page created 2 May 1999SUBREGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING TO BEIJING + 5
last updated 05/09/99
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Brief report back on the subregional meeting - by Eileen Pittaway
8th July to noon Sunday 11th July, 1999, Sydney
Conference information and registration
* Contacts * Conference aims *
* Conference Program
* Program Overview
* Detailed Program
Beijing Plus Five, to be held in New York in the year 2000, is the follow-up meeting to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on women.
It will consider the outcomes of the Nairobi - Forward Looking Strategies, 1985, and the Beijing Platform for Action, 1995.
Following the successful participation of Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Island women from non-government organisations in the Beijing Forum, CAPOW! and ANCORW are coordinating a sub regional meeting to prepare for Beijing Plus Five in order to ensure that women's voices from the region continue to be heard on the international stage.
The Beijing Platform for Action consists of 12 critical areas of concern.
These will be discussed in a number of workshops at this meeting.
The 12 critical areas of concern
1. Women and poverty
2. Education and training of women
3. Women and health
4. Violence against women
5. Women and armed conflict
6. Women and the economy
7. Women in power and decision making
8. Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
9. Human rights of women
10. Women and the media
11. Women and the environment
12. The girl-child
WHEN Thursday evening 8th July to noon Sunday 11th July, 1999
WHERE Women's College, Sydney University
15 Carillon Avenue, Sydney NSW
COSTS
CONFERENCE ONLY MEALS (extra)
Individual cost $60
Concession $40
Daily Rate $20
Concession $15
*The above costs include morning and afternoon tea.
Lunch $8
Dinner $10
Conference $20
ACCOMMODATIONBed & Breakfast at the Women's College, Sydney University
$45 per night,
$135 for 3 nights
*Registration received after 1st June 1999 will incur a $10 surcharge.
Want More Information?
Please contact
Velvy Holden, Sally Gorringe or Francesca Scimone at ANCORW (Australian National Committee on Refugee Women) 1 Park Rd, Auburn NSW 2144 Telephone (02) 9649 4066 Fax (02) 9649 4077 Email ancorw@ozemail.com.au
Or Eileen Pittaway at Telephone (02) 9385 1849 Email E.Pittaway@unsw.edu.au
Background information on the critical areas will be mailed to conference participants on request at a cost of $5.
A full report on the Australian input into the Beijing Conference "Women Working Wonders" is available for $12.
The conference will provide a platform from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands (representing the sub-region of the United Nations Asia/Pacific region) to
· assess the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action by governments and Non Government Organisations (NGOs);
· consider mechanisms for Non Government Organisations input on the critical areas of concern, such as poverty, development, women's health, employment generation, human rights, education and environment, into the NGO and Government Regional Meetings to be held in Thailand later this year, and
· extend women's networks between women from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED TANGIBLE OUTCOMES THE CONFERENCE WILL PRODUCE?
- Country by country analysis of government's and community sector's response to the Beijing Platform for Action which will be documented into a regional response.
- A response from the Meeting that covers suggested changes to the UN text to be taken to the NGO and ESCAP Regional Meetings in September and October 1999, and used as a basis for input into Beijing Plus five in New York 2000.
- A "Plain English" version of these documents to be produced for distribution to women's organisations for distribution to women in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
HOW WILL THE OUTCOMES BE ACHIEVED AND MEASURED?
- Preparatory Working Groups prior to the Conference.
- Workshops, at the conference, on the twelve critical areas of concern as addressed in the Beijing Platform for Action which will provide a forum to raise issues of concern and analyse the governments and community sector's response to it.
- "Special interest" groups, such as lobbying, Reconciliation, Domestic Violence, CEDAW.
- Production and dissemination of relevant documents.
Outcomes will be measures in terms of
· number of women from the sub region participating;
· gathering of information on issues and concerns, and
· successful documentation and dissemination of that data.
* The Conference features an exciting range of international speakers with experience and expertise in Women's issues and the use of Human Rights instruments across the Asia Pacific Region.* The conference will commence on Thursday, 8th of July with a buffet meal and will be opened by Quentin Bryce. Other speakers on the night include Margaret Reynolds, Thanpuying Sumalee, Ita Nadia - a human rights activist from Indonesia and Robyn Henderson on behalf of the NSW Minister for Women. Entertainment will feature diverse women performers.
* Friday, 9th of July will be opened by Trish Worth representing Senator Newman, Minister for Women's affairs. There will also be a welcome from a local Aboriginal woman .* Presentations by distinguished guests from Indonesia and across the region will precede a hypothetical panel discussion "What did Beijing do for me" hosted by a well known celebrity.
* The morning will finish with theatre from the Older Women's Network* From Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, the hard work will begin with workshops addressing the 12 Critical Areas of Concern.
* Special Interest Groups are intended to facilitate networking between participants with concerns and interests in specific areas. Some of these include 'Lesbian Rights are Human Rights"; "Indigenous Issues"; "Female Genital Mutilation"; "Improve your lobbying Skills"; Women in Indonesia & East Timor.
* An exciting range of Videos and entertainment will also be displayed on Saturday night.
* The Sunday morning plenary session will pull all the hard work together and participants will leave the conference having contributed to input into Beijing plus five.
* There will be a market place featuring goods made by women across the region.
* Conference organisers have ensured that quiet spaces will be available for women for meditation and reflection from 8 - 9 am each morning and at 9 pm each evening.
Thursday, July 8th4.00 p.m - 6.00 p.m Registration
6.00 p.m - 6.30 p.m Pre Dinner Drinks
6.30 p.m - 9.00 p.m Buffet Meal, Welcome by Robyn Henderson.
Guest speakers - Quentin Bryce - Chair, Margaret Reynolds, Thanpuying Sumalee, Ita Nadia and Linda Burney. Entertainment!!
Friday, July 9th7.00 a.m Breakfast
8.00 a.m - 9.15 a.m Registration
9.30 a.m - 11.00 a.m Session 1 - Plenary - Welcome by Trish Worth; house keeping, background information and Patti O' Neil as Key note speaker.
11.00 a.m - 11.30 a.m Morning Tea Break
11.30 a.m - 1.00 pm Session 1 continues - CEDAW, hypothetical panel conducted by prominent women. Entertainment in the form of theatre from the Older Women's Network.
1.00p.m - 2.00 p.m Lunch Break
2.00p.m - 5.30 p.m Sesssion 2 Workshops on the Critical Areas of Concern - held concurrently
1 - Women and Poverty
2 - Women in Power and Decision Making
3 - Women in Armed Conflict
4 - Women and Health.
3.30 p.m - 4.00 p.m Afternoon Tea
4.0 p.m - 5.30 p.m Session 2 continues Workshops
6.00 p.m Dinner
7.00 p.m - 8.30 p.m Special Interest Groups including "Lesbian Rights are Human Rights"; "Improve your lobbying skills"; "Indigenous Issues" Various videos will also be displayed
8.30 p.m - A selection of female performers will provide entertainment
Saturday 10th July
7.00 a.m Breakfast
8.00 a.m - 9.00 a.m Meditation (Christian & Non Christian)
8.00 a.m - 9.00 a.m Registration
9.00 a.m - 9.30 a.m Introduction to the day plus housekeeping
9.30 a.m - 11.00 a.m Session 3 - Workshops on the Critical Areas of Concern held concurrently
5. Women and the Economy
6. Institutional Mechanisms
7. Violence Against Women
8. Women Education and Training
11.00 a.m - 11.30 a.m Morning Tea
11.30 a.m - 1.00 p.m Session 3 continues - Workshops
1.00 p.m - 2.00 p.m Lunch Break
2.00 p.m - 3.30 p.m Session 4 -Workshops on the Critical Areas of Concern held concurrently
9. Women & the Environment
10. Women & Media
11.Human Rights & Women
12. The Girl Child
3.30 p.m - 4.00 p.m Afternoon Tea
4.00 p.m - 5.30 p.m Session 4 continues - Workshops
6 p.m Dinner
7 p.m Special Interest groups
Entertainment and selection of videos on display
Sunday 11th July
7.00 a.m Breakfast
8.00 a.m - 9.00 a.m Information Table and Market Place displaying goods made by women across the region
9.30 a.m - 11.00 a.m Session 5 - Plenary - Reporting on the work & outcomes of the conference
11.00 a.m - 11.30 a.m Morning Tea
11.30 a.m - 1.00 p.m Final Session - Concluding & Summing up the Conference
1.00 p.m - 2.00 p.m Lunch, entertainment and farewell !
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