CEDAW South East Asia Programme Regional programme of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for South East Asia CEDAW SEAP

Funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

CEDAW SEAP Being implemented in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Signed, ratified or acceded to by the 7 countries But not fully implemented.

CONSTRAINTS to CEDAW Implementation State Parties are not clear on - what the standards of women’s human rights are & - how to achieve these standards.

CONSTRAINTS to CEDAW Implementation Structural barriers such as - a culture of ‘non-compliance’ with human rights standards; - lack of means to access justice & to redress discrimination. Cultural norms & practices that are based on the idea of the inferiority or superiority of either of the sexes.

CONSTRAINTS to CEDAW Implementation Not sufficient expertise, methodologies & capacities to use the human rights standards to analyze & address societal problems.

CONSTRAINTS to CEDAW Implementation Women are not aware of - their human rights - the means to claim these rights - how to access remedies.

CEDAW SEAP: an opportunity for various sectors to work together for the full realization of women’s human rights

CEDAW SEAP Vision Full realization of women’s human rights

CEDAW SEAP Strategy Modify laws & policies Build capacity of institutions Transform culture

CEDAW SEAP seeks to create changes in The substance of laws & policies Institutional structures & procedures Values, norms & other cultural factors

Towards the The substance of laws & policies Institutional structures & procedures Values, norms & other cultural factors CEDAW SEAP seeks to create changes in

Full realization of women’s human rights The substance of laws & policies Institutional structures & procedures Values, norms & other cultural factors CEDAW SEAP seeks to create changes in

CEDAW SEAP will Stimulate & Support Systematic Action at the National & Regional Levels

Vision

Outcome 1Outcome 2Outcome 3

Vision Outcome 1Outcome 2Outcome 3 Output 1Output 2Output 3Output 4

Vision Outcome 1Outcome 2Outcome 3 Output 1Output 2Output 3Output 4 Activities

EXPECTED OUTCOMES 1. Improved awareness & deeper understanding of CEDAW 2. Strengthened capacity to promote women’s human rights 3. Strong political will for CEDAW implementation

OUTCOME 1: Improved awareness & deeper understanding of CEDAW the standards of women’s human rights the status of women’s human rights State obligations & guarantees as provided by CEDAW the need for systematic action to protect, promote & fulfil women’s human rights.

OUTCOME 2: Strengthened Capacity Regional level partners – to develop a knowledge base & competencies to provide technical support to countries to implement CEDAW. State organs, organized civil society & citizenry at the national level – to undertake their respective roles to protect, promote & fulfil women’s human rights.

OUTCOME 3: Strong political will Commitment to implement CEDAW Effective accountability mechanism & timely reporting Strengthened commitment among NGOs to support women’s ability to claim their rights

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

EXPECTED OUTPUTS: REGIONAL LEVEL 1. Accessible, operational knowledge base for CEDAW implementation 2. Strengthened capacity of selected institutions to provide technical support to governments, NGOs & other sectors 3. Enhanced capacity of regional NGOs to use CEDAW & its Optional Protocol to advocate women’s human rights

EXPECTED OUTPUTS: NATIONAL LEVEL Addressing State Organs: Legislative, Executive & Judicial 1. Increased recognition by the legislative, executive & judicial branches of the obligations of the state 2. Increased understanding by these state organs of the status of women’s human rights and the extent of discrimination 3. Legislation reviewed to identify actions to harmonize the legal system with CEDAW

4. Expertise of a core group of legislators, government officials & staff, and judges in applying CEDAW in their respective functions 5. Greater commitment by the State to CEDAW implementation & timely reporting EXPECTED OUTPUTS: NATIONAL LEVEL Addressing State Organs: Legislative, Executive & Judicial

Addressing organized civil society and the citizenry: 6. Among selected groups of citizenry, increased awareness of CEDAW 7. Strengthened commitment among NGOs to support women’s ability to claim their human rights EXPECTED OUTPUTS: NATIONAL LEVEL 8. Expertise of an expanded set of civil society organizations to use CEDAW & its Optional Protocol to promote women’s human rights in selective substantive area

Addressing collaboration among stakeholders: 9. Effective partnership among governments, civil society and UN agencies for CEDAW implementation, monitoring and reporting. EXPECTED OUTPUTS: NATIONAL LEVEL

ACTIVITIES: Research & analysis Advocacy Training Technical support Networking Public awareness raising on CEDAW Building a regional knowledge base on CEDAW Modelling an integrated approach to implement CEDAW Brokering resources

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES IN THE MODELLING 1. Cambodia 2. Indonesia 3. Philippines 4. Thailand

Modelling an integrated approach on CEDAW implementation. On an area of pervasive violation of women’s human rights or discrimination against women Lessons to be documented, synthesized, abstracted & shared internationally.

Modelling approach uses the following framework Modify laws & policies Build capacity of institutions Transform culture

Possible activities for the modelling

The substance of the law Review of laws and policies Prepare legislative reform agenda & plan of action to implement it Adopt and implement legislative reform agenda The substance of the law

Assessment of capacity of organizations responsible for the selected substantive area Skills training for government officials & staff to implement new laws applying the CEDAW standards Institutional structures & procedures Institutional structures & procedures Orientation & training of judges to enable them to interpret the laws in line with CEDAW standards Partnership building among government, civil society & UN agencies to protect, promote & fulfill women’s human rights in a selected substantive area.

Among the citizenry affected by or involved in the pervasive violation of women’s human rights: Values, norms & other cultural factors Values, norms & other cultural factors Awareness raising on CEDAW & women’s human rights Other information & education programmes aimed at gaining their support & mobilizing them to support women’s human rights.

CEDAW SEAP STRATEGY is MULTISECTORAL & COLLABORATIVE

STAKEHOLDERS State Organs - Parliament or Legislature - Executive Branch - Judiciary Organized Civil Society - Non-governmental organizations - Political parties - Labor unions - others

STAKEHOLDERS Other sectors - Schools - Media establishments - Religious institutions Women - Business enterprises Men

All stakeholders have roles. Their efforts must be coordinated.

THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Global-Regional ADVISORY COMMITTEE

THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Global-Regional ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROGRAMME STEERING COMMITTEE

THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Global-Regional ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROGRAMME STEERING COMMITTEE PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT TEAM

THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Global Level ADVISORY COMMITTEE CIDA- Canadian International Development Agency UNIFEM- United Nations Development Fund for Women UNDP- Asia Pacific Gender Equality Network (APGEN) UNDAW- UN Division for the Advancement of Women UNOHCHR- UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Global Level PROGRAMME STEERING COMMITTEE UNIFEM - Asia Pacific Section Chief - Regional Programme Director - ESEARO - Programme Manager - Human Rights - CEDAW Adviser CIDA

THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Regional Level PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT TEAM (Bangkok) Programme Manager Deputy Programme Manager Finance Assistant Administrative Assistant

COUNTRY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE CEDAW SEAP PROGRAMME MANAGER THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Regional – National Level

COUNTRY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE CEDAW SEAP PROGRAMME MANAGER COUNTRY PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT UNIT THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Regional – National Level

THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE National Level Country Consultative Committee Government (Legislative, Executive and Judiciary) NGO’s & other organized civil society groups concerned with women, gender equality & human rights Relevant academic & training institutions UNIFEM & other UN agencies, CIDA & other donors

THE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE National Level Programme Management Unit (in each of the 7 countries) National Coordinator/Gender Expert Finance & Administrative Assistant

“ “ The full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by women and girls is a priority for Governments and the United Nations... - The Beijing Platform for Action, 1995.

CREDITS Script: Teena Cabbab Consultant for Script: Annie Serrano Artwork and execution: MindBox Photos: ADB, UNDP/APGEN For more information, please contact: PROGRAMME MANAGER CEDAW SEAP UNIFEM East and Southeast Asia Regional Office, UN Building. 5th Floor, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Telephone: + (662) or (662) ; Facsimile: + (662) ; For offices in seven South East Asian countries, see: Copyright © UNIFEM 2004, Produced for CEDAW SEAP, UNIFEM East and South East Asia Regional Office