Chair,
I would like to begin by taking this opportunity to note that today is the International Day for Disaster Reduction. This topic is of significant importance, as we are all familiar with the devastation caused by the four hurricanes that have torn apart the Caribbean and southern parts of the US this year. Women are most especially affected by this tragedy, as they are vital caregivers of families.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is pleased that the topic of violence against women has been given a high priority this year. Through the work of our National Societies, our experience has shown that although progress has been made in many countries on the issue of gender equality, violence against women has yet to be adequately addressed. The report of the Secretary-General titled Violence Against Women, makes this clear, and we endorse its call for strengthened legislation and implementation.
There are a number of issues of particular concern to us that we feel must be discussed in order to lead to a comprehensive framework to combat violence against women.
First of all, the destruction that HIV/AIDS is causing all over the world is stemming efforts to assist women in fighting against violence. African Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies have found that by engaging women as volunteers, they are not only able to empower women, but they are also able to make progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Namibia Red Cross provides an example of this. Female volunteers are working with the Himba people on pre and post-natal care, family planning, contraception, and most importantly sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.
Next, xenophobia and discrimination are problems that very often accompany migration. Today, around 47.5% of migrants are women, and in some groups, women represent the majority of migrants. Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies have focused on this issue, and in many cases provide the only support that these women receive. Unfortunately, this topic still needs to be brought to centre stage.
To do this, we must all encourage an increase and strengthening of volunteer programs. By enhancing volunteerism we are able to put forward a two-fold approach to supporting women.
Firstly, women volunteers, both young and old, are best versed in providing assistance to society, and in particular other women.
Secondly, when properly engaged, women more easily find support systems, which help them build the confidence necessary to face their day-to-day problems.
Chair,
We would like to highlight the second MDG, which concerns universal primary education. It is undeniable that improved education must be at the heart of any program whose goal is to change traditional attitudes in communities, and to help women empower themselves. Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies in a number of countries house vocational institutes. The Kyrgyzstan Red Cross has a social rehabilitation centre, which provides training for women in computer literacy, sewing and small-scale business basics.
The issue of empowering women in situations where they are already vulnerable to violence has preoccupied the IFRC and our National Societies for years. One such issue, that of refugee women, was noted in the IFRC's statement to the Executive Committee of UNHCR on October 7 of this year.
Although the violence that harms women in refugee camps is often discussed, violence affects women in non-camp refugee and IDP situations as well. By raising this matter in the General Assembly, we hope that it will be taken up as a priority by relevant UN bodies beyond UNHCR. We will continue to support this process through the involvement of National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies whenever possible.
Chair,
Our work was brought before the Sixth Pan African Conference of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Algiers, in September 2004. The African Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies are all determined to work closely with their partners. This will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, including Goal 3 regarding gender equality and the empowerment of women. The outcome of this conference will be brought before the United Nations General Assembly at a later stage.
Gender equality and the empowerment of women correspond with the IFRC's Gender policy, adopted in 1999. This policy requires that each Red Cross/Red Crescent Society and the IFRC Secretariat formulate measures to ensure that the gender-specific vulnerabilities of women and men are systematically identified and addressed.
The IFRC has also committed itself to the action plan established by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. It has established a Coordinating Group, which will partner with the Canadian Red Cross Society in an initiative concerning the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. We will take part in a Peer Review of progress that will be led by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response.
Chair,
The IFRC highlighted violence as a serious priority in its Pledge on Non-Discrimination and Respect for Diversity, passed in December 2003 at the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. The pledge identifies violence against women as a priority for our national organizations and we look forward to cooperating actively with the United Nations system as work to counter violence against women proceeds.
We urge governments to work towards a more proactive program of engaging with civil society and other groups in their countries on this issue. As the report of the Secretary-General shows, the answers will not be supplied by legislation alone.
There will have to be profound changes in community attitudes before women and society can see significant improvements. Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are playing an important role in this respect through many of our community-based programs. We encourage governments and international organizations to advance their work with us in pursuit of this objective.
There has been a decline in the pressure for change and progress on issues relating to women in recent years. It is thus our hope that the MDGs will bring forward new ways of prioritising issues relating to the advancement of women. We stand ready, with our National Societies, to help in any way we can.
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