1. United Nations Development Fund for Women Labor Rights and Employment *Overview of activities*

2. United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) is the women’s fund at the United Nations which provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality.

3. Placing the advancement of women's human rights at the centre of all of its efforts, UNIFEM focuses its activities on four strategic areas: (1) Strengthening women’s economic security and rights (2) Ending violence against women (3) Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls (4) Achieving gender equality in democratic governance in times of peace as well as war

4. UNIFEM in SEE region -Context and Focus- Progress in terms of impressive economic growth rates accompanied, however, by increased inequalities, including persistent challenges to women’s rights. High unemployment rates exacerbated by drastic structural reforms, which in turn are associated with persistent income poverty that affects significant segments of the population, including women, and in particular socially excluded minority groups. Progress in terms of impressive economic growth rates accompanied, however, by increased inequalities, including persistent challenges to women’s rights. High unemployment rates exacerbated by drastic structural reforms, which in turn are associated with persistent income poverty that affects significant segments of the population, including women, and in particular socially excluded minority groups. Women have seen progress as measures have been put in place to protect and fulfill their equal rights in the form of gender equality laws, laws to protect women from domestic violence, or adoption of national plans to advance equality between women and men. However, as CEDAW Committee reports for all countries indicate, these measures are poorly enforced due to a combination of absence of political will, lack of capacities and resources. Women have seen progress as measures have been put in place to protect and fulfill their equal rights in the form of gender equality laws, laws to protect women from domestic violence, or adoption of national plans to advance equality between women and men. However, as CEDAW Committee reports for all countries indicate, these measures are poorly enforced due to a combination of absence of political will, lack of capacities and resources.

5. UNIFEM Focuses on Advancing Women’s Rights in SEE in the Context of: Economic and governance reforms related to EU integration Economic and governance reforms related to EU integration Political negotiations, peace building, and security sector reforms. UNIFEM places strong focus on expanding the capacity of gender equality advocates (both govt. and CSO) to effectively advocate and monitor government accountability to implement commitments under CEDAW, the MDGs and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000). Political negotiations, peace building, and security sector reforms. UNIFEM places strong focus on expanding the capacity of gender equality advocates (both govt. and CSO) to effectively advocate and monitor government accountability to implement commitments under CEDAW, the MDGs and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000).

6. UNIFEM’s Focus on Labor Rights & Employment in SEE “Accountability for the Protection of Women’s Human Rights” supported by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) “Accountability for the Protection of Women’s Human Rights” supported by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Gender Responsive Budgeting in SEE: Advancing Gender Equality and Democratic Governance through Increased Transparency and Accountability” supported by Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Gender Responsive Budgeting in SEE: Advancing Gender Equality and Democratic Governance through Increased Transparency and Accountability” supported by Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

7. UNIFEM Approach in SEE Gender mainstreaming in legislation and policy - (reform of the Labor Law in Montenegro) Gender mainstreaming in legislation and policy - (reform of the Labor Law in Montenegro) Effective implementation (identifying gaps in protection, harmonization with int. labor standards, enforcing protection of labor rights of women, increasing accountability of duty bearers – Serbia, BiH, UNAP of Kosovo) Effective implementation (identifying gaps in protection, harmonization with int. labor standards, enforcing protection of labor rights of women, increasing accountability of duty bearers – Serbia, BiH, UNAP of Kosovo) Piloting innovative strategies in GRB (linking budget policy and employment - Backi Petrovac pilot, Serbia) Piloting innovative strategies in GRB (linking budget policy and employment - Backi Petrovac pilot, Serbia)

8. Case Examples: Serbia and BIH Handbooks on Women’s Labor Rights (Serbia and BiH) Handbooks on Women’s Labor Rights (Serbia and BiH) Training modules for judges and prosecutors (BiH) Training modules for judges and prosecutors (BiH) Increasing access to information for rights holders Increasing access to information for rights holders Increasing accountability of duty bearers (NES branches, GEMs, complaints mechanisms – inspectorates, judiciary, legal aid providers) Increasing accountability of duty bearers (NES branches, GEMs, complaints mechanisms – inspectorates, judiciary, legal aid providers) Effective implementation of new legal provisions (RS Labor Law) Effective implementation of new legal provisions (RS Labor Law)

9. UNIFEM Commitments Increased accountability to beneficiaries and recipients of development aid (Paris Declaration) Increased accountability to beneficiaries and recipients of development aid (Paris Declaration) Increased coordination of UN agencies (Gender Theme Groups, One UN) Increased coordination of UN agencies (Gender Theme Groups, One UN) Increased coordination of development partners in the country (Gender Synergy Group Serbia) Increased coordination of development partners in the country (Gender Synergy Group Serbia) Shared ownership (assessments of needs, consultation processes with partners, informal and formal regional networks) Shared ownership (assessments of needs, consultation processes with partners, informal and formal regional networks)

10. Thank you Questions and Comments Questions and Comments