The Center for Women’s Global Leadership,[1] [2] [3] based at Rutgers University, was founded in 1989 by Charlotte Bunch,[4] the former Executive Director and an internationally renowned activist for women's human rights. The current executive director is Radhika Balakrishnan, a professor of Women's and Gender Studies at Rutgers, current chair of the Board of the US Human Rights Network, and a board member of the Center for Constitutional Rights.[5] Located on Douglass Residential College (formerly Douglass College) at Rutgers University, CWGL is a unit of International Programs within the School of Arts and Sciences and is a member of the Institute for Women's Leadership, a consortium of women's programs at Rutgers.[6][7]
About the Center
The CWGL is both an academic center at a major public research university as well as a non-governmental organization with ECOSOC Special Consultative Status at the UN [8] [9] working on policy and advocacy. CWGL works to develop and facilitate women’s leadership worldwide not only for women’s human rights, but also for international social justice. [6] [10]
While CWGL works from a human rights perspective, the Center emphasizes:
- Violence against women
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Socio-economic well-being
Integrating gender and women's human rights into the work of local, national, regional and international institutions, CWGL’s programs inform and mobilize advocates for women's human rights around specific events and build linkages among them to enhance their capacity to influence policy making.[11] Much of the Center's programmatic work stems from footholds made at the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights and the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women. [12]
Working in collaboration with women leaders and NGOs around the world—whether at UN meetings such as the Commission on the Status of Women,[13] international mobilization campaigns, such as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, [14] [15] or through global education endeavors—CWGL has helped secure international policy commitments that clearly state "women's rights are human rights."
With these policy benchmarks in place, the Center has turned its energy toward implementation of this concept and holding policy making bodies accountable to their promises to the world's women. Core activities in this program area include UN Monitoring and Advocacy [16][17] and the coordination of International Mobilization Campaigns.[18]
With its new Executive Director in place, the Center is continuing with programmatic work on ending violence against women, protecting women human rights defenders, and encouraging UN reform with a new body to monitor the realization of women's human rights. Moreover, the Center is expanding into considerations of the application of macroeconomic policies and the relationship between women and development within a human rights framework. [19] [20] [21]
CWGL at Rutgers University
In addition to bridging the worlds of academia and activism, CWGL spans two different areas of academia at Rutgers University. The Center is a unit of International Programs[22] within the School of Arts and Sciences. The CWGL has a special position within this department because the other programs of the Office of International Programs are either focused on the United Nations or broken up into regional studies with regional scopes. Thus, the CWGL plays a unique role by fostering women's leadership globally and having an international scope.[23]
The CWGL is also a member of the Institute for Women's Leadership (IWL),[24] a consortium of eight women's programs at Rutgers University created to study and promote how and why women lead, and to develop programs that prepare women of all ages to lead effectively.[25] Other consortium members include Douglass Residential College, Women's and Gender Studies, the Center for American Women and Politics, the Institute for Research on Women, the Center for Women and Work, the Institute for Women and Art, and the Office for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics.
CWGL at the United Nations
At the United Nations, CWGL plays a major role at various UN meetings addressing the implementation of commitments from world conferences including the Vienna Conference (1993), Cairo Hearing on Reproductive Health and Human Rights, Copenhagen Hearing on Economic Justice and Women's Human Rights, and Beijing Conference, in particular at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the UN Human Rights Council, and at the reviews of these UN World Conferences.[26]
There are several critical meetings at the United Nations that serve as important opportunities for women's human rights advocates to assess successes and failures in implementing commitments to women. As an ECOSOC accredited NGO, the CWGL participates directly in roundtables organized by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in preparation for each session of the Commission on the Status of Women. [27] In this capacity, the CWGL plays a multifaceted role, by:
- Facilitating planning sessions in which women’s human rights defenders and advocates can both monitor and contribute to meetings effectively
- Convening a women’s human rights caucus and other gatherings [28] [29] [30]
- Organizing monitoring [31] [32]and other advocacy trainings
- Sending out alerts and reports both before and after such meetings [33]
Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR)
The Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign [34] is a network of over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice groups around the world.[35] This campaign urges UN Member States and the UN Secretariat to move swiftly forward to create a new UN gender equality entity. GEAR also urges the UN to set up a transparent process now for recruiting the best qualified Under Secretary-General to head this agency. The United Nations must move without further delay to implement changes that it has repeatedly recognized as critical to fulfilling its mandate of working for gender equality as a crucial component of development, human rights, peace, and security. [36]
Background
In 2006, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan convened a High-Level Panel to explore how the UN system could be strengthened in terms of coherence and coordination in the areas of development, humanitarian affairs and the environment. After women from around the world pressured the UN to better address gender equality in the reform process, Kofi Annan asked the Panel to include gender equality as its mandate. The Panel’s report included recommendations on strengthening the gender equality architecture (GEA), and was endorsed by the current Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon in March 2007. [37]
Currently, there are four separate women’s entities (The Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW); the Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women (OSAGI); the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)) within the UN system that are overlapping and compete for resources, impeding their ability to effectively address women’s needs worldwide. Other larger agencies sometimes do important work on gender equality, but it is a small part of their mandate, and often receives low priority.
GEAR Campaign
In March 2007, the Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO),[38] together with the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) convened a meeting of 50 women activists from around the world, to develop a comprehensive and multi-faceted strategy for global, regional and national action to gain the UN General Assembly’s approval of a stronger and single, fully-resourced women’s entity at the UN.
As a result of that meeting and the continued need for women’s collaborative advocacy on this issue, WEDO and the CWGL, along with hundreds of activists spanning all regions, launched the Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign in February 2008, to mobilize women’s groups and allies to push for the adoption of the new UN entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment.[39]
The 62nd General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus requesting the UN Deputy Secretary-General to elaborate on a new women’s entity based on the model advocated by the GEAR campaign.
Current Progress
On June 10, 2010, a new version of the syste-wide coherence resolution was sent to UN Member States. This is the text that needs to be adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to establish the new UN women's rights entity. The resolution is the result of negotiations between country groupings and member states, negotiations which are still ongoing. Also on June 10, the global petition hosted by Amnesty International to demonstrate support for the GEAR campaign closed. The petition was given to the United Nations President of the General Assembly on June 17, 2010.
On June 14, 2010, Charlotte Bunch, on behalf of the GEAR Campaign, spoke at the UN Millennium Development Goals Informal Interactive Hearings.[40] The audience at these hearings included the UN General Assembly, civil society organizations and the private sector. Ms. Bunch spoke about the urgency in establishing the new gender entity and articulated the linkages between gender equality, human rights and the MDGs in an effort to address the gaps on the ground in implementing promises that have been made by governments and the UN. The meeting was convened in order to provide input to the preparatory process for the ‘MDG summit’ (High-level Plenary Meeting) on September 20-22, 2010. [41]
On June 30, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly resolution was agreed to and subsequently formally adopted by the General Assembly on Friday, 2 July, to establish “UN Women”—the new gender equality entity at the UN.[42] This new gender entity already has an operational website.[43][44] An Under-Secretary-General to lead the new agency has yet to be named, but likely will be named before or during the MDG Summit on September 20-22, 2010.
International Mobilization Campaigns
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence
The 16 Days Campaign was launched by CWGL in 1991 as an annual campaign that demands the elimination of all forms of violence against women.[45] [46] [47] [48] This rallying cry erupts annually between November 25 and December 10, and over 2,000 organizations participate in the event from over 154 countries.
The dates of the campaign align with significant dates, including:
- November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
- November 29 – International Women Human Rights Defenders Day[49][50]
- December 1 – World AIDS Day
- December 5 – International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
- December 6 – Marks the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, observed in Canada as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
- December 10 – International Human Rights Day and the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Campaign Themes
Every year, CWGL composes a Campaign theme in consultation with women's human rights advocates worldwide and then circulates an announcement for the campaign as widely as possible. Over the years, Campaign themes have included: "Violence Against Women Violates Human Rights" (1991/1992), "Democracy without Women's Human Rights . . . is not Democracy" (1993), "Awareness, Accountability, Action: Violence Against Women Violates Human Rights" (1994), "Vienna, Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing: Bringing Women's Human Rights Home" (1995), "Demand Women's Human Rights in the Home and in the World" (1997), "Building a Culture of Respect for Human Rights" (1998), "Fulfilling the Promise of Freedom from Violence" (1999), "Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Campaign" (2000), "Racism and Sexism: No More Violence" (2001), "Creating a Culture That Says 'No' to Violence Against Women" (2002),[51] "Violence Against Women Violates Human Rights: Maintaining the Momentum Ten Years After Vienna (1993-2003)" (2003), "For the Health of Women, For the Health of the World: No More Violence," (2004-2005), "Celebrate 16 Years of 16 Days: Advance Human Rights ‹—› End Violence Against Women" (2006), "Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles: End Violence Against Women!" (2007), "Human Rights for Women ‹—› Human Rights for All: UDHR60" (2008), "Commit ▪ Act ▪ Demand: We CAN End Violence Against Women!" (2009), and most recently for 2010: Structures of Violence: Defining the Intersections of Militarism and Violence Against Women.[52]
Recent or Upcoming Campaigns
The 2010 Campaign theme[53] derives from the belief that militarism is one of the key structures that perpetuates violence. CWGL defines militarism as an ideology that creates a culture of fear and supports the use of violence, aggression, or military interventions for settling disputes and enforcing economic and political interests. To roll back militarism is to inspire more expansive ideas about genuine security, to bring more women into public life, to create a world built not on the competitive sale of weapons, but on authentic relations of trust and cooperation.[54]
Global Campaigns for Women's Human Rights
CWGL interacts with a community of women’s human rights defenders [55][56] in order to place pressure on local, national, and international decision-making bodies. Global Campaigns usually emphasize that "women’s rights are human rights" and are supported by thousands of individuals and organizations from around the world.[57] These constituencies rally to take action to protect individual rights defenders and advocates in countries from Serbia[58] to Iran.[59]
Activities include a series of Global Tribunals,[60][61][62][63][64] petitions, and "Take Action" kits. Additionally, the Center also holds public forums to conduct assessments of the women’s human rights movement. One such event was the “International Strategic Directions Consultation” that took place in November 2003 as part of the Vienna + 10 Updates.
Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition
The WHRD IC[65] is a resource and advocacy network for the protection and support of women human rights defenders worldwide. When their gender or the nature of their work has made them the subject of attacks, gender-sensitive mechanisms are required for their protection and support. The Coalition [66] involves women activists as well as men who defend women’s rights and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) defenders and groups committed to the advancement of women’s human rights and sexual rights.
The Coalition is currently composed of 21 members: Amnesty International (AI); Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD); Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia); Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID); Baobab for Women’s Human Rights; The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR); Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL); Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL); Front Line International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (Front Line); Human Rights First; Information Monitor (Inform); International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH); International Service for Human Rights (ISHR); International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW‐AP); ISIS‐Women’s International Cross‐Cultural Exchange (ISIS‐WICCE); The Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women’s Rights (CLADEM); MADRE; Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights (UAF); Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ); Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML); World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).[67]
Current Projects
Production of a Documentation Manual
This manual is intended to be a resource for defenders and organizations documenting violations related to women human rights defenders.
Monitoring Mechanism for Urgent Appeals
Members of the Coalition respond to requests for urgent appeals from women human rights defenders at risk.
Public Education and Policy Advocacy
Coalition members undertake advocacy at the United Nations and at regional levels to support the development of constructive policies and analysis that is sensitive to women human rights defenders’ concerns.
Global Report on Women Human Rights Defenders
This project is a follow up to a survey on the situation of women human rights defenders conducted by the Coalition in 2008. It is intended to inform the Coalition’s advocacy on women’s human rights defenders before the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders and in other forums.
References
- ^ United Nations Photo: Center for Women's Global Leadership Director Addresses Special Event Marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- ^ TCWSE - Resources - Page with blurb about CWGL
- ^ GoGirl Radio - Politix - Page with blurb about CWGL
- ^ Charlotte Bunch, National Women's Hall of Fame
- ^ Faculty Profile, Radhika Balakrishnan
- ^ a b CWGL Web page
- ^ Institute for Women’s Leadership
- ^ ECOSOC Consultative Status
- ^ List of NGOs with ECOSOC status, including CWGL
- ^ National Council for Research on Women, CWGL Member Page
- ^ The Hub, Page on Charlotte Bunch and CWGL
- ^ CWGL Director Interviewed about Implementation of the Beijing Declaration
- ^ Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
- ^ 16 Days Campaign Homepage
- ^ Every Human Has Rights, CWGL Page
- ^ CSW's 54th Session: Beijing+15
- ^ CSW's 54th Session: Beijing+15, CWGL's Participation
- ^ AlertNet article about CWGL and Activism against Violence Against Women
- ^ Article on the IMF and Human Rights by CWGL Executive Director
- ^ Macro Economic Strategies and Human Rights, Paper by Radhika Balakrishnan
- ^ Publications of the Center for Women's Global Leadership
- ^ Office of International Programs at Rutgers
- ^ Office of International Programs, Center for Women's Global Leadership Page
- ^ Institute for Women's Leadership Homepage
- ^ Institute for Women's Leadership, CWGL Member Page
- ^ CWGL, Policy and Advocacy Program
- ^ NGO Participation in the Commission on the Status of Women
- ^ NGLS Discussion of the Conclusion of the 54th Session of the CSW in March 2010
- ^ Calendar of NGO caucuses at 52nd annual CSW
- ^ Statement from the UN 52nd Annual CSW Linkage Caucus
- ^ DAWN Ontario, Review of CWGL and other civil society meetings at the 2003 47th Session of the CSW
- ^ UN Green Room article quoting Charlotte Bunch as a representative of the Gender Monitoring Group of the 2005 World Summit
- ^ GEAR Statement
- ^ GEAR Campaign Homepage
- ^ GEAR Campaign Working Group Member Organizations
- ^ March 2010 GEAR Campaign Statement
- ^ GEAR Campaign History
- ^ WEDO Homepage
- ^ NGLS March 2010 RoundUp of CSW 54th Session, including interviews with Charlotte Bunch and information about CWGL with regard to the GEAR Campaign
- ^ Charlotte Bunch speaks for GEAR at the UN in June 2010
- ^ Statements of Speakers from Civil Society at the Informal Interactive Hearings
- ^ GEAR Campaign Press Release | UN Women Born!
- ^ GEAR | UN Women Website
- ^ UN Women Headquarters
- ^ UNIFEM 16 Days Description
- ^ Peacewomen on 16 Days Fundraising
- ^ International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, Information on 16 Days
- ^ 16 Days Campaign Homepage
- ^ Front Line: International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
- ^ Asian Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, 16 Days and Women Human Rights Defenders Day
- ^ 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence: Creating a Culture that Says No to Violence Against Women
- ^ 16 Days 2010 Campaign Theme
- ^ 2010 16 Days Campaign Theme
- ^ 16 Days Theme Announcement | International Lesbian, Gay, Trans and Intersex Association
- ^ Defending Women Defending Rights Homepage
- ^ Support and Defend Women Human Rights Activists | Amnesty International
- ^ Women's International Issues and Organizations
- ^ Advocacy Project - Advocates Launch Campaign to Protect Women Human Rights Defenders in Serbia, June 21, 2007
- ^ Women human rights defenders | Amnesty International | Iran
- ^ Women Make Movies: The Vienna Tribunal Documentary
- ^ Demanding Accountability: The Global Campaign and Vienna Tribunal for Women's Human Rights, by Charlotte Bunch and Niamh Reilly
- ^ Vienna Tribunal Movie Clip
- ^ Women make gains globally | 1995 Humanist Article about the Global Campaign for Women's Human Rights
- ^ Women and Rights by Caroline Sweetman
- ^ Interview with the Coordinator of Women Human Rights Defenders-International Coordinating Committee (WHRD-ICC), Courtesy of AWID
- ^ CWGL Women's Human Rights Defenders Page
- ^ WHRD IC Information Page