Equal Share: "Good,but not good enough"

Equal Share: “Good but not good enough” – some progress made with policies ensuring men and women share equally in the responsibilities of caregiving.

There has been 60 years of multi-country work trying to secure equality between men and women. This week a high level roundtable at CSW53 gave opportunity to Ministries for Gender of UN member countries and gender advocates to share progress with commitments previously made to the Commission on the Status of Women, particularly with regard to equity in HIV/AIDS caregiving.

Inequalities Remain

Women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Annual UNAIDS world HIV prevalence figures consistently show that women bear a higher HIV burden than men, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Elizabeth Gibbons, UNICEF: Associate Director, Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement.

UNICEF’s Elizabeth Gibbons, told policymakers they have to ensure HIV/AIDS home caregiving does not further threaten the wellbeing and rights of women. Because they traditionally act as caregivers, those who look after relatives who are sick are mostly women and girls.

Shingh Glensner, NZ Ministry of Women’s Affairs

Developed countries struggle with structural inequalities too. In Australia, women do 65% of all unpaid work. An analysis of time use by men and women from several countries showed women consistently use more time for caregiving than men. New Zealand’s Shingh Glensner of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs says progress made with ensuring men and women equally share in caregiving responsibilities was “good, but not good enough”.

Hon Barry Bibara, Minister for the Promotion of Women and Protection of Children, Niger

From Niger comes the news of a law introduced, which compels a husband to inform his wife if he tests HIV positive. Niger’s Minister for the Promotion of Women and Protection of Children says only strict law enforcement will ensure that women participate equally in decision-making and that men share the burden of HIV matters.

Jean Peacock, Sonke Gender Justice, South Africa.

Cross-cultural research shows gender identities and roles are not fixed. Successful programs involving men in South Africa, India and Brazil need to be scaled up, says the advocacy group, Sonke Gender Justice, a South African based NGO. There is now strong evidence that working WITH men and boys helps prevent gender based violence. If men are engaged rather than alienated, they will also contribute more equally in the share of the responsibilities of care.

What the UN has done

60+ Years of work for equality, development and peace

1945 - The United Nations commitment to the advancement of women begins with the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco. Its preamble states faith “in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small …”
1946 - The Commission on the Status of Women is established to promote the advancement of women throughout the world
1960’s – The Commission begins to address women’s role in social and economic development
1975 – International Women’s Year: “Equality, Development and Peace”
1975 – 1995 – The United Nations Decade for Women
1979 – UN General Assembly adopts “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
1985 – World Conference on Women, Nairobi
1995 – World Conference on Women, Beijing
2000 – United Nations Millennium Summit – world leaders emphasize commitment to gender equality
2005 – UN World Summit – resolves to eliminate discrimination against women, renews commitment to mainstreaming