Gender indicators in the Arab region Presented by Suheir Azzouni Chief, ESCWA Centre for Women

Engendering MDG Indicators Efforts by experts and activists stressed the need to engender the MDGs through linking them to CEDAW and BPFA and the outcomes of relevant international conferences and summits.

Linking the MDGs to international instruments means Explicit recognition that mainstreaming gender issues and concerns is essential for all areas of development and as such in all plans, policies and programmes. Linking the previously affirmed political, legal, social, cultural, economic and civil rights to the achievement on the MDGs. Recognition that women human rights are linked and indivisible ( reproduction, marriage, education, labor etc)

It obligates countries to undertake “all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.” It obligates the elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.

Addressing the MDGs through linking to international instruments Basically means examining the various disempowering factors that lead to women’s inequality in the various spheres. These disempowering factors may take three shapes: Legal barriers Structural barriers Cultural and attitudinal barriers

Gender indicators Literature on women and the MDGs has pointed out to various indicators that spotlight the status of women. These include (from another ESCWA study focusing on Goal 3 on the empowerment and the gender equality of women): access to and control over resources agency, ability to act to utilise resources achievements bodily integrity (control over her own body and her sexuality) positive images of self-worth control and influence over strategic decisions and resources at household and public levels ability to do collective work

Indicators changed attitudes and expectations of women raised knowledge about their situation and position new actions to raise their position and voice increased role in decision making and participation at all levels Increased mobility for women Women’s economic security Women’s ability to make larger purchases Increased involvement in household decisions

Women’s economic security Women’s ability to make larger purchases Increased involvement in household decisions Relative freedom from family domination Women’s political and legal awareness Women’s increased participation in political campaigning Relative freedom from family domination Women’s political and legal awareness Women’s increased participation in political campaigning

Regional specificities Reservations to CEDAW Linking family law to various interpretation of religion Inadequate effective gender mainstreaming of plans and policies at the governmental and the non-governmental levels Lowest political female representation of women worldwide Lowest female formal labour activity worldwide Very high female illiteracy rate: 50% of female adult population.

Regional specificities Problematic traditions and beliefs that form taboos Weak civil society and democratic institutions Political instabilities that reflect upon better focusing upon democratic and social justice issues challenging current global economic policies which seem to exacerbate social injustice and gender inequality Inadequate sex-disaggregated data Not enough qualitative studies

Engendering MDG indicators What is needed is a systematic approach that takes into consideration CEDAW and BPFA, the gender analysis frameworks and the disempowering factors to spotlight the situation of women in the region.

Goal 1: Eradication of poverty Legal FatcorsStructural FactorsAttitudinal and cultural factors Property rights a.Land b.Money stocks c.Other Availability of sex-disaggregated data Percentage of females in implementing structures including courts, and police at the a. Decision-making level b. Implementation level Traditions which shame women who inherit Traditions which shame women who write property in their names Strong women’s movement Inheritance lawsAvailability of empirical data Availability of qualitative studies Availability of policies Strong civil society Gender mainstreaming at government Labour law -Discriminatory articles -Gender responsive -Quotas -Reproductive roles safeguarded and compensated -Practical gender needs taken into consideration Percentage of females in implementing structures Women not shamed if they work Strong social network Marriage and Divorce -Deferred dower -Equal property shares upon divorce -Alumni Extent of law enforcement Extent of female friendly structures Availability of shelters Those abusive women are shamed Social safety nets Laws protecting women against violence Structure gender conscious ad responsive Ability of women to approach structures

Goal 2: Achieving Universal Primary Education Legal and Policy FactorsStructural FactorsAttitudinal and Cultural Factors Laws on compulsory Education Laws on early marriage Regulations on accepting married girls in classroom Affirmative action on scholarships and appointments Extent of law enforcement Female representation at decision-making level Availability of sex- disaggregated data Women equally viewed as bread-winner Reproductive role viewed as shared between men and women Women encouraged to assume decision-making roles Curricula gender-friendly (text and illustration) Same curricula for all School mapping Number of female to male schools Gender friendly schools

Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Legal and policy factorsStructural factorsAttitudinal/ cultural factors Reservation to CEDAW (imposition, lifting of reservations) Representation of women in parliament Policies Budgets for Gender mainst. Encouragement of women to run and participate in elections Public support for women’s participation Optional ProtocolRepresentation in government Quotas – affirmative actions Standpoints of political parties regarding women representation and issues Congruence of laws to CEDAW / extent of enjoyment of political, social, economic rights Representation in economic bodies Portrayal of audio and visual media to women Studies on honor killing, FGM and violence against women Awareness of women rights of women and the public at large