| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| Newsletter 08 |
| |
| The quarterly SHS Newsletter provides information on the work of UNESCO in the field of social and human sciences. |
|
| Urban fabric and society: which policies for the future? – January-March 2005 (English | Français | Русский) |
|
 Each year on the 8th of March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day to commemorate the achievements of ordinary women and to recognize their right to participate fully and equally in political, economic, social and cultural development and progress. This celebration originated from women’s struggles for equality in industrialized countries at the turn of the 20th century and was officially recognized and launched by the United Nations during International Women’s Year in 1975.
Thirty years later, Member States of the United Nations and international un organizations, including UNESCO, are in New York reviewing the progress that has been made on respect for the rights of women and gender equality since the Fourth (and last) World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, in 1995.
For its part, UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector has recently initiated projects for action oriented research, awareness-raising and capacity building in order to:
• Understand the impact of globalization on women’s socio-economic, political, and cultural conditions and rights, and identify possibilities and obstacles that affect women’s access to and enjoyment of human rights and the right to development.
• Analyse the socio-cultural institutions, laws, norms, practices, and values that inhibit equality or that help to reproduce violence against women and identify the policies and cultural norms that reduce gender disparities and help to achieve equality and development.
• Examine the ways that women and gender relations are involved in and affected by global tensions and armed conflicts, and promote women’s involvement in conflict resolution, peace-building and reconstruction.
In implementing this strategy we have developed a number of projects, such as the establishment of a Palestinian Women’s Resource Centre in Ramallah that will primarily support the promotion of research-based policies and help to institutionalize and ensure women’s human rights. A similar type of research centre is also being proposed for Iraq.
In the Great Lakes Region in Africa, our principal focus is to promote women’s involvement in post conflict peace-building and reconstruction, and to examine how a new order can contribute to women’s empowerment and advancement.
Our project on women in the judiciary in Latin America and the Caribbean seeks to analyse the factors that have an impact on women’s mobility in the higher courts of justice and to promote awareness of affirmative action policies that would allow for social justice and equality.
Another project envisages the strengthening of women’s studies programmes in Asian universities and research centres to facilitate gender-sensitive and disaggregated research, and policy formulation and programme implementation that lead to the advancement of women’s human rights and participation.
This contribution to the cause of women in different regions of the world upholds a long-established tradition in UNESCO. Since its creation, the Organization has focused on women’s participation in public life and the need for the education of women and girls at all levels as a means of enhancing democratic participation in society and in development.
This issue of the SHS Newsletter is dedicated to women, whose struggle has contributed to civilize our planet.
Pierre Sané
Assistant Director-General
for Social and Human Sciences
p. 3 Ethics Ethics and nanotechnology / p.5 Interview Michèle Jean / p.9 Human Rights International Coalition of Cities against Racism • Financial aid for children in Mali and Niger / p. 11 Human Sciences Philosophical Dialogues/ p. 12 Dossier : Urban issues Capacity building • Urban governance and policies • International cooperation • Urban policies for all urban dwellers / p.22 Democracy Media election coverage in Iraq / p.23 Social Transformations Migration without borders • UNESCO at the Fifth World Social Forum • An online service for decison-makers • Online journal / p.26 Just published / p. 27 News International Forum on the Social Science — Policy Nexus / p. 28 Calendar
|
|
|
 Email this page  Printable version
|
|
|
|
