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| Workshop on "The Research/Policy Nexus for Women's Human Rights" |
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Projects 5 of 6
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| International Forum on the Social Science-Policy Nexus, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 20 - 24 February 2006 |
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Introduction:
In the wake of the women’s movement of the second wave (1960s / 1970s), academic research has shown how gender relations are inscribed in laws and norms, cultural practices, social relationships, and collective action, and in social institutions such as markets, state systems, family norms, educational systems and in the media. Some of the findings of this research have found their way into international instruments that spell out a clear mandate for the United Nations system to work towards the realization of gender equality and the human rights of women. These instruments also require compliance by governments, in order that women’s empowerment across social, political, economic, and cultural domains may be realized.
Within UNESCO, the GED Section of the Social and Human Sciences Sector conducts and supports policy-oriented research on globalization and women’s human rights, cultures and gender equality, and conflict, peace, and reconstruction. Specific studies include social rights of working women, family laws, institution-building in Palestine and Iraq, and women’s role in post-conflict reconstruction. The work is guided by international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform for Action. The research and projects are intended for use by our partners within the women’s movement and the national machinery for women, such as the Ministries of Women’s Affairs.
In this connection, our proposed workshop will explore the relationship between academic research and public policies towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. How does research assist in policy design or reform? What kinds of relations exist between researchers and policy makers in various countries? How might policy and decision makers such as Ministers of Women’s Affairs make better use of the academic research on various aspects on women’s conditions and rights? How might researchers and advocates for women’s human rights help build the capacity of ministries of women’s affairs by providing them with important inputs for the policy work of the ministries?
Preliminary Agenda:
Three sessions will be held over two days of the Forum. Participants are asked to prepare a 2-5 page brief on each of the three session topics, which will be incorporated into the workshop report. We will request these briefs in advance of the Forum so that we may prepare a dossier for each participant.
Session 1: Globalization and women’s human rights
What are the social rights to which working women are entitled? How does globalization affect them? What actions should Governments take to enhance working women’s social rights? What is the role of trade unions? Can an increased role for women in trade union leadership help ‘make globalization work for women’? How can researchers and policy makers exchange knowledge and experiences to improve women’s conditions of work and enhance their social rights?
Session 2: Women in post conflict reconstruction governance
We will examine the ways that women and gender relations are involved in and affected by global tensions and armed conflicts, peace-building, and post-conflict reconstruction. How are women’s human rights affected by wars? How can policy makers benefit from research to ensure that women and gender issues are integrated in post-conflict reconstruction development and governance? Is SCR 1325 being implemented?
Session 3: Cultures and gender equality
What does research tell us about the way that laws, norms, and values inhibit equality between the sexes or help to reproduce violence against women? Conversely, how are cultural resources deployed to empower women? How may cultural understandings and international instruments assist in the reform of family laws and cultural institutions in ways that establish equality and women’s empowerment?
Expected outcomes:
Establishment of a network or networks; Workshop report; Follow-up activities (questionnaires, network meetings, publications).
Coordinators:
Valentine Moghadam and Lucie Senftova
E-mail: l.senftova@unesco.org Tel.: +33 (0)1 45 68 38 61
More information on the Forum |
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| Start Date
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21-06-2005
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| End Date
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21-06-2005
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| Lead Organization / Sector / Office
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UNESCO, SHS/HRS/GED
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| Contact First Name
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Valentine |
| Contact Last Name
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Moghadam |
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| Keywords
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women, human rights, globalization, post conflict reconstruction governance, cultures |
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