific Islands girls.
B2 Eradication of illiteracy among women.
The greatest emphasis was on the strengthening of early
childhood services through better funding of this sector so
that more children can be 'caught early'. However, it was also
acknowledged that too much pressure to perform at this age was
also undesirable.
Well funded reading recovery and lifelong learning
programmes were considered essential.
Particular concern was expressed for the plight of migrant
women and the need for creative solutions to meet their needs.
B3 Improve women's access to vocational training, science and
technology, and continuing education.
The four dominant obstacles to access were identified: parental
and teacher attitudes; fees and money problems associated with
tertiary education; childcare, and the lack of recognition of
non-formal training and skill development. Little was said
about science and technology except that maths recovery
programmes are essential for girls to improve their competency.
Parents and teachers need to have higher expectations for
girls and to communicate the value of education to them from an
early age. This is a key factor in the attainment of better
vocational goals.
A strong call was made for the abolition of the high fees
required for a university education, for a student allowance
which is the same as the unemployment benefit and for the
removal of parental means testing. There was a strong belief
that the current fee and allowance structures erode the
opportunities for women, particularly those from low-income
families and those with families to care for.
Quality affordable childcare is essential for women
wishing to access vocational training and continuing education.
Women are currently invisible if they are at home caring
for others and not in paid jobs. The skills that they acquire
in this role and in voluntary work are not recognised and
therefore not transferable when they want to retrain and/or
continue their education.
B4 Develop non-discriminatory education and training.
The responses in this section focused on career education and
counselling, the monitoring of the impact of reforms and
changes to the education system, and the availability of
suitable programmes for students who are currently disruptive
and/or not learning.
Career education needs to emphasise that learning is
lifelong and career objectives should not be focused
predominantly on the first job. Improved careers guidance in
schools delivered by specially trained counsellors is needed.
Again, concern was expressed that there seems to be little
known about the impact on students and staff of the major
changes in the education sector.
Equal educational opportunities are perceived as being
cosmetic and in need of more monitoring, money and resources.
A need for the introduction of effective programmes for
students who are not learning in the current system was
identified. Part of these programmes should focus on the
peaceful resolution of conflict and peace education.
B5 Allocate sufficient resources for, and monitor the
implementation of, educational reforms.
Concern was expressed that the New Zealand Qualifications
Framework is pressing ahead with change without any audit of
the impact of these changes to determine whether there appear
to be any discriminatory factors that might impact on low
achievers and Maori and Pacific Islands girls, and if, in fact,
the framework can meet their needs.
As mentioned previously, there is real concern that
educational reforms have bee rapidly implemented with little or
no monitoring of the impact of these changes on women,
low-income groups and equity issues.
B6 Promoting lifelong education and training.
Few centres commented on this section; those that did
reiterated points that had been made previously. Specifically,
these were that funded childcare is essential for women and
that the high cost of accessing tertiary education is a
deterrent. Some suggested that information on vocational
training should be taken out to women's groups. particularly so
that the associated language can be demystified. Women should
also be encouraged to register with the Employment Service so
that they can then do TOPS training.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to acknowledge that:
- money spent on education will give a greater return to a
country than money spent in any other way and to implement
policies that reflect this
- education is a partnership provided by the state to be used
by the individual for private good and/or as a marketable
commodity. Either way, it is always a public good.
The government is asked to change the perception that it is
withdrawing from its responsibilities in this partnership by
making a commitment to the principal of 'free' education by:
- accepting that privatisation, competition and user pays in
education is not acceptable to the people of New Zealand who
would rather pay more taxes if that would ensure equal access
by everyone to quality education
- reducing the costs to families of education in the preschool,
primary, secondary and tertiary sectors
- funding tertiary education so that students do not have to
pay high fees and have an allowance available to them
comparable to the unemployment benefit (with no means testing
or age restrictions).
The government is asked to take a lead in demonstrating the
value of quality parenting as basis of effective education by:
- funding maternity leave
- paying an allowance to women who choose to stay at home
- funding and resourcing early childhood facilities so that
childcare is accessible to all who wish to use it. Childcare
facilities could be attached to schools to provide support for
pregnant adolescents and to give teenagers good parenting
models
- ensuring that early childhood centres are staffed by fully
trained people who have pay parity with primary teachers
- funding Plunket and equivalent Maori organisations as
educational organisations with funding to match.
The government is asked to immediately begin the task t~
assessing the impact of its educational reforms on all sectors
of the community and to set up procedures for ongoing
monitoring.
The government is asked to reinstate the women's advisory
committee and the women's policy advice section of the Ministry
of Education.
The government is asked to make available. as of right. to
non-English-speaking migrants and refugees an adequate number
of hours of instructional programmes in the English language.
The government is asked to ensure that the choice of single-sex
and co-education continues to remain available.
The government is asked to ensure that the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority finds a formula for the adequate
recognition of prior learning, especially of the skills
acquired by women working at home and in the voluntary sector.
By organisations
The Career Service is asked to promote the opportunities
available to girls and women by going directly to women's
groups.
Television New Zealand is asked to promote positive role models
for women in their programmes and make documentary programmes
about women in non-traditional roles and the employers who have
employed and trained them.
Nationally organised women's groups, such as the National
Council of Women, Business and Professional Women, NZ
Federation of University Women, are asked to:
- monitor the impact of government policies on women and lobby
when necessary
- provide mentors for women
- Iobby employers for the recognition of non-formal training.
By the community
The community is asked to encourage and develop a culture that
values education by:
- supporting schools, early childhood education and childcare
centres
- challenging negative media images of women and girls.
Boards of trustees are asked to:
- support the promotion of women
- lobby for the placement of guidance counsellors in all
schools and for the funding to ensure their ongoing
professional development
- support programmes in life skills, parenting and career
choice.
Employers are asked to:
- recognise non-formal skills acquired by women at home and in
the voluntary sector
- provide on-the-job training for women returning to the
workforce.
By individuals
Each person is asked to:
- value education as a private as well as a public good
- make educational funding an election issue
- help raise the status of teachers by valuing their work
- challenge policies which lead to increased privatisation and
inequalities.
Parents are asked. as their responsibility for the education of
the next generation, to:
- encourage their children from an early age to value education
as a lifelong process and provide them with the educational
opportunities that they need
- encourage equal access by girls and boys to tertiary
education.
Women not in paid work are asked to register as unemployed to
make themselves visible.
C Women and health
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Inequalities and inadequacies in, and unequal access to, health
care and related services. The issues raised at workshops on
health included: an overwhelming rejection of New Zealand's
current health reform policies and the user-pays concept; the
promotion and community acceptance of mothers breast feeding
their babies; the need for more funding for health and
disability support services, including for voluntary
organisations (especially women's groups); improved sex
education; promotion of healthier lifestyles; the establishment
of the breast cancer screening programme, mental health
concerns; issues facing young girls and women with
disabilities; health issues facing older women; positive
ageing; community education programmes on health issues; more
consultation about changes in health policy; more involvement
of women in decision making on health; nutrition; and the
correlation between poverty and poor health.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
C1 Increase women's access throughout the life cycle to
appropriate, affordable and quality health care, information
and related services.
There was overwhelming condemnation of the government's health
reforms and the introduction of the user-pays concept. The
current cut-backs in expenditure on health services were seen
as impacting directly on the health of girls and women, and
there were calls to increase resources so that women have
adequate health services.
1 What needs to be done to ensure the right of women and girls
to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of
physical and mental health in New Zealand ?
It was felt that a national women's health policy was needed to
improve the coordination of women's health; conversely, a
national men's health policy should also be developed because
men's wellness impacts on women.
Several population groups were seen as being in need of
extra resources: people living in rural areas have extra costs
relating to accessing health services; and those living in
fast-growing urban regions have to rely on health services that
are having difficulty coping with increasing numbers of
clients.
2 What further needs to be done to provide more accessible
available and affordable primary health-care services of high
quality including sexual and reproductive health care which
includes family planning information services, with particular
attention to maternal and emergency obstetric care ?
It was felt that the government must recognise and respond to
the varying needs of mothers after the birth of a baby.
Policies and resources should reflect the freedom of choice for
new mothers to stay longer in hospital after giving birth or
going home early. If women choose to leave hospital early with
their new baby, then daily home visiting services must be
provided to ensure that a feeding pattern has been established
and no problems occur. Women wanted to be fully consulted about
any changes to maternity services, and any further changes must
reflect communities' needs and wishes.
The importance of the services Plunket provides for
mothers of young children was emphasised. The government was
strongly urged to insist that all the regional health
authorities (RHAs) fund Plunket services at the level prior to
March 1996, ensuring that day centres, family health centres,
home visits and mobile Plunket services are available to all
mothers with young children.
3 'Governments, agencies and NGOs are urged ... to reduce the
recourse to abortion through expanded and improved
family-planning services. Prevention of unwanted pregnancies
must always be given the highest priority and every attempt
should be made to eliminate the need for abortion'. How can
this aim be carried out in New Zealand?
It was thought that educational programmes on the human body
and the mature life cycle for all girls and women were needed.
Such programmes should also include free information on sex,
safe sex and contraception.
Some workshops suggested that CHEs and organisations
should provide women faced with unwanted pregnancies with
information on all the options available to them to enable them
to make informed choices.
4 What programmes information and services might be developed
to assist women to understand and adapt to changes associated
with ageing and to address and treat the health needs of older
women especially those who are physically or psychologically
dependent ?
Suggested resources about ageing included videos, TV programmes
and plays focusing on the ageing process of women, which will
stimulate women's discussion of health and other issues, and
programmes that portray older women as positive role models.
In the service area, it was felt that the RHAs should
ensure greater flexibility on assessment criteria for rest home
care and carefully monitor standards of care, that the demands
and needs of older caregivers should be recognised, and that
the range and availability of home care services should be
increased to enable older women to remain in their own homes if
they wanted to.
Many felt that in many instances no one government
department was taking responsibility for services, and that
people were caught in between. To deal with this, it was
suggested that a protocol outlining the roles, functions, and
responsibilities of health, social services and income support
be drawn up, in order to make services more accessible and less
contestable.
5 What needs to be done to ensure that girls and women of all
ages with any forms of disability receive supportive services ?
Girls and women with disabilities need to be provided with
education and encouragement so that they can make informed
choices about their personal health.
One area of particular concern was the lack of carer
support options for young adults with disabilities; at present
there is limited short- term residential care available for
this group and many have no choice but to go to a geriatric
home.
It was felt that often policy changes disadvantage women
who are disabled, and their interests were not being taken into
account. For example, there was disquiet that cut-backs in
health expenditure and the policy of deinstitutionalisation
made it uncertain whether all people with disabilities have
adequate resources for their long-term care. including
home-help services and personal care services.
Organisations must ensure that health and disability
support services have policies and practices which are
culturally sensitive to girls and women of different cultures.
It was felt that all girls and women with disabilities are
not equal: current policies provide advantages for women who
become disabled through accident but disadvantage those who are
disabled through congenital or medical reasons.
More funding is needed for mental health. and there needs
to be wider support for people working in the mental health
area.
6 Is there adequate information on the benefits of breast
feeding? Are women assisted to continue breast feeding even
after return to employment? How could this be improved?
Educational programmes on the benefits of breast feeding babies
are needed so that community attitudes become more positive to
women breast feeding in public. Such programmes should also
target employers to encourage them to provide facilities for
staff who wish to breast feed their babies at work. Large
companies should also be encouraged to provide staff with
childcare facilities.
Information should be provided in various Ianguages and
formats (eg, sign language, Braille, tape and large print). All
information relating to health should be provided in simple
language so that everyone can understand it.
7 What support is needed by NGOs working on women's health ?
How can women be better involved in the development of
government health policies?
The profile of women's and girls' health is not high
enough, and it was felt that organisations needed to lobby
members of parliament far more on a range of issues affecting
women.
One such issue is the gender inequities of representation
on RHA and CHE boards and on community consultative committees;
they should comprise more women and more community
representatives-lay people as well as medical professionals
should be included. Another decision making forum are the
health ethical committees and, again, a balance of gender,
community and medical views are needed.
A strong plea from most workshops was the urgent need for
more government funding for voluntary organisations, including
women's organisations.
8 What measures should be taken to improve the level of
nutrition, especially of girls?
The importance of school home economics classes at both
intermediate and secondary school levels was emphasised - they
enable girls (and boys) to learn how to make nutritious dishes.
There was a call for the immediate removal of GST from
staple food items to enable people on lower incomes to purchase
food that provides a more balanced diet.
It was suggested that organisations and communities should
monitor the level of TV and radio advertisements for fast food.
Acceptance of different female body images is important so
young girls and women won't starve themselves in order to be
thin, leading to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.
Communities .should encourage all schools to participate
in Healthy Schools projects. which include good nutritional
food at the school canteen. Such programmes should include
early childhood centres.
9 What needs to be done to ensure full and equal access to
health-care infrastructure and services for indigenous women?
Organisations must provide girls and women of all ethnic groups
with information about all aspects of health in various
languages and formats (eg, sign language, Braille, tape and
large print). All information relating to health should be
provided in simple language so that everyone can understand it.
C2 Strengthen preventive programmes that promote women's
health.
Most responses concentrated on the need for more research on
women's health issues, specifically on the breast screening
programme, and the need to disseminate the findings to the
public.
There should be stronger promotion of the benefits of
breast screening programmes to identify early stages of breast
cancer, so more women will be empowered to use these
programmes.
C3 Undertake gender-sensitive initiatives that address sexually
transmitted diseases HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive
health issues.
More public awareness programmes addressing sexually
transmitted disease are needed. Such programmes should be
targeted at adolescents and young adults.
C4 Promote research and disseminate information on women's
health.
1 What particular aspects of research into women's health
should be promoted ?
The government must provide financial support for women's
health and information centres.
The media needs to be more pro-actively involved in
promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles, portraying positive
images of girls and women, positive parenting, good nutrition
and exercise. Radio, newspapers and magazines were all seen as
sectors of the media which should be most involved, but TV was
seen by most participants as the most significant player,
citing ETV and programmes such as Shortland Street as methods
of getting messages across.
Corporate sponsorship is also seen as a good way to fund health
promotion.
Organisations and communities should promote and subsidise
sports and exercise programmes for girls and women.
The government and organisations should provide
educational programmes for girls and women to lift their
self-esteem and provide them with knowledge so that they can
make informed choices on healthier lifestyles.
Communities must discourage peer pressure to smoke for weight
control.
'Acknowledge and encourage beneficial traditional health
care, especially that practised by indigenous women ...' How
can this best be done?
Organisations should identify cultural leaders who can promote
the benefits of traditional cultural medicine to their
communities.
C5 Increase resources and monitor follow-up for women's health.
The increase in poverty was a critical concern: it was widely
acknowledged that user-pays costs affect access to health
services and those on low incomes are strongly disadvantaged.
As well as increasing resources, it was felt there were a
number of steps the government could take: for example,
reviewing the criteria for access to community services cards,
with the aim of allowing more people free or cheaper health
care, making contraceptives (including male forms) available
free or very cheaply, removing taxes on tampons and all other
sanitary supplies and increasing subsidies on prescribed drugs
and medicines.
There is a need, too, for the Ministry of Health and the
four RHAs to consult widely with all relevant communities,
particularly women, before they make any policy or operational
changes to health and disability support services. Such
consultation must be meaningful and place value on the
community.
Furthermore, the RHAs auditing processes of health and
disability support services must be transparent and acceptable
to the communities these services serve.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to immediately develop separate
national women's and men's health policies.
The government is asked to increase expenditure on health
rather than cut back resources and services, and to provide
extra resources for those:
- living in rural areas, who have extra costs accessing health
services
- in regions where there is a considerable urban population
growth.
The government is asked to recognise and respond to the varying
needs of mothers after the birth of a baby by:
- adequately funding those who wish to stay longer in hospital
- providing home services
- acknowledging the importance of Plunket services,
guaranteeing funding at the level prior to March 1996 and
ensuring day centres, family health centres, home visits and
mobile Plunket services are available to all
- consulting with women about changes to maternity services.
The government is asked to pay particular attention to women's
and girl's health needs by:
- increasing research into specific women's and girls' issues,
such as breast cancer, rising incidence of smoking and body
image problems
- widely disseminating information about research and health
issues
- supporting women's health and information centres
- funding a wide range of educational and media programmes
targeted at adolescents and young women on such issues as
sexually transmitted diseases
- encouraging a more positive image of women.
The government is asked to acknowledge the special health needs
of older women by:
- providing more relief to caregivers
- increasing the availability and range of home care services
- ensuring greater flexibility on assessment criteria for rest
home care
- monitoring the performances of rest homes, specifically in
the following areas: nutritional value of food, the ratio of
staff to residents, the standards of the buildings, and abuse
of older people.
The government is asked to draw up a protocol to ensure that
the role, functions and responsibilities of health services,
social services and income support services are set out, in
order to improve cooperation, coordination and accountability
to the community.
The government is asked to value girls and women with
disabilities by:
- monitoring all policy changes to ensure that they are not
disadvantaged
- providing them with information about health choices
- providing adequate resources for their long-term care
- making greater provisions for carer support for young adults
with disabilities
- purchasing home-help services and personal care services for
all those who wish to remain in the community
- increasing funding for mental health.
The government is asked to increase the numbers of women on all
health decision-making organisations, including the boards of
RHAs and CHEs, and health ethical committees, in order to
achieve gender equity of representation.
The government is asked to immediately provide more funding for
voluntary organisations, including women's organisations.
The government is asked to ensure that health and disability
support services have policies and practices which are
culturally sensitive to girls and women of different cultures.
The government is asked to immediately reverse policies that
have an impact on people's income, and thus their access to
health services; specifically to:
- remove GST from staple food items
- review the criteria for access to community services cards
- ensure that free or very cheap contraceptives be available to
all women.
- remove taxes on tampons and all other sanitary supplies.
- increase subsidies on prescribed drugs and medicines.
- revert to pre-1996 policies on the allocation of repeats on
prescribed medicine.
By organisations
Nurses' organisations are asked to monitor the caseloads of
midwives and other professionals working in the maternity
field.
Organisations are asked to provide women with unwanted
pregnancies with information on all their options.
Organisations are asked to provide more public awareness
programmes and support the development of television and radio
programmes on:
- the benefits of breast feeding babies, particularly
encouraging employers to provide facilities for staff who wish
to breast feed
- all forms of disability
- the realities of mental health
- positive aspects of ageing.
Organisations are asked to increase the lobbying of
members of parliament:
- to heighten the profile of women's and girls' health
- on specific issues such as for free contraceptives, including
the promotion of male forms of contraception.
Organisations are asked to provide girls and women with
information about all aspects of health in various languages
and formats (eg, sign language, Braille, tape and large print).
Organisations and communities are asked to promote and
subsidise sports and exercise programmes for girls and women.
Organisations are asked to identify cultural leaders who
can promote the benefits of traditional cultural medicine to
their communities.
By communities
Communities are asked to encourage and develop a culture that
values women and girls by:
- accepting different female body images
- encouraging schools and early childhood centres to
participate in Healthy Schools projects
- discouraging peer pressure to smoke for weight control.
By the media
The media is asked to be more involved in:
- promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles
- portraying positive images of girls and women, and of
parenting.
D Women and violence
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN Violence against women.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
D1 Take integrated measures to prevent and eliminate violence
against women.
This section contains many recommendations very pertinent to
New Zealand society. Only a few issues are raised here, because
there is very little to discuss on most of the recommendations;
they are very practical sensible proposals. Most however need
money.
1 What actions can be taken to eliminate acts of violence
against women and children? By governments, by agencies and
NGOs?
Concern was expressed that the general community attitude had
moved towards an acceptance of prostitution and pornography,
which led ultimately to the concept of slavery, the 'conjugal
rights' attitude of women being fcor men's use, and the
resulting violence against women.
It was felt that the status of women generally needed to
be raised, and this is also referred to later. There was some
support for more stringent requirements for reporting at-risk
or actual child abuse and violence against women. An accepted
theme was that women keep violence hidden because they consider
themselves responsible for a 'happy home', a 'home of
creation', 'women are the whaea or fire', depending on the
culture.
Women are often afraid to report violence for fear of
retribution. Currently the justice system seems to make women
look inadequate: courts need to be more flexible, user-friendly
and less lawyer dominated. Protocols are needed for judges with
some accountability to the public. Judges need to take
responsibility in domestic violence cases, and acknowledge bad
decisions.
Ethnically appropriate police responses to family violence
are needed. Marae-based justice could be used more often. Court
advocates are needed in all courts. Any fines for offenders
should include reparation for victims and, should charges be
introduced, perpetrators should pay for protection orders.
2 What steps and by whom should they be taken to monitor the
effects of the new laws concerning domestic violence including
women's access to justice and remedies for the harm they have
suffered ?
The suitability of the police dealing with domestic violence is
continually questioned. An independent monitoring of police
responses (of time taken to deal with crimes against women and
children); the effectiveness of treatment programmes for
violent offenders; screening of the content of new legislation
by both the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Commissioner
for Children, and considering amendments to the Privacy Act in
situations that are compounded by family dysfunction are all
actions that would prove beneficial, and would go some way to
alleviating; public concerns.
3 What measures should be introduced into the education system
to modify actions that lead to violent behaviour?
.
Violence can be considered a public health issue. It is also a
community problem. and its resolution is a community
responsibility.
Within the education system, there is a need for a peace
studies centre. which could collate the research done by many
organisations and institutions, who put much effort into their
work but which may be difficult to access. If this were located
at a university and given national responsibility -viz the
children's issues centre at the University of Otago-it could
become a useful resource, offer training courses and provide
'clearing house' functions.
In addition, education for males within colleges of
education, parents, and students within all levels of the
education system would provide a multi-pronged preventive
programme; however, it may take more than one generation to be
visibly beneficial.
There is also a need for more self-defence courses, more
esteem-building courses, and better access to drug and alcohol
programmes (both preventive and rehabilitative).
Compulsory registration of teachers, and police checks of
them and all ancillary staff who are in contact with students
is seen as essential.
4 'Allocate adequate resources within the government budget and
mobilise community resources for activities related to the
elimination of violence against women including resources for
the implementation of plans of action at all appropriate
levels'. How do you see this being carried out?
Companies should be encouraged to support community programmes
at both national and local levels.
Government agencies working in the area need adequate
funding for staff training and to avoid burnout.
Funding is desperately needed to support in-depth
counselling. The criteria for ACC funding in this area and the
health/welfare interface need to be clarified.
5 How can we persuade the government to give more financial
assistance to those who have proven programmes and skills that
protect women and help to break the cycles of violence?
Poverty feeds violence, and results in poor parenting, lack of
educational opportunities and poor health.
The government should adequately fund and acknowledge
support services as well as funding education at all levels.
Lack of support is viewed by some as 'fiscal violence against
women'.
D2 Study the causes and consequences of violence against women
and the effectiveness of preventive measures.
1 What priorities would you give to research into violence
against women and girls?
There is a need to monitor both the public and private sector,
in the area of employment (particularly in the police) to
ensure that women are both participating and achieving, that
their perspective is known and their issues and concerns heard.
The visibility of women needs to be raised and there needs to
be gender balance and sensitivity in training and recruitment.
Research and statistics should be gathered on the amount of
money spent on victim support compared with on the education
and support of the perpetrators.
2 How can the media be further encouraged to consider the
impact of gender-role stereo-types, including those used in
advertisements?
In the media the profile of violence is always high-to some
this means it is glorified. The role and activity of the
Broadcasting Standards Authority should be more widely
publicised, and it should be acknowledged that TV documentaries
may not be reaching their target audiences. It may be necessary
to use a vehicle other than the usual documentary and/or
channel-for example, more on Shortland Street, Skitz or ETV.
(Note: some houses do not have TV.)
Many households are unwilling or unable to purchase newspapers,
and there is a sizeable proportion of adults who cannot read.
For people in these situations, there is an added
responsibility on the public information sector to make
resources available.
D3 Eliminate trafficking in women and assist victims of
violence due to prostitution and trafficking. Migrant women
(eg, mail-order brides) and refugees need support and education
to raise awareness of their rights. There was a suggestion of
an information hotline with an 0800 number (multi-lingual) for
them.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to recognise the prevalence of violence
against women in our society by:
- recognising and supporting agencies which work in this area
- making more funding available to refuge and Rape Crisis
movements (including monies from liquor tax).
The government is asked to immediately implement policies
designed to reduce violence against women, including:
- supporting moves to raise the status of women
- funding wide-ranging research into the status of women and
disseminate
- recognising and funding educational policies in schools and
in the community at large
- providing more and different employment options for women in
order to raise status
- recognising the value of unpaid work
- signing CEDAW
- reviewing the censorship laws.
The government is asked to review the way the justice system
deals with violence against women by:
- placing victim advocates in all courts
- training all judges in issues relating to violence against
women
- fast-tracking court process for domestic violence
- supporting an advocacy body
- establishing a ministerial-appointed community watch dog
- ensuring existing legislation is enforced
- evaluating existing legislation.
The government is asked to recognise that violence against
women begins at an early age by:
- amending the Crimes Act to prohibit smacking
- registering all teachers and ancillary staff
- providing better access to childcare
- providing extra funding for the Special Education Service.
The government is asked to act immediately to protect foreign
women who are the victims of violence by:
- having more vigilant immigration controls
- establishing an 0800 number of information and help.By
organisationsOrganisations are asked to develop a culture that
discourages violence against women by:- lobbying the government
for funding and law changes
- providing advocacy for women and girls who are victims of
violence- monitoring the effect of legislative programmes and
interventions
- educating members to deal appropriately with victims-
networking with other like organisations.Businesses are asked
to demonstrate the non-acceptance of violence in our society
by:- running non-violence courses for staff- providing
professional development courses for staff- publicly
contributing to local and national refuges and Rape Crisis
groups.
Organisations are asked to support foreign women who are
victims of violence by supporting migrants and providing
advice.
Organisations are asked to raise awareness of issues by:
- using the media to provide information
- putting documentaries on all channels- using locally produced
programmes to pass on messages.By communitiesCommunities are
asked to support actions to prevent violence against women by:-
targeting inappropriate media presentation
- supporting local non-violence programmes
- actively seeking information from informed sources
- providing parenting, violence- intervention and conflict
resolution programmes
- providing advocacy for women and girls who are victims of
violence
- monitoring legislation. government action. the justice
system, and organisations working for and against violence.By
individuals Each person is asked to:- take responsibility for
her or his own actions
- join lobby groups
- learn anger management skills if necessary
- seek advice on parenting skills if necessary
- support others
- know how to access help.
E Women and armed conflict
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
The effects of armed or other kinds of conflict on women,
including those living under foreign occupation.
This workshop was offered at most, but not all, of the
seminars held throughout New Zealand. About l00 women discussed
the issues in this section. While most used the format as set
out in the Strategic objectives, other groups were led through
slightly different questions prepared by facilitators. The
strong message is that there needs to be a real desire for
peace at all levels - family, community, national and
international.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
E1 Increase the participation of women in conflict resolution
at decision-making levels and protect women living in
situations of armed and other conflicts or under foreign
occupation.
1 What actions can women s NGOs take I o promote an increase in
the number of women involved in peace activities especially in
the UN Secretariat and related agencies ?
Seek for gender balance and gender equity in all
decision-making bodies and offices.
New Zealand is allocated a quota of positions on UN
committees which NGOs should encourage the government to take
up and ensure that women are well represented. This should also
be the case at all international forums-for example, the World
Court and war crimes tribunals.
Women should be trained and used as peace mediators and in
the area of conflict resolution, particularly at an
international level.
Women could be trained in the forces in peacemaking and
conflict resolution.
NGOs should ensure that more women are elected to
parliament and other decision-making bodies.
E2 Reduce excessive military expenditures and control the
availability of armaments.
1 At what level of GDP can military expenditure be considered
excessive?
Comment was made that the government's level of military
expenditure could be considered fair. However, the following
qualification must be taken into consideration: 'It is
excessive when health and education issues are affected and
poverty continues to worsen.'
2 Can New Zealand's level of military expenditure be called
excessive ? If so what would you suggest be cut?
GDP military expenditure could be considered excessive when
social issues are not able to be adequately funded and military
expenditure is for non-peaceful activities.
Our first loyalty should be to humankind.
New Zealand should support peacekeeping activities. and a
preference was expressed that money be spent on unarmed
conflict resolution at an international level. New Zealand
should be working with the UN to regulate the production and
use of armaments.
Technology should be targeted to peace rather than armed
conflict-for example, civil defence, maritime surveillance.
Most participants considered the purchase and building of
further frigates unnecessary.
The government should be participating in peacemaking
activities. Many suggested the need for a ministry of peace and
the diversion of funds for peace education. A core of expertise
could be developed that could deal with conflict resolution,
defence and not offence.
All political parties should be questioned on their
military and trade manifestos. People should boycott
non-ethical companies at a local and international level.
3 Do you agree that we should urge the government to be more
active in seeking to strengthen the international protocol on
the use of anti-personnel land mines?
The government should be congratulated for its stance on land
mines and encouraged to continue to be active in strengthening
the international protocol on the use of anti-personnel land
mines. Land mines should be banned along with the production of
components for the mines.
Governments not complying with the international protocol
should be brought to account in the international arena.
E3 Promote non-violent forms of conflict resolution and reduce
the incidence of
human rights abuse in conflict situations.
New Zealand should be voicing concerns about human rights
abuses as they occur internationally.
The membership of military and trade alliances should be
reviewed with the aim of non-association with those with poor
human rights records.
The effects of war on women and children should be
acknowledged. Rape as a weapon of war is not acceptable.
All people of all ages should acquire conflict resolution
skills.
It is important that people are educated about the
long-term deleterious consequences of war, that war is
'de-glorified', and the teaching of peace studies is promoted.
The number of women involved in international settlements
of disputes and wars should be increased, and there should be
increased aid for overseas development programmes affecting
women.
There should be support and funding for groups taking
initiatives promoting peaceful resolution of conflict and anger
management (eg, New Zealand Foundation of Peace Studies, Play
for Life, Cool Schools), and adequate funding for conflict
resolution groups such as HAIP and Women's Refuge.
E4 Promote women's contribution to the fostering of a culture
of peace.
I What needs to be done to establish educational programmes for
girls and boys which will foster a culture of peace conflict
resolution by non-violent means and the promotion of
tolerance?The need for a culture of peace in New Zealand was
emphasised. Parenting skills should be taught from
ante-natal stage onwards. It is important to educate girls as
they are often the first educators of children.
Media influences should provide positive images and influences
that are geared to non-violence and conflict resolution. Peace
should be a "cool" issue. The level of violence depicted on TV
must be reduced.
Many felt that it is important to teach peace education in
schools as a core subject, and incorporate a 'peace day' or
'peace week' . The teaching of gender and ethnic differences
and cultural tolerance should also be taught in schools, so
that all New Zealanders can develop tolerance and understanding
of cultural and religious beliefs, including developing an
awareness of the background of migrants and refugees.
The importance of funding and recognition of early
childhood programmes on nonviolent conflict resolution that are
continued in schools was emphasised.
Gender differences need to be respected, and the question
was asked: "Why is it more difficult to get funding for groups
such as Girl Guides than for violent sports groups like the DB
Warriors?"
E5 Provide protection, assistance and training to refugee
women, other displaced women in need of international
protection and internally displaced women.
1 How can migrant and refugee women be better assisted in their
efforts to settle in New Zealand ?
The government needs to revise its long-term immigration and
refugee policies and their implications, in the light of
policies on population, economics and education.
New Zealand should take its full quota of refugees.
Migrants tend to be financially secure, whereas refugees
usually have no money there may need to be an increase in the
emergency benefits refugees receive plus adequate and
affordable legal aid. Support groups for migrants and refugees
should be funded.
Adult migrants, particularly women, need compulsory
programmes, including English language courses, to assist them
to integrate into New Zealand society. There should be
government funding for these.
In order that local communities better understand and
value migrant and refugee groups, local support networks,
including 'buddy' activities, should be encouraged for
extending cross cultural understanding.
2 What more can be done to help refugee and migrant children in
New Zealand schools ? Children need to learn that New Zealand
is a multi-cultural country. They need to be educated for
tolerance and learn about, and to value, cultural and religious
differences. In addition, they need to understand the Treaty of
Waitangi.
Schools need to be well prepared and resourced to receive
migrant and refugee children.
Teachers of English as a second language (ESL), whether paid or
unpaid. need to be skilled.
E6 Provide assistance to the women of the colonies and
non-self-governing territories. The government should support
the women in Pacific countries-including French territories-in
their search for independence and self-determination, to
acquire full human rights, and for acceptance of CEDAW. Some of
the support may require legislation and finance, or it may he
attitudinal.
NGOs .should use their networks to bring concerns about
women, their human rights, their status as citizens, to the
attention of the government and others who may be in a position
of influence.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to demonstrate its commitment to peace
by:
- decreasing expenditure on arms and increasing expenditure on
promoting peace and understanding in the international arena-
transferring the defence budget to non-military public
service-such as civil de
fence and maritime surveillance-and to peacemaking
- establishing a peace commission or ministry of peace
- declaring New Zealand a non-aligned peacemaking nation and
training peace negotiators (including women)
- withdrawing from military alliances with countries which have
poor human rights
records.
The government is asked to recognise the major contribution
women can make to the peace process by:
- acknowledging the effects of war on women and children
- training women in peacemaking and conflict resolution
- continuing to support a strengthened UN by developing gender
equity and gender balance in all decision-making bodies and
offices
- increasing aid for overseas development programmes affecting
women
- increasing funding to local conflict resolution groups, such
as HAIP and Women's Refuge
- providing adequate funding for safe community councils and
implementing the Domestic Violence Act at the community level.
The government is asked to immediately take the following steps
to making New Zealand and the world a safer place by:
- continuing to stand against nuclear weapons
- being more active in strengthening the international
protocols on the use of anti-personnel land mines and ensuring
non-complying governments are brought to account
- promoting the teaching of peace studies and conflict
resolutions courses in schools as core subjects.The government
is asked to recognise the special difficulties of migrant and
refuge women by:
- increasing funding for ESL programmes for Pacific Islands
people and immigrants, at all levels from preschool to
continuing education
- funding adult learning programmes on New Zealand society for
immigrants, especially women
- encouraging a 'buddy' system.
By organisations
Local councils and organisations are asked to:
- encourage industries which are not arms-related
- provide conflict resolution courses in the community,
especially at single-sex boys' schools.
School boards of trustees are asked to:
- develop school charters that endorse individual
responsibility as well as individual rights
- lobby the government to include cultural awareness units
(including gender awareness), peace studies and parenting
skills as integral parts of the new national school curriculum.
The media is asked to
- give positive non-violent messages and advocate TV programmes
that promote peace
- portray conflict resolution as a positive action in such
programmes as Shortland Street.
Organisations are asked to:
- hold the armed forces to account in relation to human rights
- educate the public about peace and influence decision makers
- develop more powerful women's networks and increase
co-operation between influential women's groups.
By communities
Each community is asked to:
- develop a network of groups to promote New Zealand as a
peacemaking nation and support the banning of nuclear weapons
- support safer communities councils support non-violence
programmes in schools and communities
- support women's refuges and other violence interventions
- increase the cultural view of the non-acceptability of
violence
- strengthen interpreter services for non-English speakers
within the community
- encourage a climate of understanding in schools and other
educational institutions for refugee and immigrant children
- encourage local support networks for extending cross-cultural
understanding.
By individuals
Each individual is asked to:
.
- develop tolerance and understanding of cultural and religious
beliefs
- allow for differences
- teach sons the importance of conflict resolution
- invest only in ethical companies
- become familiar with, and uphold, the Human Rights Act
- write letters of complaint about excessive violence on TV and
letters of praise for programmes promoting tolerance and
non-violence
- support women taking positions of responsibility
- ensure that the message of peace and conflict resolution is
taken up by each family
- raise the awareness of the government, organisations and
individuals on the issues of equality, development and peace.
F Women and the economy
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Inequality in economic structures and policies, in all forms of
productive activities and in access to resources.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
F1 Promote women's economic rights and independence, including
access to employment and appropriate working conditions and
control over economic resources.
1 What can we do to encourage the government to measure and
better understand that type, extent, and distribution of
unremunerated work, particularly work in caring for dependents
and for family farms and businesses?
The true extent of women's unremunerated work is unknown and
generally unacknowledged. It includes not only caring for
children and other dependents but unpaid work in family
businesses and on family farms.
The census was seen as an obvious instrument to measure
the extent of this work. Research supported by the Ministry of
Women's Affairs, and the introduction of (and collection of
data about) wages and/or tax rebates for women and men) who
slay at home caring for dependents were other possible methods.
2 What actions should be taken to change work patterns in order
to promote the sharing of family responsibilities ?
The government has a great role to play here in the active
promotion of a more flexible work culture-encouraging flexible
hours to accommodate family responsibilities, part-time work,
job sharing, time out for having children and parental
leave-through legislation setting out minimum wages and
conditions, major campaigns and the overhaul of Parliament
itself.
Within organisations, a number of changes could be easily
implemented: for example, the scheduling of meetings at
convenient times, the acceptance of family as being part of
you, sharing jobs, allowing part-time work and recognising
holidays.
F2 Facilitate women's equal access to resources, employment,
markets and trade.
1 How can new small businesses and cooperative enterprises be
assisted ?
There are a number of small business training organisations and
systems in place at present (for example, community employment
groups) which can be accessed through local councils. The
Angels Network makes seeding money available to women to start
businesses; Wise Women networks are movements which assign
older experienced women with those starting out in self
employment. These networks need to be extended so that their
services are available to women throughout the country.
2 In what ways could/should the rights of workers be more
effectively safeguarded?
The criticism of the Employment Contracts Act was widespread.
The strong feeling is that individual contracts work against
women, and the temporary nature of much of women's work means
they are often unprotected, are paid minimum wage rates, have
no paid holidays or sick leave, and are required to pay extra
costs such as ACC contributions. The repeal of the act is
called for.
3 What can be done to assist the appointment of women to
advisory boards and forums where economic policies and
programmes are developed?
Many women did not know about appointments or vacancies, and
felt that they should be advertised. It was suggested that
women and women s organisations should use the Ministry of
Women's Affairs nominations tile and develop their own regional
file.
The importance of encouraging more women to take part in
public affairs and the value of good role models was
emphasised.
4 What should be done to ensure that a higher proportion of
resources reach women in rural and remote areas?
Many rural women work on family farms and businesses without
any recognition. Family farms and businesses need to be
recognised as partnerships when measuring productivity.
There was strong feeling that there needs to he more
funding available to support resources in rural
communities-such as community family centres, marae schools
hospitals and Plunket. Calls were made for open management of
resources.
5 What changes would be needed to banking services to assist
better credit facilities for women ?
At the present time, women are less likely to get personal or
business loans. Banks should be encouraged to use more flexible
lending criteria to allow for women (and men) who take time out
to look after dependents and who have different financial
patterns than men. (Running a household successfully should
count for something.)
Several banks have realised the importance of women's
custom: for example the ANZ Bank is sponsoring the Wise Women
network.
F3 Provide business services, training and access to markets,
information and
technology, particularly for low-income women.
1 What support services are needed for women in employment and
business?
Concern was expressed about the ease and frequency of employers
pushing employees to be contract workers in order to push down
wages and save on other financial responsibilities. Employment
contracts must ensure that all employees are able to enjoy
quality family time. There should be legislation that addresses
the inequality and exploitation of part-time workers - the
majority of whom are women (no paid holidays etc.).
2 How can retraining for women re-entering the labour market be
more helpful and effective ?
Retraining programmes, including new technology and
skills-oriented courses, must be practical and comprehensive
and include support services which help to get women into the
workforce.
At present, the threshold before a benefit is lost is
unreasonably low - the system must be less punitive for those
who seek to go away from reliance on benefits.
3 What would be the most helpful way to have childcare
facilities provided/available? Most women felt that a variety
of types of facilities (including after-school facilities)
should be available so that they had a choice. Access to free
quality care was seen as the best option, or a system where
fees were worked out according to ability to pay. Paid
childcare should be tax deductible.
Also suggested was paid parental leave for an adult to
care for a child in the first twelve months of life.
F4 Strengthen women's economic capacity and commercial
networks.
1 How can the government 'support programmes that enhance the
self reliance of special groups of women, such as young women,
women with disabilities, elderly women and women belonging to
racial and ethnic minorities'?
The most useful action the government could take would be to
legislate and promote secure tenure for part-time or glide-time
jobs.
2 How can the economic activities of indigenous women be better
supported?
As well as mainstream support already suggested, there is a
need to better target retraining courses to the needs of Maori
women, encourage job growth and support Maori business
start-ups.
3 What laws and conditions are needed to protect women who do
paid work in the home ?
Women working at home for one employer should be regarded as
employees with all the benefits that this entails.
F5 Eliminate occupational segregation and all forms of
employment discrimination.
1 What sort of employment programmes and services are needed
for women entering/re-entering the labour market?
It was felt that work to end such segregation has to begin
early, and include changes of attitudes in schools so that
children are not ghettoised in gender-specific occupations.
Training should be available not only on computer technology
but also advanced courses about employment legislation,
negotiation skills, economics, managerial training and
professional networking programmes.
Tax incentives should be introduced for employers who
retrain employees, and a women's business directory is seen as
being helpful.
2 What programmes are needed to assist women with disabilities
and those belonging to other disadvantaged groups?
Networks should be established to help women who are isolated
so that they can be informed about employment opportunities .
Retraining should be tailored to the needs of particular groups
of women and be culturally appropriate.
3 How can women's organisations persuade government and
employers to 'recognize collective bargaining as a right and an
important mechanism for eliminating wage inequality for women
and to improve working conditions'?
One only has to look at the available statistics-- for example,
census figures-which show the wide gaps between men and women s
incomes. Working to repeal the Employment Contracts Act is seen
as an essential step in reinstating collective bargaining.
4 What actions should be taken to implement equal pay for work
of equal value?
The equal pay legislation should be strictly enforced. Women's
organisations should consider taking class actions if necessary
to challenge current practice.
F6 Promote harmonisation of work and family responsibilities
for women and men.
1 What policies should be adopted to ensure appropriate labour
laws and benefits for part-time, temporary, seasonal and
home-based workers?
There was strong feeling that the Employment Contracts Act
should be repealed because it gives little or no protection to
those-predominantly women-who are part-time, seasonal or
home-based workers. Minimum wages and conditions must be set at
realistic levels and these levels strictly enforced.
2 What legal incentives and encouragement should there be for
women and men to take parental leave?
There was strong feeling that a number of legislative changes
should be made: including provision for paid parental leave,
the safeguarding of jobs :for parents who take leave, and tax
rebates for the parent at home looking after the child.
There was a suggestion that the French system should be
researched: there, a series of provisions and allowances
(including low-cost quality childcare) are provided by the
government for every child born.
3 What processes of education would be effective in promoting
the concept of shared family responsibility for work in the
home, especially care of children and elders?
Comprehensive education about gender is needed - including the
history of women's conditions and showing the women's movement
as winning moral victories (a model is the way the history of
American civil rights is taught); alternative models of
economic existence; early interventions in the socialisation of
girls and boys, and rearing sons who value girls and women.
4 What measures would need to be implemented to enable women
and men to take temporary leave from employment and modify work
hours without sacrificing prospects for development and
advancement in work and careers?
Changes would need to be legislative ones, and strictly
enforced.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to immediately begin to redress the
inequalities in economy that hinder women by:
- recognising the value of unpaid work
- restoring the collective bargaining option
- strictly enforcing the current pay equity laws
- legislating to address inequalities of contracting, part-time
and temporary work
- repealing the Employment Contracts Act
- widening the minimum wage and conditions legislation so that
it covers women working on contracts
- legislating to address the inequality and exploitation of
part-time workers
- supporting paid parental leave
- funding affordable quality childcare and after-school centres
- funding the setting up of family centres in maraes, community
centres etc.
- increasing financial support for voluntary organisations
- encouraging flexible working hours, job sharing,
family-friendly workplace etc.
- providing tax incentives for employers to retrain new
employees
- offering incentives for women trying to work their way off
benefits
- funding wide-ranging research into women's economic status
- upgrading the work and status of the Ministry of Women's
Affairs
- setting up a venture capital type fund for women setting up
in business
- introducing tax rebates for the parent at home looking after
the child
- allowing tax credits for caregivers ---eg, a parent looking
after a child at home, or a caregiver who is saving on nursing
costs
- introducing a childcare subsidy for women on low incomes
- recognising family farms and businesses as partnerships when
measuring productivity.
By organisations
Organisations are asked to assist women by:
- promoting the equal division of family income
- establishing a support network. the members of which can work
with or accompany women seeking banking services, social
welfare, etc.
- challenging banking policies providing business training,
market access and technology to low-income women
- developing mentor networks
- providing positive career guidance advice
- providing education and information on the politics of the
workplace
- encouraging the Wise Women's network
- encouraging publicity about good role models
- developing a business women's directory
- being more receptive to women job applicants
- encouraging employers to provide childcare, flexible hours
and child sharing
- lobbying to improve women's employment conditions, pay, and
opportunities
- lobbying financial institutions about providing services
specifically targeted at women, such as advice, loans and
venture capital for new businesses
- raising women's profile in the media-- discuss, lobby, submit
remits, media campaigns, target women in management
- providing training and education programmes tailored to the
needs of particular groups of women
- organising finance workshops to demystify economics
- gathering information on women's economic status
- supporting greater participation of women in decision-making
processes-encouraging businesses and organisations to appoint a
greater proportion of women to management positions.
By individuals
Each person is asked to increase women's economic power by:
- joining a women's group
- lobbying for better employment conditions, equal wages and
more services
- participating in decision-making processes, by nominating
women or standing your-self for public bodies
- supporting other women in business and politics
- using language that reflects women's input and status
- addressing the socialisation of children and community at
large and providing positive role models for boys and girls
- negotiating better pay, working conditions and flexible hours
- learning about your rights and how to read contracts
- reporting instances of abuse-of sexual harassment, working
conditions etc.
G Women in power and decision-making
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Inequality between men and women in the sharing of power and
decision-making at all levels.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
G1 Take measures to ensure women's equal access to and full
participation in power structures and decision-making.
A good deal of the discussion and the points raised were about
the ignorance of the current state of affairs, misunderstanding
or misinformation. The need for access to quality information
throughout the country was seen to be a priority. Women must
become literate in the new communication technology, and
up-to-date equipment is a must for women's organisations to be
effective in the modern world.
Inevitably society's (and politicians') perception of the
unpaid work women do at home and in community organisations is
still a major concern. The fact that this experience is as
valuable in public decision-making positions as lousiness or
political experience was emphasised.
Almost all groups referred to the influence of the media
and its inability-or refusal-to portray the reality of women's
lives and the real value of their contribution at all levels.
Women's success stories and their place as national achievers
are important role models for all society.
The Ministry of Women's Affairs is perceived as the major
source of authoritative information and pleas were made for the
ministry's newsletter to be expanded and its distribution
widened.
The working environment in the decision-making process is
seen as unfriendly to women and much was made of changing the
whole system-for example, clear dissatisfaction with
parliamentary procedures and behaviour was expressed.
There was a clear understanding of the changed political
environment with MMP. Women must use their votes to ensure that
only parties committed to gender equity within their party
structures and candidate lists are successful: veto any party
that is not committed to full gender equity. Women's
organisations were also urged to develop and adopt lobbying
practices to suit the MMP environment.
There was across-the-board commitment to the requirement
that the government should involve NGOs in all phases of
preparation for UN conferences and meetings; that NGO
representatives should be part of all official government
delegations to these meetings and should be funded for this by
the government.
There was considerable concern expressed about the impact
of the post-Beijing workshops being largely restricted to women
involved in the existing networks. The need to reach into the
wider community was seen as vital but no recommendations or
advice were forthcoming on how to do this.
There was, however, an underlying conviction that if women
were properly part of the power and decision-making structures
then this would benefit all society and the nation as a whole.
1 What action needs to be taken to establish gender balance in
government bodies and committees, public entities and the
judiciary?
Public commitment and affirmative action are needed before
gender balance is achieved. The women's appointment file
developed by the NGO organisations and adapted by the Ministry
of Women's Affairs must be strengthened, and the Ministry of
Women's Affairs must work closely with other departments on
nominations of women for public office. Regional appointment
files should be set up. Women's organisations need to be active
in nominating women as well.
Research must be undertaken into, and public disclosure
made of: gender breakdown of appointments, the appointment
process, membership of appointing bodies, and accountability.
A quota system should be established within the range of
40 to 60 percent, bearing in mind that women are 51 percent of
the population.
Basic financial security for women in an economically
supportive society must be ensured before gender balance can be
achieved-- for example, rewards for being on school boards,
costs of campaigning, and the cost of childcare must meet
women's needs.
Basic changes in decision-making structures are required
to provide women-friendly workplaces, flexibility of hours etc.
Women in power (senior management upwards) should
establish 'old girl'' networks to counteract the 'old boy'
network.
Women must demand changes to the media representation of
women and women's issues, which currently include stereotyping,
editing out of women's issues and not reflecting the reality of
women's lives.
Full recognition must be given to non paid work (in the
home and the community) as experience for appointments.
Women need to: recognise their own capacity and
capability, expertise and training, and support those women who
are in decision-making positions.
Women who are in powerful positions need to: promote
women's values, perspectives and ways of working, and retain
their womanhood (ie. not become 'a man in a skirt' ).
It must be recognised that women may be diverse in
religion, cultures and political beliefs, but they have a large
number of common experiences - for example, exclusion from
decision making, and lack of recognition of the value of the
work they do in home and society.
2 What measures should be taken to encourage political parties
to integrate women in elective and non-elective public
positions in the same proportions and at the same levels as men
?
Affirmative action, possibly legislated.
Women should become involved in political parties and
should encourage young people to join also. Political parties
should disclose the numbers of women members and the positions
they hold in the party - women need to be seen in political
parties.
Parliamentary candidates should he challenged on their
position and intentions on the Beijing Platform of Action.
Use the strength of the women's vole ---- boycott parties which
do not commit them-selves to gender balance. The desirability
of a women's political party was canvassed.
Women should support women in politics and public
positions with praise rather than criticism.
There should be guidelines set out to achieve gender
balance in appointments to public bodies.
Family-friendly work hours for all positions should be
ensured, with childcare available for women and men, and there
must be official recognition of unpaid work and the experience
and expertise women gain through it.
Women need to network more effectively and should support
and promote the National Council of Women.
The media needs to be kept informed about what women are
doing and should publish good stories about women.
3 What needs to be done to encourage a greater involvement by
indigenous women in decision-making at all levels?
Procedures and structures for meetings, consultations and
decision making should be user-friendly and changed to
accommodate and hear the cultural voice.
Women's organisations and women should meet with Maori women on
their terms.
It is often an economic issue for Maori women as to
whether they can participate in decision-making structures in
general. There should be government funding to assist Maori
women to participate and to assist their organisations.
Standing alone is hard and there must be support and networking
for Maori women who become involved in public decision making.
There are warnings to women in powerful positions not to
speak for all women unless they have a specific mandate.
All women need encouragement to undertake decision making
at all levels - from the home to the national level. There
should be real support for younger Maori and Pacific Islands
women.
4 What needs to be done to build a 'critical mass' of women
leaders, executives and managers ?
There should be full acknowledgment by women and the general
public of past and current women leaders: of the female
participation rate in professions (eg, one-third of doctors are
women), and of the importance of these women as role models.
Women need the support structures (eg, childcare) and
encouragement to stay in executive and senior positions long
enough to create a 'critical mass'. Social and employment
structures need to change so that it is legitimate and
acceptable for both men and women to take time off work to care
for their dependents.
Girls should receive vocational counselling and should
plan for the future from an early stage of their education.
Lifelong (adult) education should be properly funded by the
government.
Children have two parents and women should be free to choose
their life patterns.
Women in high places should be judged by the same fallible
criteria as men are judged - at present, we expect far more of
women.
5 What sort of programmes are needed to ensure that women,
especially young women, have equal access to managerial,
entrepreneurial, technical and leadership training?
Change the way the world is run by recognising the .skills of
each individual. regardless of gender (or race or any other
factor).
Paid parental leave, low-cost high-quality childcare and
full recognition of the economic and skill development value of
unpaid work will enable women to have access to further
training.
Participation, training and leadership in voluntary
organisations provides a good basis for further training.
Organisations themselves can help by developing training
courses in special skills, and providing a 'buddy' system for
the support of trainees.
Women who have learned and use these skills need to keep
in touch with other women.
Girls who leave school qualified for further education are
achieving this but there is real concern about funding for
tertiary education as it affects the participation of girls and
some ethnic groups.
The work of the Ministry of Women's Affairs on gender
analysis should be expanded, and the ministry should keep women
informed through an expanded newsletter.
The home is the basis for education-all members of the
family should share opinions and boys as well as girls should
learn to use appropriate language about careers and further
education.
Part-time employment should be revalued so that access to
career advancement is available through it.
6 How can women 's NGOs be encouraged and supported to
participate in UN conferences and the preparatory processes?
Voluntary organisations are under-funded and unrecognised, yet
they have the power to change the way society and government is
managed. Organisations need to have early awareness of, and
involvement in, government discussion papers at local and
national levels and make submissions at all stages. In fact,
there should be a requirement for women's NGO input into New
Zealand reports to international and UN conferences.
NGOs should always be represented in government
delegations, and funding for this must be provided by
government.
NGOs can prepare themselves for participation b)
monitoring UN calendars and follow-up procedures. There is a
need for NGOs to speak out publicly, not just to indulge in
public speaking.
NGOs must support the Ministry of Women's Affairs and
lobby for its expansion. In turn, the ministry must feed
information downwards and outwards.
Employers should be committed to release employees on pay to
attend UN conferences.
7 What role do NGOs have in assisting women to participate
fully in the structures of power and in decision-making ?
NGOs need the financial resources to carry out programmes such
as membership recruitment, education, and training for members,
and re-education of men.
NGOs should lobby political parties and business and
commercial interests to promote women into decision making.
Women's NGOs can promote role models and encourage women to
accept promotion and nomination to public bodies. Full use
should be made of women's appointment files and the outcomes
monitored.
The reproductive role of women should be recognised as
work and given appropriate economic and expertise value.
Never make the tea.
G2 Increase women's capacity to participate in decision-making
and leadership.
A great deal of emphasis was placed on the role of women's
organisations. They were variously encouraged to be more
pro-active, provide material for schools, run training courses
for women, network with others, restructure themselves to
attract younger members, and assume a workload currently beyond
the capability of most of them. It was recognised that none of
this desirable increase in activity could or should take place
without adequate financial support from government.
Clearly, the provision of quality affordable childcare
accessible for both women and men is a major factor for those
seeking public involvement and responsibility.
Concern was also expressed that care must be exercised not
to impose our values and priorities on women from different
backgrounds.
It was evidenced that the education system is held to have a
huge role to play in ensuring that girls and boys understand
that girls will be part of the decision-making processes from
the family to the public and private sector henceforward. At
the same time, the importance of the mother's role in educating
both daughters and sons for the choices, opportunities and
responsibilities ahead of them was emphasised.
Women should not underestimate their worth, but at the
same time should be prepared to undertake training in
management, leadership and decision-making skills and should be
prepared to go on learning. Knowledge is power.
1 How can NGOs help in this?
Bearing in mind that NGOs are generally under-funded and should
receive government funding, NGOs could run training courses on
such topics as fundraising, leadership, meeting techniques and
facilitation.
The National Council of Women should extend its networking
and: actively encourage women to join political parties; lobby
parties about gender-balanced party lists; run education
programmes on political issues such as MMP and select
committees; and target young women for membership.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to immediately improve women's access
and participation in power by:
- recognising the value of the work done by women's
organisations and networks and provide the resources for them
to carry out the work
- recognising and ameliorating the high cost of childcare as a
barrier to women's participation in public decision-making
- changing the rules of debate in the House to forbid heckling,
abuse and rudeness and demand constructive debate
- changing times of parliamentary sessions and work loads to
make the job manageable and family friendly
- introducing and maintaining common sense in decision-making
- providing the Ministry of Women's Affairs with funding to
keep women informed of issues and events important to them
- funding research on the effectiveness of the women's
appointment file, and monitoring gender breakdown of
appointments and inequities.
The government is asked to encourage political parties to treat
women with equity by ensuring an equitable proportion of women
in government appointments.
The government is asked to enable Maori women to present their
own views to government.
The government is asked to involve women's NGOs at an early
stage in preparations for international conferences and
meetings, not just as add-ons, and to fund this involvement and
their attendance in government delegations.
The government is asked to provide incentives for women to
participate in public decision making-for example, by providing
child- minding facilities.
By organisations
Organisations are asked to acknowledge and ameliorate the
difference between men and women in regard to the funding of
election campaigns.
Women's organisation are asked to:
- actively recruit young women
- train them for leadership roles
- promote women who are potential leaders
- develop information kits on how to get involved in local body
and other public bodies, with information on skills and
knowledge required, time commitment, payment, election process
etc.
- network and combine resources to support single co-ordinated
projects such as political education, education in promotion
and marketing skills.
NGOs are asked to develop their role as lobbyists. sources of
information, and monitoring legislation.
Women's NGOs are asked to support women in politics, at both
local and national level, with practical help and personal
support.
The media is asked to provide:
- equal coverage for men and women in programming and
advertising
- positive non-patronising coverage of women's interests and
news.
By individuals
Each person is asked to:
- challenge patronising, patriarchal abusive behaviour
- demand a better deal for women from the media
- support political parties which promote gender equity and
veto those which do not
- join or start women's groups
- create expectations among our daughters that they will
participate fully in our .society
- create expectations among our sons that our daughters will
participate fully in our society.
H Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Insufficient mechanisms at all levels to promote the
advancement of women.
(See Appendix 5 for Workshop-Issues Questions)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
H1 Create or strengthen national machineries and other
governmental bodies.
Much of what the Ministry of Women's Affairs does is not
relevant to the 'grass roots' of women in New Zealand, but
instead tends to reflect government policy. The question was
asked: 'Whose views does the Ministry of Women's Affairs
represent --those of women or of the government'?'
It was generally expressed throughout the workshops that
the Ministry of Women's Affairs does excellent work but it is
not well publicised. The status and profile of the ministry
needs to be raised. It should be situated in the Prime
Minister's office for maximum impact. Publicity should aim to
increase the visibility of the ministry.
It was suggested that the ministry's newsletter Panui be
circulated more widely to an increased readership. Many thought
the newsletter had been discontinued. The media should be used
more effectively to publicise the work of the ministry and to
promote women's issues. The ministry should produce annual
reports that are accessible and reader friendly. NGOs should
also produce reports for the Ministry of Women's Affairs to
keep the ministry in touch with communities.
The Ministry of Women's Affairs needs increased funding,
especially to conduct research into the implications of women's
paid and unpaid work.
H2 Integrate gender perspectives in legislation, public
policies, programmes and
projects.
All members of parliament should receive education on gender
issues, and all government action and election issues should be
monitored by NGOs. NGOs should be used as consultants. All
legislation should be in line with the Committee to Eliminate
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). EEO policies should also
be monitored by the Ministry of Women's Affairs. Policy issues
affecting women need to be addressed in all government
departments and the ministry should ensure that gender
perspectives are addressed in all policies. The Ministry of
Women's Affairs could be funded to do these studies for the
government.
There should be more women in parliament, and more support
given to women in politics, more support for women to prepare
submissions and to become politicised. The nomination file
should be consulted more at all political levels.
H3 Generate and disseminate gender-disaggregated data and
information for planning and evaluation.
Gender analysis of government policies is a central concern.
This analysis is carried out overseas in all aspects of policy
development, and should take place in New Zealand also. The
government must do social impact studies prior to developing
new policies, especially on policies that effect women and
children.
Research also should be conducted into the implications of
women's paid and un-paid work. The Time Use Survey should be
activated, or repeated on a regular basis.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to demonstrate its commitment to using
institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women by:
- increasing funding for the Ministry of Women's Affairs
- raising the profile of the Ministry of Women's Affairs
- locating the Ministry of Women's Affairs in the Prime
Minister's office
- giving the Ministry of Women's Affairs a greater involvement
in policy processes and government decisions
- ranking women higher in cabinet
- providing funding for NGOs and the Coordinating Committee to
monitor the implementation of the Platform for Action
- lobbying the UN to employ women in equal members to men
- listening to communities through consultation processes
- increasing funding to improve consultation
- conducting social impact analyses
- doing a gender analysis of all legislation
- supporting the nomination file
- honouring-and reporting to-CEDAW
- continuing the Time Use Survey of women's unpaid and
voluntary work setting up an 0800 phone number to provide
policy advice to women
- giving priority to the implementation of the Platform for
Action
By organisations
Organisations are asked to:
- involve the Ministry of Women s Affairs in policy development
and monitoring
- cooperate to produce a 'What's on at the Ministry' for
inclusion in all organisations newsletters.
- lobby for funding to monitor the Platform for Action.
NGOs are asked to:
- ensure that the government moves forward on women's issues
- conduct a regular audit of government policies for gender
analysis
- go to the community and listen to women.
- report to CEDAW.
- audit the nomination file
- co-ordinate and set targets and monitor government
implementation.
The National Council of Women is asked to organise an annual
women's forum in each town.
Women's organisations are asked to:
- provide support for women in politics
- Iobby for positive changes to the atmosphere and customs in
parliament
- lobby for family-friendly and women-friendly local bodies,
boards and institutions
- encourage full media coverage of all women's events
- conduct social impact analysis on all policy development
- Iobby the government on the issue of valuing unpaid work and
including questions in the next census to measure women's work.
I Human rights of women
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Lack of respect for and inadequate promotion of the human
rights of women.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
II Promote and protect the human rights of women, through the
full implementation of all human rights instruments, especially
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
There were three main aspects to this section: the first
relating to CEDAW, the second to Human Rights of women in
general with particular reference to those with disabilities
and the third to legal literacy (access to information on legal
rights). Responses from participants are recorded, followed by
recommended actions.
1 What can be done to make the provisions of CEDAW better known
to women in New Zealand ?
Concern was expressed that few women knew what CEDAW is. Little
information is available on CEDAW, with many people not knowing
of its existence. There is a need for an education campaign,
particularly for women and girls to learn of their rights using
the articles of the convention.
A publicity campaign needs to be implemented through a
wide range of media, from print to electronic, including
pictorial versions. United Nations language is complex so it
needs to be simplified and translated into several languages.
There is a need for a watching brief to be taken by
organisations, particularly women's, over the government, to
make sure that it honours its commitment to implement CEDAW.
Two reservations by New Zealand are still intact and need
resolving, especially the one on paid parental leave. A closer
relationship between these women's organisations and the
Ministry of Women's Affairs is required.
There is the potential for discrimination against women in
the Employment Contracts Act, especially concerning women and
girls who make up the largest number of employees in part-time,
split shift, job sharing and casual work.
An attitudinal change is needed by society - this includes
accepting the diversity of family structures. Women's roles and
choices need to be accepted not only by individuals but also by
institutions, the professions and the corporate sector.
There is the need for an optional protocol to CEDAW so
that individuals or groups have recourse to justice at the UN
if discrimination is practised, yet not outlawed, within a
country that has signed and ratified the convention.
Women and girls must have equal rights and equal access to
education, health, finance, peace, justice and the right to own
property, to have ownership of their own body and their future.
I2 Ensure equality and non-discrimination under the law and
practice.
1 In what ways can the work of the Human Rights Commission be
strengthened and made more effective?
The Human Rights Commission needs a higher profile. and needs
to visit more groups with greater promotion of the Human Rights
Act ( 1993). It needs more teeth' to follow through on
complaints-this means more funding and resources (including
more education officers). Their endeavours are good. but there
is a need for better coordination and better press. More
promotion of the toll-tree telephone number (0508 505 808) is
required.
There is a need for greater distribution and accessibility
of material on human rights. All material must be legible
and/or audible to all women and girls. taking into
consideration age, ethnicity and disabilities.
Human rights issues are frequently undermined by the
proponents of political correctness and frequently by attitudes
of those in positions of power and in the professions,
including lawyers and doctors. The commission needs to take a
greater role in changing societal attitudes, stereotyping and
conditioning regarding women's place in the family and society.
It must counter any anticipated increase in antagonism towards
the Human Rights Act and CEDAW.
There was a belief by most participants that human rights
education does not start soon enough nor is it taught often
enough in schools. Although it is part of the social studies
curriculum coverage is too limited and it needs to be
integrated into all subjects at all levels, including preschool
and tertiary education. If 'human rights' are part of everyday
life, they should follow through into sports and the workplace.
There is a need for a monitoring system supervised by the Human
Rights Commission.
2 How effective is any gender-sensitive human rights education
and training that is given to public officials?
Most responses were negative, most participants having
experienced total disregard of human or women's rights on many
occasions.
Gender-sensitive education and training needs to be
compulsory for all public officials, whether they are appointed
or elected; for all health, legal, justice and education
professionals, and for the industrial, business and corporate
sectors. Training is compulsory for some officials but is often
not taken seriously and language denigrating women is
frequently used.
Gender-sensitive education needs to follow through to
sports administrators and officials and the media which reports
events.
There is no formal mechanism to monitor the
implementation, application and effectiveness of training.
3 How satisfactory is the protection given to women in relation
to crimes directed at or particularly affecting women? Are
victims and witnesses adequately protected against
discrimination or revictimisation?
At the time of discussion, it was perceived that the Domestic
Violence Act 1975 was inadequate and did not go far enough to
protect women, with no assistance at all being given to women
in de facto relationships The non-molestation order was not
strong enough under this act. The 1996 Domestic Violence Act
should be a significant improvement, providing improved
protection in a wide range of relationships. Nevertheless, it
will need close monitoring.
Education that violence is not acceptable in any situation
is needed to curb the high level of threats to women and
aggression in the home, to children and to the aged.
Men's presumed 'ownership' of women results in much
domination by male partners in relationships and results in
men's abuse of women's rights. Pornographic films and videos
are seen to be responsible for reinforcing men's belief of
ownership. There is an urgent need for a change in male
attitudes. Blame' must be removed from women. If unpaid work
was valued, women's self esteem and value would increase-they
would then be more likely to challenge male ownership.
Police attitudes are changing, but women frequently do not
know the right questions to ask: legal language needs
demystifying. Improved funding for Friends of the Court, court
advocates and Victim Support is needed. And female victims need
female court attendants who are more understanding, sympathetic
and aware of women's problems in attending court. Women should
be informed of other successful court cases involving women.
Cultural sensitivity is also needed. Women need to he advised
that they can go through the Human Rights Commission for sexual
crimes -- questioning is in private and can be less stressful.
Delays in court processes exacerbate problems. Legal
advice needs to be more readily available and free in the case
of violent offending. Why does the victim have to pay for
safety? Criminal legal aid is available to men or perpetrators
of crime, but civil legal aid is only available to women if
they qualify for legal aid and even then they still have to pay
the first $50 (the level of qualifying for legal aid was set in
1969). Women also have to pay for separation orders if trying
to get out of violent relationships. Women do not need lawyers
to take out protection orders under the new Domestic Violence
Act but can obtain them from judges; however, the approximate
cost is $80() to $900.
The establishment of more community law offices is
necessary for direct and inexpensive access to the law. Many
women are financially disadvantaged, frequently unemployed or
in part-time employment, are carers without or are with limited
income. Many have low self -esteem and need practical advice
and support. Information on legal rights needs to be readily
available. Economic changes in society-the survival of the
fittest philosophy-have disadvantaged women who have a fear of
asking for financial assistance. There is a lack of
coordination and communication between government agencies
which should assist women.
There are those who have limited knowledge on legal rights
and have little property for security: the Matrimonial Property
Act 1976 does not yet protect all women in the division of
property when a partnership is dissolved. Women with children
need more than the 50/50 split to ensure a reasonable standard
of living. Marriage or partnership contracts should be
encouraged. Older women, especially those who have not been
employed, have a sudden drop in income, status, self-esteem, as
well as the loss of a home and 'friends'. After 1999, these
women will also be disadvantaged by the change in
superannuation policy.
Inheritance issues are not always resolved fairly in
families, with property frequently being left to male members.
Women need better advice on making wills, and in the division
of 'joint' property.
More support is needed for women's refuges and safe houses.
More protection is essential for the girl child who is prepared
to speak up about
abuse. special training must have been undertaken by those
professionals, preferably women? who question girls and provide
support. More information needs to be available to preschool
centres, schools and to public health nurses. Education in
self-defence for all girls is required.
It is not compulsory for men who are convicted of abusing
women to attend a full rehabilitation course. Restorative
justice needs more support and could assist in a reduction in
violent crimes against women; however, it would need monitoring
and close supervision. The rights of the victim must be
paramount. There must be mandatory legal action for
irresponsible use and illegal possession of weapons.
4 How can the rights of women and girls with disabilities be
better protected?
People with disabilities have equal rights to all other New
Zealanders, including the right to participate in all aspects
of economic, social and political life. These rights must be
protected by the 1993 Human Rights Act.
Women should recognise that gains made for those with
disabilities will benefit all.
We need to empower those groups which speak and work for people
with disabilities.
Women and girls with disabilities (especially psychiatric
disabilities) need safe housing-this is not guaranteed in this
climate of the community being responsible.
More support is needed for carers of those with
disabilities as there are increasing demands on their energy
and resources. If carers are adequately resourced and paid for
their services, their clients will be better serviced.
Women with disabilities must have access to female carers,
attendants or supervisors who have a better understanding of
their needs.
Patients' advocates need to be more readily available when
complaints are lodged -this can relate to lack of resources or
abuse by carers which causes considerable distress and a
feeling of hopelessness.
Whereas women generally have not yet gained equal
opportunities in education and the workplace, the situation is
worse for women and girls with disabilities. There is a
continuing need for training and employment agencies such as
Workbridge. They must receive adequate funding and resourcing.
Women who become disabled are frequently disadvantaged as
male partners are not traditionally carers. Relationships
frequently suffer and often the women is left. There is more
protection needed for the health and Bell-being of women in
these situations.
More resources are needed for those women who become
disabled through illness or disease. Those disabled by
accidents are covered by ACC and receive considerable
assistance.
Sexual safety is another priority, especially for those
with mental disabilities: all need careful instruction in
relationships and acceptable behaviour.
There is much language that denigrates those with
disabilities. Human rights legislation needs extending so that
insulting and offensive language provisions include
disabilities. A public campaign should accompany this to inform
New Zealanders that public harassment of not only women, but
all people with disabilities, is not acceptable.
I3 Achieve legal literacy.
1 In what ways can information about legal processes and human
rights be made more readily and easily available?
Information needs to be provided through a wide range of media.
from print to electronic, to cater for all ages and abilities.
There must be material available using simplified terminology,
pictures and diagrams and in several languages. United Nations
and legal language is complex.
More oral language is needed, with verbal explanations
available, especially in hospitals and the courts, where
interpreters should be available.
Every community needs a community law office or citizens'
advice bureau where legal and human rights information is
readily available and free in the first instance. (There is
frequent opposition to these centres from lawyers.)
Libraries and Link Centres could be sources of information
by providing internet and CD Rom facilities.
2 How can women 's organisations assist en this process ?
A closer relationship is necessary with the Ministry of Women's
Affairs, which needs a broader mission statement. Its current
role is policy formation, and it operates in an advisory
capacity to the government. Women's organisations must network
and share information. The:, need to take some responsibility
to disseminate information to women and girls.
3 Do you support further teaching about human rights in the
school curricula?
Human rights kits on all human rights issues, including the
articles of CEDAW, must be provided to all educational
institutions at all levels. Some aspects are currently included
in the social studies curriculum at third- and fourth-form
level, but to be effective it must not be seen as a 'topic' in
one subject but must he integrated into all subjects.
All educationalists must attend workshops and/or seminars to
become informed not only about human rights issues, but how to
teach them. Train young people who can 'get the message across'
to their peer group.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to demonstrate its commitment to human
rights for all citizens, especially girls and women, by
- drawing up national action plans identifying steps to promote
and protect human rights
- implementing CEDAW by reviewing all legislation to make sure
it complies; and legislate to remove the two remaining
reservations on paid parental leave and military front-line
action
- marketing CEDAW in a wide range of media. taking into account
those with disabilities and for whom English is not the first
language
- making sure that the four-yearly report is made to the CEDAW
Reporting Committee on time; that it is done after extensive
consultation with NGOs; that up-to-date information is used;
and the report is available to the press for promotion
- informing women on how to access the Ministry of Women's
Affairs
- providing a special unit within the ministry for women with
disabilities
- reviewing the Employment Contracts Act to see that provision
is made for employees in positions other than full-time
- reviving the programme and publishing the findings on
measuring and valuing of unpaid work, and supporting INSTRAW's
project on The Measurement and Valuation of Unpaid Work
- supporting the drafting and adoption of the optional protocol
to CEDAW
- providing more adequate funding to the Human Rights
Commission so that it can more successfully educate the public
on human rights and in particular, CEDAW; monitor the
effectiveness of its education programme? and provide support
and advice to those in need.
- ensuring that all elected and appointed local government
officials and all employees in government agencies and
departments receive gender-sensitive training and that it is
monitored for implementation and application
- promoting awareness of the human rights of women in other
countries-and considering these in terms of contracts and trade
and of women as victims of injustices for refugee status; all
immigrants must be provided with information on their legal
rights and the human rights of all citizens
- promoting the establishment of community law centres
-providing better support for women's refuges and Rape Crisis
-providing adequate support and resourcing for women with
disabilities providing an 0800 toll free number for free legal
advice
- making legal aid more readily available to women who are
victims of domestic violence and sexual crime. Legal aid should
also be available to organisations that challenge human rights
issues including those that are opposed by individuals or
corporates with extensive financial resources
- continuing the campaign to promote more women into the
professions, especially legal and the police force-appoint more
women judges
- streamlining court processes for access to justice-fast track
processes to protect women in violent and abusive cases, and
ensure that the Police Complaints Authority deals adequately
with police violence and discrimination against women
- revising the Matrimonial Property Act to ensure that children
are not disadvantaged by the 50/50 split; that women in de
facto relationships are covered by some form of contract to
protect them and their children, if they take the
responsibility for them; and that older women with lower or no
earning capacity are provided for fairly
- legislating on superannuation to take women's financial
circumstances and earning power into consideration (eg, women
who are employed earn on an average $188 per week less than
men; many women are frequently out of the workforce for some
time to become carers of children, elderly parents or family
members who are ill or disabled)
- promoting more women into decision-making roles through the
nomination's file
- investigating the feasibility of a quota system in parliament
if MMP still does not give women equal opportunities to become
members of parliament
- ensuring that human rights education is incorporated in all
curricula at all education institutions.
By organisations
Women's NGOs are asked to:
- work more closely with the Ministry of Women's Affairs,
especially on the CEDAW Report
- take a watching brief over the government and submit their
own report to the CEDAW committee
- lobby for community law centres, women's refuges and
community centres for those with disabilities and at the same
time provide a support network for those
- lobby for the establishment of internet and CD Rom in
libraries Of community law centres to access information on all
issues pertaining to human rights, CEDAW and legislation to
protect women's rights
- encourage women to learn how to access information-provide
workshops/ seminars for tuition.
Women's organisations are asked to:
- recognise the distinction between social services and social
action for social change, and be vigilant about subtle policy
changes
- network and share information with other groups
- lobby the government for legislation to ensure that women
have equal access to tertiary education, to health, to justice,
to a safe and secure environment, including after the break-up
of a partnership and on retirement, and to be treated in a fair
manner
- form their own policy and, individually, make submissions and
promote policy to politicians and other organisations and
institutions
- ensure that young women are aware of their rights
- continue to promote women into positions of power and
decision-making roles, then support them in those positions.
This may mean practical, moral and/or financial support
depending on the circumstances
- support those who speak out on women's rights
- promote women's issues at appropriate times -- eg,
International Women's Day, United Nation's Day and Suffrage Day
- provide role models and spokeswomen
- Iobby against the stereotyping of women by and through the
media
- Iobby for compulsory gender-sensitive training for
everyone-this in turn needs to be monitored.
The National Council of Women is asked to promote membership of
its organisation by 'grass-root' women.
By communities
- lobby for more community law centres and citizens' advice
bureaus and the to make sure that women in the community know
to go to them for legal advice and advice on human rights
- lobby for a human rights officer to be available in each
region, not just in the largest cities
- organise seminars and workshops on human rights issues
- identify local experts as resource people
- provide or coordinate an advisory and support network for
other women who are victims of violence, emotional and physical
abuse, or are disadvantaged or discriminated against in any
other way
- continue support of women's refuges and victim support
services
- join an umbrella organisation if not already belonging to one
- network and join forces with other women's groups when the
need arises
- join forces with men's groups to get action and lobbying
strength for community facilities, where necessary
- continue nominating other women as justices of the peace, as
local body representatives and to make sure women with the
appropriate skills are encouraged to send CVs to the
nomination's file for appointment to public bodies
- encourage women to be lobbyists, and provide training for
them
- challenge local institutions and businesses on mission
statements if human rights appear to be violated
- monitor compliance of the Human Rights Act in relation to
people with disabilities (eg, access to public buildings)
- dispel myths that are promulgated by men about women-share
accurate information
- promote fair judgement of women on a skills-basis on the same
lines that men are judged.
By individuals
Each person is asked to:
- become a member of a group to strengthen lobbying powers
- ask questions and demand answers
- boycott products and companies that practice unfair or
discriminatory treatment of women
- promote equal employment opportunities and gender issues
- not laugh at denigrating language and 'put-downs' of women by
men-challenge them
- be responsible for own education of human rights issues
including CEDAW
- support other women encourage, promote, appoint and vote for
women whenever possible, then provide assistance and support
- individually make submissions and promote policy to
politicians.
J Women and the media
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
The stereotyping of women and inequality in women's access to
and participation in all communication systems, especially in
the media.
There are two aspects to this section: images of women and the
involvement of women in decision making in the media, and
access to and knowledge of the new communication technologies.
Although some areas for action have been identified as
needing government leadership, assistance or intervention, on
the whole it is recognised that it is actions undertaken by
organisations and individuals that will be most effective in
changing the nature of the media. Community action is seen to
offer opportunities for making new technology more available by
sharing both knowledge and facilities. There is an irony,
surely - apparently unrecognised-in pushing for women's access
to the Internet, while there are women who are unable to afford
even the basic tool for that type of communication, the
telephone.
In addition to comments about the specific issues, there
were many remarks relating to media in general, particularly to
the need to tighten the standards of broadcasting and to reduce
the amount of violence that is shown.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
J1 Increase the participation and access of women to expression
and decision
making in and through the media and new technologies of
communication.
1 What are the harriers to women 's equal access to all areas
and levels of the media ?
Ownership is largely in the hands of men, frequently men living
overseas, and the decisions about the nature of news and what
is important are still generally made by men. There are very
few, if any, women on the boards of directors of any form of
media.
Much of what appears in the media about women still
maintains stereotypes and either trivialises or sensationalises
news about them and their activities. In general, only a very
limited view of women is presented, with only younger women
accepted as front persons. There is regret that 'women's'
magazines continue to promote this trite image of what is
important to women and to promote roles for women which for
most women are unreal and limited.
The increased commercial emphasis of both radio and TV has
done nothing to increase the participation and access of women
and has degraded the quality of material presented.
Many women lack the confidence to approach the media and
are uncertain about the marketing qualities needed. They want
more training in preparing media releases and are concerned
that their material will be misrepresented.
2 How can the number of programmes that address women's needs
and concerns be increased ?
Action on this is seen to be the responsibility of women
themselves, individually, through formal organisations or
informal groupings, and by working through existing community
networks.
There was also recognition that the government .should be
appointing more women to the boards of New Zealand On Air and
Television New Zealand. Organisations also have a role in
supporting women as spokespersons, and training them for such
roles.
3 What can be done to develop women's media networks?
Training is seen as essential. but accessing it is often
precluded by lack of money. Women's organisations such as NCW
should be asked to run media training workshops for all
interested women.
For women already in the media, strong women s-interest
networks should be encouraged and supported, to lobby for
better representation of women in decision-making. provide
support for women in male-dominated parts of the media. to
insist on more positive presentation of women in the media etc,
and to assist women wanting to work in the media.
4 How can we persuade media systems to promote balanced and
diverse portrayals of women?
The Ministry of Women's Affairs must research gender imbalance
in the media, and the portrayal of women, women in public life
and women leaders.
Individuals and women's groups have an important lobbying
role in this areas and also wield considerable economic power
against firms and manufacturers which use offensive
advertisements and against the media companies that accept
them.
5 What could the Ministry of Women's Affairs do to encourage
women's use of new communications technologies?
It was seen as important that the ministry strongly advises the
government of the need for more computers in schools so that
there is not competition between girls and boys for their use,
then pressurises schools to ensure that girl students have the
same ease of access, training and time in computer suites.
The government must also be encouraged to fund NGOs and
community groups to run training programmes for women in these
technologies. and to make funding available so that communities
can use school computers after schools hours.
Other suggested activities include creating awareness of
the available new technology through its newsletters and
publications, and establishing a home-page on the Internet.
J2 Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in
the media.
1 How can we encourage the media and advertising agencies to
develop specific programmes to raise awareness of the Platform
for Action?
The government should be actively presenting the platform as
being of relevance to all women, irrespective of sexual
orientation. Some felt that the government should be producing
information that is widely distributed, and is available in
Maori and Pacific Islands languages as well as in plain
English; others felt the government should pay an advertising
agency to do this.
Various actions by organisations and individuals should
include: keeping women informed- on the outcomes, planned
process, time frame for actions resulting form the conference;
getting MPs involved; approaching local papers; organising
letter-writing campaigns; making personal approaches to media
and advertising agencies to develop press releases and catchy
slogans; keeping media informed of planned events; holding
events to interest the media, and having good spokespeople.
2 How can we encourage the mass media and advertising agencies
to develop a gender perspective on all issues concerning
communities and society?
It was felt that women's organisations and individuals had an
important role in lobbying the media about gender bias in
locally made and bought-in programmes and in advertising by
reminding them of women's power as consumers. Turning off the
television or radio when a programme is offensive also turns
off the advertisers.
Sexist advertising can be countered by using a similar
tactic with manufacturers and advertising agencies: it was
suggested that women's organisations should hold regular
seminars for agencies and advertisers, presenting them with the
arguments against gender bias and sexism, including demographic
arguments. Conversely, manufacturers who do not use-or who
withdraw-offensive advertising should be publicly supported.
3 What actions can the Ministry of Women's Affairs and NGOs
take to assist in changing the ways women, especially women
leaders, are portrayed in the media?
The feeling was that the government and the Ministry of Women's
Affairs need to take an active role facilitating the meeting of
women leaders and NGOs with the various parts of the media, and
working with women's NGOs and the media to develop a code of
practice for the portrayal of women.
Organisations and individuals can publicise and promote
individual women and their achievements, by sending profiles
and photos of women achievers to major media as a resource and
using talk-back radio, encouraging women leaders to speak out,
and encouraging the media to concentrate on issues not gender.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to improve the way women are portrayed
in the media, as a means of improving women's overall position
in our society, by:
- establishing a non-commercial TV channel
- giving better support to National Radio
- instructing New Zealand On Air to give more support to
women's broadcasting
- increasing women's participation on the boards of Television
New Zealand etc., by legislation if necessary, and insisting
that more women be included in their management
- working with women's NGOs and the media to develop a code of
practice for the portrayal of women funding NGOs and community
groups to run training programmes on new technology for women.
By organisations
Organisations are asked to:
- encourage young women to undertake tertiary studies in the
media and in communications technology
- develop a women's radio station
- cultivate the Press Gallery and other journalists
- develop an award system for the media organisation that
consistently portrays women realistically
- use talk-back radio to promote women leaders - talk-back
hosts are powerful
- write to the boards of directors of media companies and ask
for editorial policies in relation to portrayal of women
approach agencies, broadcasters, publishers and producers about
giving more balanced portrayals of women and men
- lobby computer suppliers to provide equipment and training
for women's conferences, seminars and regional workshops.
By the community
Employers are asked to be prepared to assist women to acquire
adequate and additional skills in communication technologies.
Polytechs and other post-school providers of education are
asked to provide effective training for women returning to the
workforce.
By individuals
Each person is asked to:
- encourage local schools to teach media studies
- lobby for more New Zealand content on TV
- demand better content for children's programmes
- boycott women's magazines that show women in unrealistic
roles
- boycott the products of firms and manufacturers who place
advertisements that offer stereotyped views of women, or who
sponsor programmes which do-tell them why this action is being
taken
- be vocal, complain, but praise good programmes use the
complaints procedures that are available-if these are not
adequate, seek to have them altered.
K Women and the environment
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Gender inequalities in the management of natural resources and
in the safeguarding of the environment .
As well as comments about the specific issues there was much
discussion on New Zealand environmental problems, the current
status of the environment as a priority, the need for general
recognition for environmentally sound forward planning and
constant reference to the importance of lifelong education,
both formal and informal.
The importance of education and the need for forward planning
were recurring themes. The importance of a sound all-round
education for young people was stressed -to prepare and empower
them. Some quotes were: 'We've all got to take responsibility
for the environment', 'We must have confidence in ourselves and
not put ourselves down. There's lots of practical women out
there with good common sense-they can help the environment',
and 'If we don't act now, we face extinction.'
There is a real concern and evidence that with mounting student
loans for tertiary students and lower average wages for women,
female students are getting lower qualifications than they
would really like and settling for shorter courses.
The Ministry of Women's Affairs was referred to often with
repeated comments on the need to support it, and lobby for its
expansion beyond its present brief. Actions wanted were all
directed to the government and involved the allocation of a
greater budget to the ministry for it to undertake:
- visits to individual communities by staff as happened
originally
- the appointment of a woman responsible for environmental
advice-to communities as well as to the government
- greater publicity for the nomination file to ensure that
women of all ages and in all parts of New Zealand are aware of
it and feel confident to register
- the introduction of affirmative action for government
nominations to boards, trusts, quangos etc.
- feedback to women at large of 'success stories' about
successful female appointments
- more frequent publication of Panui, which is valued New
Zealand-wide, especially by women in remote rural areas.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
K1 Involve women actively in environmental decision making at
all levels.
1 What measures should the government, including local
authorities, take to ensure opportunities for women, including
indigenous women, to participate in environmental decision
making at all levels?
This addresses environmental decision-making situations in
which a woman may be researching, presenting or supporting a
submission; or acting in a professional capacity as a manager,
designer, planner, implementer or evaluator of an environmental
project.
Access and recognition were key themes: access to
understandable documents; access to explanatory information
with sufficient time for preparation of submissions; access to
meeting themselves with constraints of paid employment,
responsibility of children, cost of travel, and access to legal
advice on the issue.
As well, recognition that gender balance in central and
local government and on boards. quangos etc. would address many
of the inequalities in management of resources and in the
safeguarding of the environment; recognition that
non-professional women have valid points of view, worthy of
being listened to, and recognition that there are a variety of
processes available for decision making and that more
flexibility is desirable to reach wise, environmentally
sustainable decisions.
The importance of monitoring the use government
departments and other bodies make of the Ministry of Women's
Affair's nomination file was emphasised; it is suggested that
NGO's regularly request advice that it has been accessed
whenever environmental positions, for which there are suitable
women available, fall vacant and are filled.
2 How can the intellectual property rights of indigenous women
be protected?
This question relates to a long paragraph in the Platform for
Action which outlines actions to be taken to encourage the
effective protection and use of indigenous women's knowledge,
innovations and practices, and to endeavour to ensure that
these are respected, maintained, promoted and preserved. It
addresses the promoting of wider applications and the
safeguarding of existing intellectual properly rights of
indigenous women as protected under national and international
law.
There was a general feeling that it was both presumptuous
and inappropriate for non-Maori women to make any detailed
comment on this question. 'It's not for us to say.' However, it
was agreed that 'the Treaty of Waitangi must have its rightful
place in all environmental matters'. It was also acknowledged
that little is generally known about intellectual property
rights and the relationship between the Treaty of Waitangi and
various acts which lend the government the critical role in the
area of property rights over New Zealand's flora and fauna.
3 How can women be further encouraged to participate in the
planning of local communities ?
This addresses the participation by local women in identifying
public needs, planning and provision and design of urban
infrastructure.
The gender balance on local planning decision-making
bodies is unequal, and the government should take action to
ensure there is greater equity in input into environmental
decision making.
Often environmental issues can seem unduly scientifically
complex and this discourages women from proceeding. One
solution was to encourage the government and local authorities
to provide information in plain language.
4 How can it be made easier for NGOs to undertake advocacy of
environmental and natural resource management issues and to
provide the necessary information?
This addresses the roles taken by NGOs and the private sector
in environmental protection and conservation.
It is unfair for NGOs and concerned individuals to bear
the costs of a case that results in a decision which may
benefit a whole community. An environmental defenders' office
is one option, another suggestion is support from a fund
derived from gambling taxes.
Another option is to introduce legislation calling on
developers to establish and maintain a consultation fund to
provide funds for community members to be involved in decision
making.
The awarding of costs under the Resource Management Act or
planning tribunal legislation is unfair, and legislation should
be introduced to cease the practice of awarding costs against a
non-vexatious community group or individual.
K2 Integrate gender concerns and perspectives in policies and
programmes for sustainable development.
1 What must be done to monitor the government's progress 071
integrating women, including indigenous women in decision
-making on policies about sustainable resource management and
sustainable development?
Sustainable development is a broad concept which encompasses
the integration of: economic objectives (eg, efficiency and
prosperity), social objectives leg, equity and social justice),
and environmental objectives (eg, sustainable management of the
environment). The Brundtland Commission (1987) defined
sustainable development as 'Development which meets the needs
of the present generation without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.'
It was felt that the government should strengthen the
Ministry of Women's Affairs to enable it to:
- determine the current gender balance and distribution in such
decision-making
- be responsible for regularly monitoring all changes in the
numbers of women involved in such decision-making. Te Ohu
Whakatupu to also monitor, from a Maori perspective
- look for attitudinal changes as more women are involved
- analyse and publish these findings on a regular basis and in
an easily accessible form (eg, in Panui).
Alternatively, the Audit Office could be the monitoring agency
(although the vast majority of responses favoured the Ministry
of Women's Affairs carrying out the monitoring). Another
alternative was to contract an appropriate NGO or grouping of
NGOs to also carry out this monitoring, on an on-going basis.
2 What strategies can be developed to encourage consumers to
use their purchasing power to promote the production of
environmentally safe products?
Concern was expressed at the reality of the overwhelming
dominance of economic outcomes over environmental
outcomes-which is not the balance required by Agenda 21 and
sustainable development: 'What has happened to all the great
ideas and actions of Agenda 21?' ''The public will only buy if
it's cheaper or equal in price to competitive goods -so price
differentials may be needed.' However, some optimism was also
expressed.
3 What needs to be done to give better product information and
labelling on the nature of food, its additives and chemical
treatments?
The lack of food labelling information is a cause of concern.
The government should take immediate action to introduce
legislation requiring detailed information on labels.
K3 Strengthen or establish mechanisms at the national, regional
and international levels to assess the impact of development
and environmental policies on women.
1 What do you consider to be the major effects on women in New
Zealand of degradation of environmental and natural resources?
There are a number of causes of degradation listed in the
Platform for Action, among them: unsustainable production and
consumption patterns, drought, poor water quality, global
warming, desertification, sea level rise, hazardous waste,
natural disasters, toxic substances and chemicals and pesticide
residues-the first and last of these in particular are causing
grave concern to many women in New Zealand.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
By the government
The government is asked to show its commitment to making the
environment better for women, and all people, by:
- providing environmental legal aid-'enviro aid'-which is
especially important at the stage of rebutting
cross-submissions
- legislating so that the awarding of costs under the Resource
Management Act or planning tribunal legislation against a
non-vexatious community group or individual ceases
- introducing affirmative action to ensure improved gender and
ethnic balance in
government and local authorities, also (environmental) boards,
trusts etc
- holding free, local public consultations around the country
or local territory, as
appropriate, to provide information and stimulus for in-depth
discussions and sub
missions, and allowing adequate lead time
- Iegislating so that interested parties who may have hidden
agendas (eg, developers, local authorities) must declare their
interest when speaking at public meetings on environmental
matters amending the Resource Management Act and replacing the
Planning Tribunal with an environmental court to focus on
environmental outcomes, not legal bureaucracy
- reinstating funding for the Department of Conservation,
Output Class 8 for Advocacy- Seaweek, Arbor Day, Earth Day and
Conservation Week to be properly promoted on a national basis
providing formal education in schools to ensure an
understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and that it should have
its rightful place in all environmental discussions and
decisions.
The government is asked to encourage environmentally safe
products by:
- cooperating with the Consumer Institute and other interested
organisations such as Telarc, to plan and implement a
nationwide campaign on environmentally safe products
- publicly acknowledging manufacturers who produce
environmentally safe products
- thinking globally and ensuring that New Zealand industries
operating overseas follow environmentally sound guidelines
- using, sharing and encouraging environmentally safe processes
in all relevant overseas aid programmes
- ensuring that imported food and household products comply
with environmentally safe production methods
- introducing a national strategy on the minimisation of
packaging
- developing a long-term public-awareness programme of the
concept of environmental management systems and the ISO 14000
series of standards that companies can achieve
- supporting research that enables environmentally safe
products to be competitively priced
- establishing an eco-choice phone line for the guidance of the
public.
The government is asked to ensure better product information
by:
- requiring that all additives be listed, preferably with
common names, and with reasons for addition
- requiring that booklets about coded food additives are made
freely available-eg, in supermarkets, pharmacies and doctors
- reporting regularly on everything that is irradiated and
available to the consumer - this to be public information
- requiring that food labelling include information about any
chemical treatments together with appropriate health warnings.
The government is asked to assess the impact of policies on
women by:
- legislating for the containment and amelioration of
environmental and natural resource degradation wherever
necessary
- evaluating the inclusion in the Consumer Price Index of items
where an increase in price is good for the environment (eg,
tobacco or cars) and adjust their input into CPI accordingly
- initiating pilot surveys or access existing data to establish
the current extent of
formal or informal involvement of women, including indigenous
women, in management of natural resources
- using women researchers as much as possible and at all levels
- including in future censuses at least one question which
focuses on environment and development of natural resources
- allocating funding for 'public-good' science at a level which
will provide information on environmental issues that are most
urgent to address
- providing the Ministry for the Environment and the Department
of Conservation with improved levels of funding.
By the government and local authorities
The government and local authorities, which have special roles
to play in environmental matters, are asked to:
- provide accessible, affordable documents in plain English
- allow adequate time (a minimum of two months, not over
Christmas) for the preparation of submissions and responses
- take heed of women's viewpoints, including older wise women,
of all ethnic groupings
- consult NGOs, especially women's NGOs, more often and more
widely.
- offer compensation (possibly from enviro-aid) for
out-of-pocket expenses of individual or NGO advocates to ensure
truly representative public feedback is obtained
- reinstate the concept of regional councils, where they have
been disbanded, to monitor local council's decisions
- establish regional environmental resource centres
- continue to network with other countries for common good,
information, new concepts-eg, Healthy Cities-also to anticipate
impending environmental problems and to compare progress and
share ideas on enhancing and improving women's involvement
- initiate more internships for young women to work in the
environmental arena
- publicly recognise groups that include women and indigenous
women and that are making a significant contribution to
environmental causes to highlight that women's input is of
value.
By local authorities
Local authorities are asked to:
- ensure that meetings are more submitter-friendly with
family-friendly meeting times, creche facilities available, and
provision for payment of costs
- publish a key points summary of the Resource Management Act
plus regular updates on significant amendments or application
changes due to case law
- increase the number of depository libraries around New
Zealand to improve ease of study of draft documents by local
communities
- use a range of possible decision-making processes --eg,
forum, working group, expert citizens' panel, charter,
round-table consensus
- publish a quarterly list of responsibilities of local
councillors and staff so that the public knows who's who
- retain community boards, which are excellent training
situation for local authorities decision-making processes
- challenge each local community to identify innovative and
effective ways of ensuring they are kept up-to-date with local
issues and notices that are currently notified in public
notices column of newspapers.
- on a set day every week, publish in community newspapers,
under a single recognisable banner headline, lists of resource
consent applications
- provide regular training to ensure that staff have a good
knowledge of their local area and understanding of its
idiosyncrasies
- provide compulsory training on ecology and environmental
ethics to all new councillors and appropriate staff with
regular refresher training
- encourage female planners and other staff to stay at work and
keep skills sharp by provision of flexitime, paid parental
leave, family-friendly workplaces and financial support for
women to attend professional meetings
- provide a help-line for information on policies and plans-eg,
financial and legal questions (this has proved most successful
where instigated)
- insert full page public notices in local community papers to
advise public of forthcoming planning and policy discussions
- identify local area groups and organisations who are affected
parties under proposed changes in district plans and inform
them directly of proposals and decisions to prevent
misconceptions from dramatised reporting
- prepare and publicise own local authority's environmental
policy, publicising alterations as they occur
- identify appropriate staff at service centres for direct
consultation and advice each time a contentious local
environmental issue is under discussion (this requires the
retention of service centres, easily accessible by women and
men)
- make better use of co-opting procedures to ensure more women
participate in environmental decision making provide a public
deputation slot - eg, at the beginning of council and community
board meetings-for individuals to speak
- encourage councils to request submissions from specific
groups, including women's groups, so that a cross-section of
comment is received
- appoint an environmental officer to inform, educate, raise
awareness and generally liaise between local government and
individuals or groups in the community
- promote understanding and cooperation between the rural
sector and urban councils
- provide understandable environmental information which
initiates and invites participation in decision making-eg,
displays in supermarkets, libraries,
- information centres with medium for comments
- inform ratepayers by regular newsletter of current
environmental issues and programmes.
Local authorities are asked to work for environmentally safe
products by:
- supporting waste minimisation programmes
- establishing local an environmentally safe products and
practices award.
Local authorities are asked to assess the impact of policies on
women by:
- initiating promptly, actions that control or prevent
degradation of environmental and natural resources
- do away with hidden agenda policies that are clearly
anti-environment
- document the involvement of, and effect on, women whenever
there are investigations into local problems (eg, horticultural
spray drift).
By communities and NGOs
Communities and NGOs are asked to:
- inform MPs and local body councillors of the expectation that
they are familiar with Agenda 21 and New Zealand's commitments
to it
- support and network with groups who already support the work
of environmental NGOs- eg, community law centres, Christchurch
Resource Management Advice Service
- encourage women to stand for local bodies, strengthen
supportive networks for them and keep good contact with
supportive men too
- nominate suitable women for appropriate public office with
the aim of achieving
- encourage participation by younger women, recognising the
valuable contributions and perspectives they bring; in return,
younger women acquire committee procedure skills
- be positive to those on decision-making bodies who are trying
to effect desirable changes
- support female students of all ages as education and training
are seen as the keys to empowerment and progress via
self-esteem, confidence and knowledge
- provide scholarships and support-eg, sponsors, mentors for
women-especially in the fields of science, planning,
environmental law and ethics
- NGOs to become familiar with registration procedures for the
nomination file database (formerly the Women's Appointment
File) and publicise its purpose; also regularly scan local
expertise and encourage appropriate women to seek registration
on this database
- monitor the use of the nominations file by government
departments and other bodies
- request public consultations with local body planners on site
to ensure that planners hear, understand, respect and use local
knowledge and institutional memory about local environments
- become familiar with the overall structure and content of the
Resource Management Act by holding public seminars annually-it
is important to demystify this important legislation and keep
up-to-date with any significant amendments
- Iobby for funding (and accept accompanying accountability
measures) to under take advocacy, provision and distribution of
information on significant, national environmental issues
- identify and agree on the special environmental features in
your area, decide how these features can best be conserved,
enhanced and managed and make regular input into district and
regional plans
- investigate the setting-up and maintenance of a land care
group to care for the land, the environment and natural
resources in a specific area.
- publicise the user-friendly kit: 'Land Care Action Guide-Te
Whakaipo Whenua'
(Tend with affection, cherish), prepared by WDFFNZ as a guide
to communities
and individuals
- use networks to develop NGO submission checklists that should
be followed when working through complex documents such as
district plans
- facilitate a training day on how to write submissions and
prepare publicity-open
to all but free or very modestly priced
- network and encourage women to use the media to inform, and
to spread environmental news
- raise public understanding of contentious local environmental
issues by providing a public forum with invited experts to
debate and/or explain the issues as they see them
- raise public awareness and celebrate environmental happenings
such as World Environment Day with involvement of local
authorities
- support youth councils as stepping stones for younger women
to progress into local body elections-to ensure gender and age
balance in local politics
- prepare and circulate background notes on women and the
environment to dispel many misconceptions on information
available, present relevant laws, position of women in 1996
- as boards of trustees become knowledgeable about environment
education, support schools in their active environment
education programmes
.
- support and encourage government intervention by means of
economic incentives for environmental protection
- investigate the current situation re land ownership in New
Zealand as there is significant unease over the quantity of
land being bought up by overseas investors, and then make
appropriate submission(s)
- be ever-vigilant over environmental matters-eg, act as
watch-dogs to scan public notices in local papers, share
methods, network etc
- becoming familiar with the terms used in environmental
standards and educate own members to become knowledgeable,
discerning shoppers
- requesting that shop managers display and advertise
environmentally safe products prominently
- boycotting goods known to be produced in environmentally
unsound ways, or are imported from countries that have
environmentally unfriendly policies and consume scarce
resources unsustainably
- publicising the Environmental Code of Ethics to deal with
advertising that contains inaccurate or misleading
environmental claims lobby
- identifiable source companies or persons causing degradation
to change the processes responsible for damage
- use enviro-line supplied by many local authorities
- keep government, local authorities, and appropriate
institutions aware of new or on-going, worrying situations
involving environmental deterioration.
By individuals
Each person is asked to:
- recognise one's own abilities and potential and be prepared
to accept decision
making positions
- undertake as necessary, training or study to acquire
expertise and/or qualifications to be more knowledgeable and
effective in the environment field
- upskill as required-this is particularly important so that
positions received due to affirmative action are filled
competently and not regarded as token appointments
- join an existing women's or environmental organisation and be
as active a member as possible
- identify your own environmental passion and be prepared to
share your knowledge and expertise as a speaker
- attend public meetings, environmental training days and
information days
- become familiar with 'Getting involved with your local
community' (published by
the Department of Internal Affairs), available at all Link
Centres
become a volunteer with local environmental projects-eg, tree
planting
- support women in decision-making positions
- vote in local and general elections and with due deliberation
re gender balance and levels of environmental interest and
expertise
- question the environmental values of aspiring MPs and
councillors before voting
- support proactive women in all environmental activities
- where and when appropriate, publicly compliment
environmentally sound projects, schemes. successes
- be prepared to go public on environment issues-eg, write
letters to the editor on local and national issues with copies
to local MPs and constituency representatives, offices
- Iobby and write letters to local, regional and national
bodies on important environmental issues
- send copies of submissions on environmental issues (personal
and group) to local MPs and constituency officers so that
information is shared and an institutional memory is built up
by active, informed citizens
- develop your own understanding and confidence in talking
about both Agenda 21 and women and the environment in the
Platform for Action
- question MPs and local authorities on their familiarity with
Agenda 21 and Platform for Action and challenge them to
demonstrate their commitment
- assume the role of watch-dog whenever in public arena or
dealing with environmental issues
- start environmental education of young children-i.e., with
pre-school children as attitudes are easily absorbed here
- as parents, value highly the environmental education provided
in schools and actively support these programmes whenever
possible
- ensure children from an early age respect and value the
rights of others, especially Maori culture and
customs-indigenous knowledge is undervalued far too often as
parents or friends of young women, broaden their options and
career choices - eg, there is a wide range of one- to five-year
courses in polytechnics and universities-on many aspects of the
environment
- remember the power of a personal telephone call - to talkback
radio or other media - for both positive and negative comments
on media treatment of environmental topics.
L The girl child
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Persistent discrimination against and violation of the rights
of the girl child.
(See Appendix 5 for Workshop-Issues Questions)
L1 Eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl
child.
The girl child in this country suffers no discrimination
through legislation. It was, however, generally felt that the
form of discrimination which most affects girls is much more
subtle, and is allied to the male bias of the dominant culture.
In contrast, young girls grow up seeing few women in power or
decision-making roles, and seldom admiring the contributions
made by women to our communities.
L2 Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against
girls. Major examples of negative cultural attitudes were
listed.
- The common perception is that the male child is more valued
on arrival, and still seen as the one to carry on the family
name, and often the land
- Teenage girls, rather than boys, are expected to take on
domestic duties and to mind other siblings
- Excessively thin fashion models do not reflect average female
size or shape
- Female activities and interests remain under-represented in
the media
- Women in politics are underrated and/or trivialised
- Male students monopolise modern technology
- Women are not generally permitted to speak on the marae
- Silly sexist remarks continue to put down women
- There is considerable social conditioning that girls should
be nice-not assertive.
L3 Promote and protect the rights of the girl child and
increase awareness of her needs and potential.
The promotion and protection of the rights of the girl child
can occur in many small ways everyday, largely by challenging
the assumptions of the dominant male culture, and valuing girls
for themselves.
Lack of assertiveness in expressing her needs was
identified as a major problem for the girl child. The
development of confidence and leadership skills through
educational and extra-curricular programmes was urged.
L4 Eliminate discrimination against girls in education, skills
development and training.
Ideally, all girls should stay at school at long as possible,
despite the fears that boys monopolise teachers' time and class
resources.
Education and more career information were seen as the
keys to increased employment opportunities for girls.
Similarly, the provision of childcare facilities attached to
training institutions would assist older students to return for
educational qualifications.
Education should be affordable and accessible to all, yet
the costs of education are escalating. Women fear that the girl
child may not be able to claim her entitlement if families have
to prioritise their education fees among their children. Fears
were also voiced about the high costs of tertiary education
further impacting on the female student as the current gender
pay gap is likely to inhibit her ability to repay any loans as
quickly as her male contemporaries.
L5 Eliminate discrimination against girls in health and
nutrition. Discussions in this area dealt primarily with
feelings, facts and funding.
The development of the girl child's self-esteem and
awareness of her own feelings was seen as essential for optimum
adolescent health and well-being. Mothers should encourage
their daughters to value their own feelings and needs in order
to avoid socially conditioning them to put male needs first.
Information and sex education should be provided both in
school (preferably at intermediate level) and in the home. Such
education requires a balance between biological details, morals
and relationships. The links between teenage pregnancy and
drinking alcohol should also be stressed. The tendency of
influential teenage magazines and television series graphically
depicting casual sexual activity with minimal responsibility
continues to alarm, as does the quest for excessive thinness as
a desirable body shape. Eating disorders and cigarette smoking
are dangerous forms of weight control among adolescents. School
canteens should be encouraged to provide only nutritional
foodstuffs.
Calls were made to increase the resourcing for health
education programmes and life-skills in schools, for the
restoration of the 1985 home economics syllabus, and for food
and nutrition facts to be included in life-skills classes.
Better funding is required by existing educators such as parent
centres, and Rape Crisis groups working in the adolescent
sexual health field.
L6 Eliminate the economic exploitation of child labour and
protect young girls at
work.
If each New Zealand family received wages or benefits above the
poverty threshold (set at 60 percent of median household
disposable income) then many families need not rely on
youngsters' after-school jobs to support the family income.
Calls were made for the abolition of the junk mail
delivery industry, for the repeal of the Employment Contracts
Act and the return of youth award rates to reduce economic
exploitation. Young people were seen as vulnerable to losing
jobs, despite competency, when they reach certain ages which
require better rates of pay. The girl child was particularly
advised to be informed about how to deal with sexual harassment
at job interviews and in the work place.
Excessive working hours which interfere with ability to
learn at school, and dangerous express delivery practices to
unknown addresses were identified as other forms of
exploitation.
L7 Eradicate violence against the girl child.
A return to Christian values, and a respect for self and
others, was promoted as a sound basis for the eradication of
violence against children. It was recommended that Section 59
of the Crimes Act to be repealed so that parents cannot use
physical discipline on their children.
Creative approaches to positive parenting were mooted.
These included promotion of the positive joys of family life on
lapel badges? bumper stickers (eg, Hug A Child, A Family is a
Gift), and positive parenting tips on the sides of milk
cartons. Better funding would enable refuges to run more
parenting education programmes.
Schools should offer alternative conflict resolution
strategies, and foster children's confidence to report abuse to
the appropriate helping people. More education is needed by
teenagers about date rape, and information about their legal
rights. There were calls for continued self-defence programmes
in schools, and for more stopping violence programmes for
parents.
Police initiatives in this area were endorsed,
particularly the television infomercials The present court
system is still centred on the defendant, not the victim, and
many facilities and processes require upgrading to protect and
avoid revictimising the girl child complainant or witness.
L8 Promote the girl child's awareness of and participation in
social, economic
and political life.
Questions were raised about the low profile role of the
Ministry of Youth Affairs, and its work for the girl child.
NGOs were urged to support youth NGOs with whatever
resources and skills they could share or sponsor. NGOs could
make submissions on behalf of the interests of the girl child
to local government planning mechanisms. NGOs could conduct
seminars which assist young girls to develop public speaking
skills in order to be confident about expressing their
opinions, and to publicise community youth work.
L9 Strengthen the role of the family in improving the status of
the girl child.
The skills and status of childcare workers, of early childhood
educators, of marriage and of parenthood were felt to be
frequently undervalued. Better parent education and support
were seen as key elements. Local initiatives such as HIPPY
(Home Instruction Programme for Pre-school Youngsters), Healthy
Homes and Parents as First Teachers programmes were applauded.
The high costs of raising a family were also a common
concern. Increased funding for childcare, parent educators and
support groups was mooted. More tax incentives for parents,
especially those on single incomes, and greater flexibility for
parental compassionate leave to tend a sick child are required.
The prevention of family dysfunction needs to be a
priority. A department of social consequences could monitor and
evaluate the effects on families of social policy changes.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN By the government The government is asked
to demonstrate its commitment to the girl child by:
- supporting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- expanding the role of the Commissioner for Children
- reviewing Section 59 of the Crimes Act
- establishing a department of social consequences to evaluate
the effects on women and girls of social policy changes
- enforcing legislation for child support, and the elimination
of female genital mutilation
- ensuring free quality education is provided for all children
- reducing the costs of tertiary education
- ensuring that equity is a compulsory component of school
charters
- bringing back truancy officers
- allowing tax deductions for childcare and parent education
- increasing funding and resources to NGOs working to support
the family
- raising youth pay rates
- hastening court processes and systems to protect the girl
child
- implementing stronger guidelines to eliminate sexism in
advertising.
By organisations
Businesses and training institutions are asked to provide
family friendly workplaces and creches.
The NZ Qualifications Authority is asked to include parent
education qualitications in their framework, and acknowledge
childrearing as a qualification.
Schools are asked to provide:
- equal playing space for girls and boys
- more education on conflict resolution
- relationship counsellors
- better sex education, more lifeskills, parent education
- improved access to technology for girls
- better monitoring of home schooling.
Men's groups are asked to take responsibility for eradicating
violence against the girl child.
The Hillary Commission is asked to:
- provide more funding for girls' sport
- implement effective EEO policies
- give greater media publicity to the achievements of young
girls
- eliminate the use of excessively thin female models in
advertisements.
Women's NGOs are asked to support young girls through
scholarships, Fair Play awards and course sponsorship.
By communities
Communities are asked to:
- monitor discriminatory practices against the girl child in
local media
- support women decision makers in your area
- offer the girl child opportunities to develop her skills in
leadership and public speaking
- support fund-raising projects which help parents of young
children
- assist community initiatives to eliminate family violence
- develop more user-friendly places for children's activities
- fund youth leaders and community centres
- conduct after-school care and holiday programmes.
By individuals
Each person is asked to:
- value the girl child equally with the boy child
- avoid silly sexist remarks
- encourage girls to stay at school, and to broaden their
career choices
promote nurturing skills in boys and girls
- challenge negative cultural practices which affect the girl
child
- boycott products which exploit the girl child
- educate the girl child in assertiveness
- discourage girls from smoking for weight control
- share knowledge on legal matters affecting the girl child
- volunteer their time to help youth leaders
- support community fund-raising ventures which benefit the
girl child.
Appendix 1: NZ NGO Coordinating Committee, 1993
Marie Aubin, convenor (NCW)
Margaret Millard, deputy convenor (WDFF)
Anne Knowles, 1993-95 (BPW)
Dianne Glenn, 1996- (BPW)
Carolyn Weston (DPA)
Areta Koopu (MWWL)
Alison Roxburgh (NCW)
Anne Rodger (NCW)
Janet Hesketh, 1994- (NCW)
Colleen Singleton, 1995- (Nursing Council)
Tapaeru Tereora (PACIFICA)
Joan Ferner, 1993-95 (UNA)
Mary Gray, 1993-95 (UNIFEM)
Margaret Shields, 1994-96 (UNIFEM)
Elizabeth Purdie, 1993-95 (NZFUW)
Beverley Turner, 1996- (NZFUW)
Jan Logie, 1994 (NZUSA)
Lisa Hayes (YWCA)
Dame Miriam Dell (NZ NGO display)
ARREGLAR TABLA
Appendix 2: Beyond Beijing display and workshop tour
Venues
Workshops
Workshop participants
Venue
Kapiti
Nelson
Greymouth
Christchurch
Dunedin
Invercargill
Timaru
Blenheim
Wellington
Masterton
Napier
Gisborne
Rotorua
Tauranga
Counties/Manukau
North Shore
Whangarei
Central Auckland
West Auckland
Te Atatu Marae
Hamilton
New Plymouth
Palmerston North
21
222
1303
Local Organisation
Soroptimists, J. Matson
NCW, J. Sheppard
BPW, P. Hird
UNIFEM, C. Nelson
NCW, E. Cunningham
NCW, J. Sutherland
NCW, J. Evans
NCW, F. Jessup
UNIFEM, J. Tilley
NCW, J. Huffer
NCW, J. Mills
BPW, L. Minogue
NCW, B. Anderson
BPW, M. McKenna
NCW, C. Knock
NCW, G. Todd
BPW, R. Lieffering
NCW, P. Woodley
NCW, J. Ivory
Tu Wahine, S. Gukibau
WEL, N. Nuttall
NCW, A. Francis
NCW, P. Charlton
ParticipantsWorkshop
46 8
100 11
30 8
130 12
50 12
85 11
58 12
50 10
50 12
25 7
50 12
55 10
45 10
60 12
26 12
185 12
55 6
25 6
35 6
45
63 7
63 12
35 11
HASTA ACA
The display
At each venue, the display was set up in a public place for
three days. Many had formal functions to launch it. The
locations varied from maraes to busy shopping malls, libraries,
banks, polytechnics and vacant shops. Thousands of people of
all ages stopped to look at it, and many commented favourably
on the presentation and clarity of information. On the
Saturdays and Sundays when the workshops were being held, it
was erected in part or as a whole at the same site.
Appendix 3: Coordinator's report on venues
It was my pleasure to courier the wonderful pictorial
exhibition of New Zealand Women Working Together to twenty-one
centres around the country, and to consult with women
everywhere. It was a tour organised by women and it was a
glorious opportunity for women to reflect, dream and plan.
The tour commenced in February in Kapiti, and journeyed
via Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch. Dunedin, Invercargill,
Timaru, Blenheim, Wellingtoll, Masterton, Napier, Gisborne,
Tauranga, Rotorua, Manakau, North Shore, Whangarei, Central and
West Auckland, Hamilton and New Plymouth, before concluding in
Palmerston North in July. Such a lengthy tour depended heavily
on the considerable voluntary efforts of key women's
organisations, such as NCW branches, Business and Professional
Women s Clubs, Soroptimists, Women's Electoral Lobby and
UNIFEM, which kindly and efficiently organised the details in
each centre.
At every venue the display was erected each Wednesday in a
variety of locations dependent on local resources and charges.
When situated in the large shopping malls, thousands of
passers-by were able to visit the display and reflect in the
status of women in New Zealand. In Timaru, Nelson, Invercargill
and Whangarei the display dominated the main entrance of the
local library, but in some centres public attendance was
limited by upstairs sites. Twice, the display occupied vacant
retail space, three times it was based on maraes, once in a
bank, and a city council lounge.
And how did the public respond? The various panels
appealed to different people naturally. The magnificent women
on the Maori Women Moving Forward section brought smiles of
recognition from many observers. The very public faces of our
high-profile women were frequently admired, and one schoolgirl
proudly identified Kate Sheppard as that woman on the money.
The Women Against Violence Against Women panels surprisingly
attracted interest from many young men. Many mature women gave
telling sighs in response to the Unpaid Work panel. The graphic
depictions of refuge numbers and the gender pay gaps attracted
considerable attention and dismay. Women found the Beijing
Notebook snapshots colourful and informative.
Every weekend, workshops were organised on the twelve key
issues from the Platform for Action. These began early on
Saturday mornings with an opening Beijing presentation setting
the context for the workshops. Ministry of Women's Affairs
staff spoke, too, on the government delegation's involvement at
the United Nations World Women's Conference and women welcomed
the chance to hear directly of the current work of the
Ministry. Local Beijing forum attendees briefly shared their
key impressions from the international event, and usually added
humour and insight to the presentations. Many of those same
women worked energetically in the background to ensure the
smooth running of the workshops and their enthusiasm was
greatly appreciated.
Over 220 women volunteers facilitated the workshops, and
gave many hours of their expertise to generate lively
discussions everywhere. The women and men who attended the
workshops came from a wide variety of backgrounds. Prevalent
were women's groups affiliated to the National Council of
Women, as well as numerous representatives of refuges,
unemployed collectives, local government, churches, and maraes.
Others to attend included students, health professionals,
immigrants, teachers, farming wives, parents and retired women.
They ranged in age from teenagers to octogenarians. Most were
pleased to be consulted, to gain information and to network for
future action. On the other hand, others were skeptical that
their opinions could make a difference at all. Several were
thrilled to see themselves involved for the first time in a
process of responding to an international policy document. In
general, women enthusiastically seized the opportunity to focus
totally on the key issues of concern, and to plan to keep on
moving forward.
A piece of history was created with this widely based
consultative tour. It is thanks to the bravehearted, visionary
and resolute efforts of a small band of dedicated women who
formed the NZ NGO Coordinating Committee that women throughout
the country could be included in the development of a national
plan to implement the Platform for Action.
Brenda Baxter
Appendix 4: Acronyms used in the text
ARREGLAR TABLA
ACC BPW
CHE CWI DPA ETV GDP GST GRI
Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance
Corporation
Business and Professional Women
CEDAW Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination
Against Women
Crown Health Enterprise
Country Women's Institute
Disabled Persons' Assembly
Education Television
Gross Domestic Product
Goods and Services Tax
Guaranteed Retirement Income
HAIP Hamilton Abuse Intervention Project
INSTRAW United Nation's International Research and
Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women
MMP
MWWL
NCW
NGO
NZFUW
NZUSA
RHA
TOPS
UNA
UNIFEM
WDFF
WEL
YWCA
Mixed Member Proportional
Maori Women's Welfare League
National Council of Women
Non-Governmental Organisation
New Zealand Federation of University Women
New Zealand Students' Association
Regional Health Authority
Training Opportunities Programme
United Nations Association
United Nations Development Fund for Women
Women's Division Federated Farmers
Women's Electoral Lobby
Young Women's Christian Association
I
t
B1 l 2
3
B2
B3
!
HASTA ACA
Appendix 5: Workshop Issues Questions
A Women and poverty
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
A1 Review, adopt and maintain macroeconomic policies and
develop strategies that address the needs and efforts of women
in poverty.
Governments, multilateral financial and development
institutions, regional development institutions, national and
international non-governmental organisations and women's groups
are all called on to take action to achieve this objective.
A2 Revise laws and administrative practices to ensure women's
equal rights and access to economic resources.
A3 Provide women with access to savings and credit mechanisms
and institutions.
A4 Develop gender-based methodologies and conduct research to
address the feminisation of poverty.
This includes the request to international and national
statistical organisations to devise statistical means to
recognise and make visible the full extent of the work of women
and all their contributions 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.
B Education and training of women
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to
education and training.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Ensure equal access to education.
What forms of discrimination still exist in our education
system? [80 (a)]
What can we do to assist young women to realise the importance
of tertiary education? [80 (e.f)] What needs to be done to
provide better education for the education and training of
pregnant adolescents and young mothers? [80 (g)]
Eradicate illiteracy among women.
Improve women's access to vocational training, science and
technology and continuing education.
How can non-formal training be given better recognition? [[82
(b)]
What information needs to be available about the benefits of
vocational training, training programmes in science and
technology and about continuing education? [82 (c)]
B4 Develop non-discriminatory education and training.
B5 Allocate sufficient resources for and monitor the
implementation of educational reforms.
I The actions requested here are to measure the effects
of introducing non-discriminatory processes.
You may want to comment on the need for monitoring other
'reforms' to our education system.
B6 Promote lifelong education and training for girls and women.
C Women and health
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Inequalities and inadequacies in, and unequal access to, health
care and related services.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
C1 Increase women's access throughout the life cycle to
appropriate, affordable and quality health care, information
and related services.
A challenge to NGOs and women in general-study the commitments
made in the Programme of Action of the International Conference
on Population and Development, the Copenhagen Declaration and
Programme of Action of the World Summit on Social Development,
the Obligations of States under CEDAW, and other relevant
international agreements to meet the health needs of girls and
women of all ages. [106 (a)]
1 What needs to be done to ensure 'the right of women and girls
to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of
physical and mental health' in New Zealand? [106 (b)]
2 What further needs to be done to 'provide more accessible,
available and affordable primary healthcare services of high
quality, including sexual and reproductive health care, which
includes family planning information and services, with
particular attention to maternal and emergency obstetric care'
? [106 (e)]
3 'Governments, agencies and NGOs are urged ... to reduce the
recourse to abortion through expanded and improved
family-planning services. Prevention of unwanted pregnancies
must always be given the highest priority and every attempt
should be made to eliminate the need for abortion'.
How can this aim be carried out in New Zealand? [106 (k)]
4 What programmes, information and services might be developed
to assist women to understand and adapt to changes associated
with ageing and to address and treat the health needs of older
women, especially those who are physically or psychologically
dependent? [106 (n)]
5 What needs to be done to ensure that girls and women of all
ages with any forms of disability receive supportive services?
[106 (o)]
6 Is there adequate information on the benefits of breast
feeding? Are women assisted to continue breast feeding even
after return to employment? How could this be improved? [106
(r)]
7 What support is needed by NGOs working on women's health? How
can women be better involved in the development of government
health policies? [106 (s,t)]
8 What measures should be taken to improve the level of
nutrition, especially of girls? [106 (w)]
9 What needs to be done to ensure full and equal access to
health-care infrastructure and services for indigenous women?
[106 (y)]
C2 Strengthen preventive programmes that promote women's
health.
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'. What are the most important measures needed to be
implemented by government, NGOs, the mass media and the private
sector in order to achieve this objective? [107 (b)]
2 'Encourage men to share equally in childcare and household
work and to provide their share of financial support for their
families, even if they do not live with them' . How can this be
achieved? [107 (c)]
3 How can better information be given about the
responsibilities, rights and duties of parents to provide an
appropriate environment for their children? [107 (e)]
4 What needs to be done to provide for the special health needs
of adolescents? [107 (g)]
5 What policies should be developed 'to reduce the
disproportionate and increasing burden on women who have
multiple roles within the family and community'? [107 (h)]
6 What can be done to reduce the level of risk from
environmental hazards, especially in the work place and the
home? [107 (n)]
C3 Undertake gender-sensitive initiatives that address sexually
transmitted diseases HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive
health issues.
1 How can the information available on sexually transmitted
diseases, especially for teenagers, be improved? [108 -very
generalised]
C4 Promote research and disseminate information on women's
health.
1 What particular aspects of research into women's health
should be promoted?[109- generalised]
2 'Acknowledge and encourage beneficial traditional health
care, especially that practised by indigenous women ...' How
can this best be done? [109 (j)]
C5 Increase resources and monitor follow-up for women's health.
1 What proposals would you make for implementing this
objective? [110 - generalised]
D Violence against women
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Violence against women.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
D1 Take integrated measures to prevent and eliminate violence
against women.
This section contains many recommendations very pertinent to
New Zealand society. Only a few issues are raised here, because
there is very little to discuss on most of the recommendations;
they are very practical sensible proposals. Most however need
money.
1 What actions can be take to eliminate acts of violence
against women and children? By government, by agencies and
NGOs?
2 What steps, and by whom should they be taken, to monitor the
effects of the new laws concerning domestic violence, including
women's access to justice and remedies for the harm they have
suffered?
3 What measures should be introduced into education system to
modify actions that lead to violent behaviour?
4 'Allocate adequate resources within the government budget and
mobilise community resources for activities related to the
elimination of violence against women, including resources for
the implementation of plans of action at all appropriate
levels'. How do you see this being carried out? [124 (p)]
5 how can we persuade the government to give more financial
assistance to those who have proven programmes and skills that
protect women and help to break the cycles of violence?
D2 Study the causes and consequences of violence against women
and the effectiveness of preventive measures.
1 what priorities would you give to research into violence
against women and girls?
2 How can the media be further encouraged to consider the
impact of gender-role stereotypes, including those use in
advertisements? [129 (d)]
D3 Eliminate trafficking in women and assist victims of
violence due to prostitution and trafficking.
1 What will be the most effective way of monitoring the laws
against international sex tours and child prostitution?
2 What actions should be take by women and women's
organisations to assist women who have been brought to New
Zealand to be part of the sex trade?
E Women and armed conflict
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
The effects of armed or other kinds of conflict on women,
including those living under foreign occupation.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
E1 Increase the participation of women in conflict resolution
at decision-making levels and protect women living in
situations of armed and other conflicts or under foreign
occupation.
1 What actions can women's NGOs take to promote an increase in
the number of women involved in peace activities- especially in
the UN Secretariat and related agencies? [142 (a, b)]
E2 Reduce excessive military expenditures and control the
availability of armaments.
1 At what level of GDP can military expenditure be considered
excessive?
2 Can New Zealand's level of military expenditure be called
excessive? If so, what would you suggest be cut?
3 Do you agree that we should urge the government to be more
active in seeking to strengthen the international protocol on
the use of anti-personnel land mines? [143 (e) {i}]
E3 Promote non-violent forms of conflict resolution and reduce
the incidence of human rights abuse in conflict situations.
E4 Promote women's contribution to the fostering of a culture
of peace.
1 What needs to be done to establish educational programmes for
girls and boys which will foster a culture of peace, conflict
resolution by non-violent means and the promotion of tolerance?
[146 (d)]
E5 Provide protection, assistance and training to refugee
women, other displaced women in need of international
protection and internally displaced women.
1 How can migrant and refugee women be better assisted in their
efforts to settle in New Zealand?
2 What more can be done to help refugee and migrant children in
New Zealand schools?
E6 Provide assistance to the women of the colonies and
non-self-governing territories.
F Women and the economy
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Inequality in economic structures and policies, in all forms of
productive activities and in access to resources.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
F1 Promote women's economic rights and independence, including
access to employment and appropriate working conditions and
control over economic resources.
1 What can we do to encourage the government to measure and
better understand the type, extent, and distribution of
unremunerated work, particularly work in caring for dependents
and for family farms and businesses? [165(g)]
2 What actions should be taken to change work patterns in order
to promote the sharing of family responsibilities? [165 (m)]
F2 Facilitate women's equal access to resources, employment,
markets and trade.
1 How can new small businesses and cooperative enterprises be
assisted? [166(d)]
2 In what ways could/should the rights of workers be more
effectively safeguarded? [166 (1)]
3 What can be done to assist the appointment of women to
advisory boards and forums where economic policies and
programmes are developed? [167 (a)]
4 What should be done to ensure that a higher proportion of
resources reach women in rural and remote areas? [169 (a)]
5 What changes would be needed to banking services to assist
better credit facilities for women? [171]
F3 Provide business services, training and access to markets,
information and technology, particularly for low-income women.
1 What support services are needed for women in employment and
business'' [173 (d)]
2 How can retraining for women re-entering the labour market be
more helpful and effective? [173 (t)]
3 What would be the most helpful way to have childcare
facilities provided/available? [173 (g)]
F4 Strengthen women's economic capacity and commercial
networks.
1 How can the government 'support programmes that enhance the
self-reliance of special groups of women! such as young women,
women with disabilities, elderly women and women belonging to
racial and ethnic minorities"? [175 (d)]
2 How can the economic activities of indigenous women be better
supported'? [175 (f)]
3 What laws and conditions are needed to protect women who do
paid work in the home? [175 (h)]
F5 Eliminate occupational segregation and all forms of
employment discrimination.
1 What sort of employment programmes and services are needed
for women entering/re-entering the labour market? [178 (e)]
2 What programmes are needed to assist women with disabilities
and those belonging to other disadvantaged groups? [178 (f)]
3 How can women's organisations persuade government and
employers to 'recognise collective bargaining as a right and an
important mechanism for eliminating wage inequality for women
and to improve working conditions' ? [178 (h)]
4 What actions should be taken to implement equal pay for work
of equal value? [178 (k)]
F6 Promote harmonisation of work and family responsibilities
for women and men.
1 What policies should be adopted to ensure appropriate labour
laws and benefits for part-time, temporary, seasonal and
home-based workers? [179 (a)]
2 What legal incentives and encouragement should there be for
women and men to take parental leave? [179 (c)]
3 What processes of education would be effective in promoting
the concept of shared family responsibility for work in the
home, especially care of children and elders. [179 (d)]
4 What measures would need to be implemented to enable women
and men to take temporary leave from employment and modify work
hours without sacrificing prospects for development and
advancement in work and careers? [180 (a)]
G Women in power and decision-making
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Inequality between men and women in the sharing of power and
decision-making at all levels.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
G1 Take measures to ensure women's equal access to and full
participation in power structures and decision-making.
1 What actions need to be taken to establish gender balance in
governmental bodies and committees, public entities and the
judiciary'? [190 (a)]
2 What measures should be taken to encourage political parties
to integrate women in elective and non-elective public
positions in the same proportion and at the same levels as men?
[190 (b), l91]
3 What needs to be done to encourage a greater involvement of
indigenous women in decision-making at all levels? [190 (g)]
4 What needs to be done to build a 'critical mass of women
leaders, executives and managers' ? [192 (a)]
5 What sort of programmes are needed to ensure that women,
especially young women, have equal access to managerial,
entrepreneurial, technical and leadership training? [199 (f)]
6 How can women's NGOs be encouraged and supported to
participate in UN conferences and the preparatory processes?
[199 (h)]
7 What role do NGOs have in assessing women to participate
fully in the structures of power and in decision-making? [194]
G2 Increase women's capacity to participate in decision-making
and leadership.
1 How can NGOs help in this? [195]
H Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN Insufficient mechanisms at all levels
to promote the advancement of women.
OBJECTIVES
H1 Create or strengthen national machineries and other
governmental bodies.
1 How could the effectiveness of the Ministry of Women's
Affairs be improved? [203]
2 What other processes could be implemented to assist in the
advancement of women? [203]
H2 Integrate gender perspectives in legislation, public
policies, programmes and projects.
1 How can we be assured that the government carries out social
impact analysis before policies are implemented? [204 (a)]
2 How can we ensure the promotion of gender perspective in all
legislation and policies? [204 (d)]
3 What processes should NGOs establish to monitor ministerial
response to the implementation of the Platform for Action? [204
(e)]
4 What priorities should the Ministry of Women's Affairs have
in seeking to integrate gender perspectives into legislation,
public policies, programmes and projects? [205]
H3 Generate and disseminate gender-disaggregated data and
information for planning and evaluation.
1 What data do you consider most important for the fulfilling
of this objective? [206]
2 How can we persuade the government to 'conduct regular
time-use studies to measure, in quantitative terms,
unremunerated work, including recording those activities that
are performed simultaneously with remunerated or other
unremunerated activities' and to work towards finding ways to
reflect the value of unremunerated work in formal or satellite
accounts? [206 (g)]
I Human rights of women
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Lack of respect for and inadequate promotion and protection of
the human rights of women.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
I1 Promote and protect the human rights of women, through the
full implementation of all human rights instruments, especially
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
1 What can be done to make the provisions of CEDAW better known
to women in New Zealand? [231]
I2 Ensure equality and non-discrimination under the law and in
practice.
1 In what ways can the work of the Human Rights Commission be
strengthened and made more effective? [232]
2 How effective is any gender-sensitive human rights education
and training that is given to public officials? [232(I)]
3 How satisfactory is the protection given to women in relation
to crimes directed at or particularly affecting women? Are
victims and witnesses adequately protected against
discrimination or revictimisation? [232(1)]
4 How can the rights of women and girls with disabilities be
better protected? [232(o)]
I3 Achieve legal literacy.
1 In what ways can information about legal processes and human
rights be made more readily and easily available? [233]
2 How can women's organisations assist in this process?
[233(f)]
3 Do you support further teaching about human and legal rights
in the school curricula'? [233 (g)]
J Women and the media
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Stereotyping of women and inequality in women's access to and
participation in all communication systems, especially in the
media.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
J1 Increase the participation and access of women to expression
and decision making in and through the media and new
technologies of communication.
1 What are the barriers to women's equal access to all areas
and levels of the media?
2 How can the number of programmes which address women's needs
and concerns be increased? [239 (e)]
3 What can be done to develop women's media networks? [239 (f)]
4 How can we persuade media systems to promote balanced and
diverse portrayals of women? [240]
5 What could the Ministry of Women's Affairs do to encourage
women's use of new communications technologies? [241 (b)]
J2 Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in
the media.
1 How can we encourage the media and advertising agencies to
develop specific programmes to raise awareness of the Platform
for Action? [243 (b)]
2 How can we encourage the mass media and advertising agencies
to develop a gender perspective on all issues concerning
communities and society? [244 (c)]
3 What actions can the Ministry of Women's Affairs and NGOs
take to assist in changing the ways women, especially women
leaders, are portrayed in the media? [245 ]
K Women and the environment
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Gender inequalities in the management of natural resources and
in the safeguarding of the environment.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
K1 Involve women actively in environmental decision making at
all levels.
1 What measures should the government, including local
authorities, take to ensure opportunities for women, including
indigenous women, to participate in environmental decision
making at all levels? [253 (a)]
2 How can the intellectual property rights of indigenous women
be protected? [253 (c)]
3 How can women be further encouraged to participate in the
planning of local communities? [253 (g)]
4 How can it made easier for NGOs to undertake advocacy of
environmental and natural resource management issues and to
provide the necessary information? [255 (a)]
K2 Integrate gender concerns and perspectives in policies and
programmes for sustainable development.
1 What must be done to monitor the government's progress on
integrating women, including indigenous women, in
decision-making on policies about sustainable resource
management and sustainable development? [256 (a)]
2 What strategies can be developed to encourage consumers to
use their purchasing power to promote the production of
environmentally safe products? [257 (b)]
3 What needs to be done to give better product information and
labelling on the nature of food, its additives and chemical
treatments? [257 (c)]
K3 Strengthen or establish mechanisms at the national, regional
and international levels to assess the impact of development
and environmental policies on women.
1 What do you consider to be the major effects on women in New
Zealand of the degradation of environmental and natural
resources? [258 (b)]
L The girl child
CRITICAL AREA OF CONCERN
Persistent discrimination against and violation of the rights
of the girl child.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES L1 l 2
L1 Eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl
child.
1 What examples are there in New Zealand society of
discrimination against the girl child? [274]
2 What can be done to ensure that children receive appropriate
financial support from their parents? [274 (c)]
L2 Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against
girls.
1 Can you give examples of these in New Zealand? If so, how can
such attitudes be altered? [275]
L3 Promote and protect the rights of the girl child and
increase awareness of her needs and potential.
L4 Eliminate discrimination against girls in education, skills
development and training.
1 What actions could be taken to ensure that female teachers
and professors have the same possibilities and status as male
teachers and professors? [279 (f)]
2 What can be done to increase girls' opportunities for
employment and access to decision-making processes? [280 (a)]
L5 Eliminate discrimination against girls in health and
nutrition.
1 What needs to be done to encourage adolescents to recognise
the importance of accepting responsibility for their sexual and
reproductive health and behaviour? [281 (g)]
L6 Eliminate the economic exploitation of child labour and
protect young girls at work.
1 What can be done to protect children from economic
exploitation and from work that may be hazardous or interfere
with their education? [282]
L7 Eradicate violence against the girl child.
L8 Promote the girl child's awareness of and participation in
social, economic and political life.
1 What support should be given to NGOs, particularly youth
NGOs, in their work, especially for girls? [284 (b)]
L9 Strengthen the role of the family in improving the status of
the girl child.
1 What policies and programmes need to be developed to help and
strengthen the family in its supporting, educating and
nurturing roles? [285 (a)]
Note: Numbers in brackets refer to the relevant sections of the
Platform for Action.
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Date last updated: 08 May 2000 by DESA/DAW
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