Women and Human Rights Presented by Rebecca Austen Director of Advocacy World Youth Alliance

WYA’s Declaration on Women Do women have special needs or rights? Do women have special needs or rights? Motherhood is a continual invitation to self- gift Motherhood is a continual invitation to self- gift Maternal healthcare Maternal healthcare Infrastructure and laws that support the family and motherhood Infrastructure and laws that support the family and motherhood

UN’s Approach to Women’s Rights (The Gender Agenda) Gender agenda couches the population control agenda and reproductive rights agenda Gender agenda couches the population control agenda and reproductive rights agenda Agenda is built on the philosophy of being autonomous, white males – this is the only way to have power Agenda is built on the philosophy of being autonomous, white males – this is the only way to have power Women will never be able to be autonomous white males Women will never be able to be autonomous white males

UN’s Approach cont’d Fertility is seen as a hindrance to full equality with men. Fertility is seen as a hindrance to full equality with men. Gender as a social construct, not a biological reality. The goal is to remove this social construct and create unisex societies. There are multiple genders. Gender as a social construct, not a biological reality. The goal is to remove this social construct and create unisex societies. There are multiple genders. Question: If gender is not a biological construct, why do women need special rights? Question: If gender is not a biological construct, why do women need special rights?

Millennium Development Goals 8 Goals to be achieved by 2015 – agreed to by the international community in Goals to be achieved by 2015 – agreed to by the international community in 2000 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Achieve Universal Primary Education Achieve Universal Primary Education Promote gender equality and empower women Promote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development Develop a global partnership for development

MDG’s cont’d Good initiative indicating cooperation and concern for the basic needs of the world’s population. It includes concrete goals and indicators to determine success/failure. Good initiative indicating cooperation and concern for the basic needs of the world’s population. It includes concrete goals and indicators to determine success/failure.

MDG 5 cont’d “Maternal deaths are rooted in women’s powerlessness and their unequal access to employment, finances, education, basic health care and other resources.” (Safe Motherhood Initiative) “Maternal deaths are rooted in women’s powerlessness and their unequal access to employment, finances, education, basic health care and other resources.” (Safe Motherhood Initiative) Prevent Unwanted Pregnancy and Address Unsafe Abortion Prevent Unwanted Pregnancy and Address Unsafe Abortion Availability of contraception, abortion, especially non-surgical abortion Availability of contraception, abortion, especially non-surgical abortion

MDG 5 cont’d Reproductive rights are the key strategy for achieving MDG 5 and all the MDGs Reproductive rights are the key strategy for achieving MDG 5 and all the MDGs As a result, real maternal health needs are often pushed to the side As a result, real maternal health needs are often pushed to the side

Fertility reduction programs as a response to MDG 5 UDHR – right to found family, determine number and spacing of children UDHR – right to found family, determine number and spacing of children Nothing or little is being done to further or implement this right; rather, energies are being spent to promote reduced family size. Nothing or little is being done to further or implement this right; rather, energies are being spent to promote reduced family size. Reproductive rights are seen as the key to having the right to life and liberty of women respected. Reproductive rights are seen as the key to having the right to life and liberty of women respected.

Fertility Reduction cont’d Too often there are more resources available to have an abortion than there are to safely deliver a child. Too often there are more resources available to have an abortion than there are to safely deliver a child. Focus on abortion overshadows social and political needs of women, as well as underlying causes that lead women to choose abortion. Focus on abortion overshadows social and political needs of women, as well as underlying causes that lead women to choose abortion. Often fertility reduction programs are actually or socially coercive (promotion of an ideal family size) Often fertility reduction programs are actually or socially coercive (promotion of an ideal family size)

WYA’s Approach Gender is a biological reality, not a social construct Gender is a biological reality, not a social construct Therefore, women do have special needs and require safeguarding Therefore, women do have special needs and require safeguarding Family builds solidarity and creates a framework in which women can achieve goals, receive empowerment and have their unique gifts fostered Family builds solidarity and creates a framework in which women can achieve goals, receive empowerment and have their unique gifts fostered

WYA’s Approach cont’d Legislation should address the concerns which are the most important to women themselves Legislation should address the concerns which are the most important to women themselves Women have gifts and natural capacities that are unique. Women have gifts and natural capacities that are unique. Intrinsic, authentic development requires celebration of capacity for motherhood Intrinsic, authentic development requires celebration of capacity for motherhood Celebration of difference between the sexes Celebration of difference between the sexes

Interactive (Small Groups) Hand outs: WYA Declaration on Women, a copy of MDG 5 and the UNFPA interpretation of MDG 5 Hand outs: WYA Declaration on Women, a copy of MDG 5 and the UNFPA interpretation of MDG 5 Does current UNFPA language reflect the reality of women’s lives? Does current UNFPA language reflect the reality of women’s lives? What is the alternative to what is discussed in current policy debates? What is the alternative to what is discussed in current policy debates?